On our way from Drakenberg to Durban we drove through “the Valley of 1000 Hills“, just northwest of Durban. The area is named after the thousands of hills which tumble down to the mighty Umgeni River that flows from the distant Drakensberg Mountains to the warm Indian Ocean.
As we made our way through the valley and followed some winding roads, we notice a sign with “Chantecler Hotel”. It was afternoon and time to find accommodation for the night, so we followed the sign and came to a lovely stone walled building surrounded by beautiful gardens.
We decided to stay the night. We found out it was a popular hotel for wedding celebrations as there was a wedding party at the hotel that evening and I think we were the only guests beside the wedding guests.
The hotel had a fascinating interior with wooden furniture, animal arts and big game hunting trophies on the walls.
Together with the Big 5 🙂
We heard some loud sounds outside the hotel in the evening, it was from frogs at the dam. Here is one of them.
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Next day we drove along the valley – amazing view from the hilltops. And then it was time to visit the main city of KwaZulu Natal – DURBAN
This area has subtropical climate all year around – and therefore a favorite domestic holiday destination. And more recently – also for international visitors.
DURBAN
DURBAN is is the third most populous city in South Africa – after Johannesburg and Cape Town. The city has a fascinating mix of British, Indian and Zulu cultures.
You will find palm trees, the best Indian curries in the country, beautifully preserved Victorian buildings, bustling markets, great shopping and an exciting beachfront.
This is popular place for surfers, body boarders and kite-surfers who love to play in the waves all year round.
Both Durban’s North and South Coast is dotted with Blue flag beaches that are noted for their clean sands and beautiful waters.
OTHER FASCINATING FACTS ABOUT – DURBAN :
- Durban was originally called Rio de Natal by Vasco da Gama when he visited in 1497. Natal in Portuguese means “Christmas.”
- Durban later received its name from the governor from the Cape colony, Sir Benjamin D’Urban
- The spiritual leader of the Indian independence movement, Mahatma Ghandi began his political journey in Durban
- The world’s oldest and largest ultra-marathon (89 km), the Comrades Marathon, takes place here.
We started our visit to walk a long “The Golden Mile” which it the name of Durban´s beachfront. It one of the main tourist attractions in the area.
It starts roughly at South Beach and uShaka Marine World, ending at the Suncoast Casino and Entertainment World in the north.
The beachfront promenade is lined with high-rise hotels, entertainment complexes, restaurants, shops and small markets.
It was fun just to watch the buzzing life and enjoying the ocean view. We also went for a swim in the lovely warm sea! Lifeguards and shark nets protect most of the beaches year-round so we did not worry about sharks.
Two years after our visit in 2008, the Golden Mile underwent a long-term renovation for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. With new paving laid and exciting new establishments lining the beachfront, it has become very popular for families to visit at the weekends.
ACCOMMODATION – We stayed two night at the City Lodge, a hotel we were recommended by the hotel we stayed at the night before. It is centrally located, not far from the beachfront. A low 2 storey building – with swimming pool and nice rooms.
DINING – One of the evenings we had dinner at the Suncoast Casino and Entertainment World, which is in the north of the Golden Mile. It was an exciting place that in addition to several nice restaurants included casinos, theatre and shops.
The second day we visited uShaka Marine World located in the end of the Golden Mile. Ushaka Sea World is the fifth largest aquarium in the world, with 32 tanks totalling over 17,000 cubic meters of water. It also includes dolphin shows, seal shows, penguin presentations, shark dives, ray feeds and much more.
Dolphin show
My daughter tries to take a picture of a giant grouper
We were very fascinated by the big fishes and the different shark species.
Local hand craft and souvenirs for sale along the promenade
Before we left DURBAN we visited the Victoria Street Market -Durban oldest Market. A good blend of African and Indian things. A wide variety of African and Asian artwork made from materials including stone, wood, brass and animal skins, and also a number of food items including spices, seafood, and meat products.
Durban has the largest Indian community outside of India, and this market was a great opportunity to experience this rich culture.
Many small towns and
beaches south of Durban
From Durban we continued driving along the coast south of the city. We stopped in a couple of small towns and beaches by the seaside. Scottburgh, Shelly Beach and Pumula Beach among others. We did not have any hotel reservation and began to ask for available rooms at these places. They were all fully booked- it seemed it was not easy to get any available accommodation in this popular area.
MARGATE – AT THE HIBISCUS COAST
We were recommended to go to Margate and try Margate Hotel or Margate Sands. The Margate Hotel was just off the main road and did not look that interesting , so we decided to try Margate Sands, closer to the beach.. It was a time-share hotel and offered several nice flats with balconies and sea view. We were lucky to get a nice spacious flat with three bedrooms for a very good price.
Margate is the heart of the Hibiscus Coast and is a popular holiday destination for both South Africans and foreign visitors. It has lovely beaches including a blue flag beach. Many apartment buildings offer accommodation for residents and visitors. The Main Street has several shops, many restaurants, pubs, and nightclubs.
We enjoyed this little town so much that we stayed here for 4 nights.
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