Durban

The city of Durban sits on South Africa's east coast. Renowned for its beautiful, golden beaches stretching up and down The Sapphire Coast, Durban is ideal for water activities, including fishing, scuba diving, even shark cage diving. As a modern city, Durban also boasts a thriving nightlife scene. South Africa’s third largest city, Durban has positioned itself as South Africa’s playground. Formerly Port Natal, Durban became a borough (town) in 1854 and was created a city in 1935. After World War I Durban changed from a prim Victorian town to a modern metropolis with skyscrapers and multistoried buildings. It is now the headquarters of South Africa’s sugar industry and a centre of highly diversified manufacturing activity. Its proximity to KwaZulu-Natal’s game and nature reserves, makes tourism a fundamental economic resource for this city. Its numerous parks include the Botanic Gardens with its orchid house, Jameson Park and its rose gardens, and Snake Park with its collection of poisonous reptiles. There are several museums and its beachfront now resembles an idyllic melting pot of South African cultures