Top Durban Sightseeing Trips: Reviews & Recommendations

Planning a trip to Durban and looking for ways to check out everything this coastal city in South Africa has to offer? There’s just so much to experience, yet the top sightseeing trips might be the best way to soak up the atmosphere and learn about its diverse culture and history. Instead of going it alone, I figured, why not hop on a well-organized tour and leave the figuring out to the experts? I gave some tours a whirl so you wouldn’t have to. Here’s a run-through of five fantastic Durban sightseeing tours to help you plan the ultimate visit.

1. Durban City Tour: A Deep Look

For someone who wants a well-rounded overview of Durban, the Durban City Tour is certainly worth thinking about. This type of tour commonly runs for about three hours and it gives you a nice peek at all the main points of interest within the city. Usually, these tours begin around the bustling Victoria Street Market. This marketplace is filled to the brim with spices, fabrics, and just a very energetic vibe overall. If you walk around, you can catch the scents of different herbs, spices, and street food which combine to be quite amazing.

Moving on from the market, these tours generally head over to the Durban City Hall. Its neo-Baroque style will almost transport you. The City Hall offers not just stunning looks, but also a peek into Durban’s colonial background. The local guides generally talk you through a great deal of interesting background on the history and significance, so you learn way more than just what’s on the surface. We stopped by the City Hall and it felt kind of like stepping back in time.

Yet another stop often is the Moses Mabhida Stadium, originally made for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. So too it’s a great opportunity for photos because its iconic arch offers amazing shots of the Durban skyline. For those really brave, the “Big Swing” allows you to swing from the top of the arch which can be, possibly, something. We took a peek from afar; the people looked like tiny specks.

Oh, and most tours seem to roll on through the beachfront area along the Golden Mile, offering spectacular Indian Ocean views and the vibe of Durban. This beach location buzzes, with places to grab food and chances to explore all over. The guide did say it’s had its share of troubles but is usually very safe now; of course, stay mindful.

What Makes It Good:

Good overview of central Durban highlights.
Market visit offers an immersive cultural moment.
Convenient for tourists seeking an quick overview.

2. Valley of 1000 Hills Tour: Culture Close Up

The Valley of 1000 Hills tour can give you an opportunity to delve into the Zulu culture. Found only around 30 miles inland from Durban, this lush region offers fantastic landscapes and a peek into conventional Zulu customs. We actually drove through there and were astounded by just how green and rich the area is versus Durban’s downtown scenes.

Tours typically highlight a stop at a Zulu cultural village. It’s almost always an immersive experience involving music, dance, and demonstrations that illustrate traditional Zulu life. You will also commonly see the craftspeople display items like beadwork, pottery, and carvings. It could be worth supporting these trades because what they do helps to hold on to those practices and skills for later.

The guides frequently offer information on the historical and cultural setting of the Zulu people, telling stories of key leaders and events that mark Zulu background. Sometimes these are a bit overly long, but they’re well worth paying attention to, that is if you appreciate local storytelling.

For those seeking natural experiences, it’s often possible to explore regions with unbelievable vistas of the valley. Arguably, the hills, dotted with standard kraals, make for an iconic picture of the South African area.

What Makes It Good:

Engaging exposure to Zulu customs and tradition.
Spectacular scenic views of the valley.
Cultural villages aim to preserve tradition through artisan work and presentations.

3. Durban Ricksha Bus Tour: A Relaxed Ride

If that appeals, it’s a little old school and casual, the Durban Ricksha Bus Tour gives you an open-air way to view all the city. Typically this vibrant red bus takes riders on a picturesque route along the Golden Mile and by various landmarks, which makes it perfect for visitors just arriving. Apparently, it really moves at an even pace to appreciate what is there.

The tour runs as a hop-on, hop-off format, which lets travelers disembark at select points. Most tours generally take around 3 hours, so you might want to allow a bit more time in order to thoroughly investigate any points of interest. As a matter of fact, that’s what some do to grab quick pics at some famous spots or go for a snack. The bus comes around often enough, it feels. Don’t waste a whole afternoon at one location.

While the bus trip goes along, the guides narrate, giving pieces of information, snippets of background, and interesting tidbits on various places. It tends to be entertaining and just informative enough, depending on your viewpoint.

What Makes It Good:

Unobstructed viewing possibilities for photographers and those simply experiencing their visit.
Hop-on, hop-off feature is very good for making your itinerary.
Live talk by people passionate about their home.

4. Safari Day Trip from Durban: Wildlife Close Encounters

For a safari day trip from Durban, you should go see some wildlife. Apparently several game reserves lie just a short drive away from Durban, making these safaris reachable as day journeys. Actually, this is great to pair city and nature, especially. Who can turn down some giraffes after enjoying markets?

These trips often feature game drives that provide opportunities to notice lions, elephants, rhinos, giraffes, and several types of native wildlife. Many of these locations house informed guides adept at pointing out species and giving insights concerning their behaviors and territories.

These day outings usually take care of transportation, park fees, and lunch; still, do make certain those items are provided prior to booking. Oh, and if luck be, seeing Africa’s “Big Five” becomes quite a rare but maybe attainable experience!

What Makes It Good:

Gets tourists closer to South Africa’s remarkable animals.
Day trip model makes fitting nature into busy itineraries feasible.
Qualified guides give information about fauna behavior, habitat, etc.

5. Sani Pass Tour: Up High into Lesotho

Sani Pass might be among South Africa’s more spectacular mountain passes, and so it makes an interesting day excursion from Durban. Almost always tours start with a trip from Durban into the Drakensberg Mountains, known far and wide for their rugged peaks and unbelievable beauty. The trip in itself seems incredible due to changes of landscape from shoreline Durban up to mountains.

Usually, to tackle the challenging Sani Pass, groups transfer to 4×4 vehicles that allow you to navigate its steep, winding roads safely. In that the pass climbs to around 9,400 feet (2,865 m) altitude and offers incredible vistas and views of both South Africa and Lesotho.

Frequently, these tours include a stop at the border to Lesotho. For travelers, there’s the option to visit a neighborhood Basotho village to encounter the local customs and way of life of people there.

Actually, don’t ignore some chilly temps as the altitudes shift because even on warm days, at those peaks, there seems to be an amazing cold snap! And remember to check if your ticket covers border crossing or not.

What Makes It Good:

Gets tourists exposed to both awesome vistas and interesting indigenous heritage.
Adventure trips require specialized automobiles.
Boundary crossing lets individuals visit Lesotho, yet another region entirely!