uShaka Marine World
Marine park on the Durban beachfront combining an aquarium, water slides, a beach and a shopping and dining area. A popular day out for families.
Durban
uShaka Marine World, a beachfront promenade, beaches and Indian-influenced food feature in this city on the warm Indian Ocean.
Attractive locations
North Beach
Sandy city beach on Durban's seafront promenade, with warm Indian Ocean water. Surfers, swimmers and walkers use it daily.
Durban Botanic Gardens
Old botanical garden close to the city centre, with orchids, palms and cycads in shady grounds. A quiet place for a walk away from the beachfront.
Juma Mosque
One of Durban's best-known mosques, in the city's busy Indian quarter. It is a working place of worship, so visitors should dress modestly and ask before entering.
Durban City Hall
Grand early 20th-century civic building with a domed roof and a large column-fronted entrance, facing a central square. It also houses a museum and an art gallery.
Moses Mabhida Stadium
A stadium built for the 2010 World Cup near the beachfront, topped by a huge arch. A cable car and a stair climb take visitors to the top for views over the city, harbour and coast.
Victoria Street Market
A busy indoor market in central Durban with stalls of spices, curry mixes, fabrics, baskets and curios. It reflects the city's large Indian community.
Airports
King Shaka International Airport DUR
It is about 29 km in a straight line from Durban.
Pietermaritzburg Airport PZB
It is about 65 km in a straight line from Durban.
Margate Airport MGH
It is about 129 km in a straight line from Durban.
Scams and safe taxis
Taxi and scam advice for this country is on the South Africa page
Weather by month
Each month shows its average temperature in °C and its mm of rain per month.
- Jan24.5 °C107 mm
- Feb25.0 °C84 mm
- Mar24.7 °C90 mm
- Apr23.4 °C65 mm
- May22.3 °C40 mm
- Jun20.8 °C27 mm
- Jul20.0 °C42 mm
- Aug20.0 °C36 mm
- Sep20.4 °C65 mm
- Oct21.0 °C100 mm
- Nov21.9 °C122 mm
- Dec23.3 °C110 mm
Driest months: May, Jun, Aug. Wettest months: Jan, Nov, Dec.
Costs
Prices here are about 42% of US prices (World Bank, 2025). This compares a country's overall prices, not the cost of a trip.
Who can help
Emergency
112 from a mobile phone. Police 10111. Ambulance 10177.
local government
South African Police Service (Crime Stop line)
Helps with: Anonymous crime tip-off line. For a police emergency dial 10111, or 112 from a mobile.
Who qualifies: Anyone in South Africa, including visitors, who needs to report a crime.
Phone: 08600 10111
local government
National Department of Tourism call centre
Helps with: South Africa's national tourism department. The government help-line directory lists its tourism call centre for visitor and tourism enquiries.
Who qualifies: Anyone travelling in South Africa or planning a trip there.
Phone: 0860 868 747
ngo
South African Red Cross Society
Helps with: South Africa's national Red Cross society. It lists a free, confidential service to reconnect people with missing relatives, plus disaster response and first aid training.
Who qualifies: People in South Africa who need its family-tracing, disaster relief or first aid training services.
Phone: +27 10 022 4197
Email: redcross@redcross.org.za
Address: 5 Ryder Road, Randburg, Johannesburg
un agency
International Organization for Migration (IOM) South Africa
Helps with: The UN migration agency, present in South Africa since 1995. It works on migration management, crisis response and partnerships; its office is in Pretoria.
Who qualifies: Migrants and governments working on migration. It is not a help service for ordinary tourists.
Phone: +27 12 342 2789
Email: IOMPretoria2@iom.int
Address: Building 4 Walker Creek Office Park, 25 Nicolson Street, Bailey's Muckleneuk, Pretoria 0181
embassy
Foreign embassies and consulates in South Africa (official list)
Helps with: For a lost passport or serious trouble, contact your own country's embassy or high commission. The foreign ministry's page lists each mission, with addresses, phones and emails.
Who qualifies: Citizens of each country, through their own embassy, high commission or consulate.
local government
National Disaster Management Centre
Helps with: South Africa's national disaster management centre, based in Centurion. Its contact page gives a main office number and email, and links to a disaster contact list.
Who qualifies: Anyone needing to contact the national disaster management authority. No public hotline is shown on its page.
Phone: 012 065 0969
Email: enquiries@ndmc.gov.za
Address: Riverside Office Park Letaba Building, 2nd Floor, 1303 Heuwel Avenue, Centurion, 0157
local government
Emergency number 112 from mobile phones
Helps with: Reaches emergency services for all emergencies when called from a mobile phone. UK government travel advice lists this number.
Who qualifies: Anyone in the country, including visitors.
Phone: 112
local government
Police emergency number 10111
Helps with: Reaches the police. UK government travel advice lists this number.
Who qualifies: Anyone in the country, including visitors.
Phone: 10111
local government
Ambulance and fire emergency number 10177
Helps with: Reaches the ambulance and fire services. UK government travel advice lists this number.
Who qualifies: Anyone in the country, including visitors.
Phone: 10177