NOT JUST CANEFIELDS

It’s a healthy exercise to see your city through the eyes of a tourist. I had good company this morning. Anni Ballieu, a travel agent, was visiting from Australia and our competent guide, and good friend, was Lori Kelly from Zulu Sun Safaris.

Durban, we feel, is frequently undersold. As a destination we fight against the good marketing done by Cape Town, Sun City and Kruger National Park. But don’t underestimate the power of the bush, beach and berg experience offered by KwaZulu-Natal.

But today we did a city tour of Durban. I live north of the Umgeni River in Umhlanga, and anything south of the river is not on my roadmap, unless absolutely necessary. My eyes were opened and I loved getting to know my city with the help of a well-seasoned guide.

Anni’s interest was in the golfing opportunities on offer. Frequently, after a long safari either in Botswana, Zim or Zambia, clients are keen to hit a few balls on manicured courses. And Durban has plenty to offer. 

Yesterday we bimbled north, on the scenic M4, to Zimbali CoastalResort with its five star golf course. It has so much to offer with great accommodation, either in the 2 luxurious Fairmont hotels or equally stylish self-catering homes.

40 odd kilometres away, Durban has its fair share of golf courses. Mt. Edgecombe Country Club, Durban CC, Beachwood and Grayville.

We ascended the Sky Car at Moses Mabhida Stadium to get a feel for the texture of Durban. The stadium itself is so impressive and the view shows off Durban at its best. We declined the opportunity to bungy jump.

Below us was the Sun Coast Casino. South Africa has a plethora of Miami style casinos where you can double or lose your holiday allowance.

In the comfort of our air-conditioned kombi, sparing us the balmy Durban weather, we ambled along the ‘Golden Mile’ which is actually about 4 miles long. Although not a first choice for accommodation, the esplanade underwent a massive face lift for the 2010 Soccer World Cup. It has become a popular play-ground for all Durbanites with great facilities, a fun place to walk, ride bikes and surf.

Our only negative experience was with a rickshaw driver who willingly posed for photos and scoffed at our ‘tip’. Be sure to negotiate a price before snapping away with your camera.

Old Point Road, now Mahatma Ghandi Road used to be a den of iniquity, and home to scoundrels and prostitutes. It has been cleaned up and beautiful old buildings restored to turn it into a cosmopolitan area. Across the bay the lush protected forest of the Bluff remains untouched. The traditional Zulu name for Bluff is isibubulungu, meaning a long, round-shaped ridge. It also means "white man’s bluff", which may be a reference to habitation by shipwreck survivors.

Wilson’s Wharf with its incomparable harbour views is Durban's trendiest fusion of fun food, top shows and crafts, blended with the rustic interface of a boating marina and working slipways.

We headed into town towards the Indian Market where I had a Cinderella moment and found a fab pair of leather shoes for a mere R150. It was a pleasant experience without the haggling and hussling so prevalent in many African markets.

We rounded off our tour with a drive down Florida Road with its tree lined road displaying restored Victorian and Edwardian buildings boasting over 2km of restaurants, pubs, clubs, art galleries and eclectic little shops. There is something to do 24/7 and should definitely be on your to-do list when visiting Durban.

As we headed north over the Umgeni River back ‘home’ to Umhlanga, I felt confident that my Aussie visitor would have a positive and impressionable memory of Durban, an elegant, mature and ambitious city. It is a trendsetter in offering great lifestyle, speckled with adventure activities, blessed with natural beauty and an astonishingly liveable city.

Other blogs by Lois Kuhle:
SMOKE RINGS IN CUBA. A TWO WEEK JOURNEY FILLED WITH SALSA, SUNSHINE AND SILLY PEOPLE: http://smokeringsincuba.blogspot.com/2013/10/smoke-rings-in-cuba-journey-filled-with.html
'LIFE'S COOL'. MY NEAREST AND DEAREST BECAME THOSE THAT GRUNTED, BARKED OR BIT.
http://milimanilifescool.blogspot.com/2013/12/i-n-2002-i-was-lucky-enough-to-be-given.html
COOL THOUGHTS – LIFE IN THE SLOW LANE: http://loiscoolthoughts.tumblr.com/

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