Come to Durban, We Have a Stadium

The Soccer World Cup is looming. In a mere 23 days, teams from around the world will descend on our beautiful country, and on my beautiful city, in order to watch soccer, and, in the case of Durban, soak up the sun, because Durban in the winter is glorious! I cannot wait for the influx of tourists, footie fanatics and the like, and those who come to Durban will definitely be experiencing the best weather in South Africa. While Cape Town has mean, cold, windy and miserable winters, and Johannesburg is already cold and unpleasant, here in Durban we are still able to enjoy the beach and the worst we have seen lately is some wind and night rains.

There is so much to do in our beautiful city aside from watching soccer so, if you're going to be coming to Durban, for the soccer or in the future for any other reason, let me make some suggestions for places to go and things to see and do.

Naturally we have the usual tourist trappings, restaurants and shopping centres, but we also have off the beaten track attractions which are just as enjoyable and will probably cost a lot less. Durban is home to one of 37 revolving restaurants in the world and, for a stunning experience, the Roma is one of the places I would put on top of my list of "must dos" while here. A panoramic 360 degree view of Durban as the sun sets is an incredible experience (they are also open for lunch for a complete day time experience).

Spending time on the beaches is also a cost effective way to pass the time and a walk from our stunning stadium along the beachfront, to enjoy a cup of coffee or a drink at one of the beach side restaurants, is relaxing way to pass the time.

Durban is home to a natural harbour and one of the busiest ports on the African continent, and a two hour trip around the harbour is another interesting way to pass the time. In and around the harbour area, tourists can also pay a visit to the sugar terminals, at which you will be treated to a short movie on the history of sugar cane farming and then a tour one of the massive sugar terminals which stand proudly on the water's edge.

But sometimes it is best to go off the beaten track. Durban boasts, on its outskirts, the glorious Kloof Gorge, a stunning gorge with nature trails and an abundance of small wildlife and birds. It is a great place to take a picnic basket and spend a few hours. For more nature experiences there are the options of Stainbank Nature Reserve, New Germany Nature Reserve, and a little further out of Durban the more luxurious Tala Game Reserve. All are well worth the experience.

Tourists can also drive out towards Botha's Hill and beyond, where they will drive into the Valley of a Thousand Hills. There are many wayside pubs, restaurants, hotels and other places to stop off and have a cup of tea or a light lunch or supper, and plenty of curio shops at which to find beautiful crafted hand made items which are so intrinsic to Africa. One place which I would suggest any visitor supports is the Hillcrest Aids Foundation in the heart of Hillcrest. Visitors can purchase beautiful bead work, pottery and other items, but more especially HAF sell tiny beaded dolls which are called Little Traveller Dolls (they have their own website), which come complete with a passport and which can travel the world with you. This novel idea is all in order to raise funds towards Aids research and treatment.

A short drive from Durban tourists can also visit three large crocodile farms (one towards Assegay, one up the coast at Ballito and one down the coast at Scottburgh). Here you can enjoy a fascinating guided tour of the farms, and afterwards enjoy a crocodile steak or croc burger, a unique experience. The guided tours are extremely informative and interesting. We also have an incredible bird park in the Umgeni area which puts on shows with trained birds which is truly remarkable.

Since South Africa is home to many nature parks and game reserves, I would advise any visitors to South Africa to take the time to travel to one of these nature parks or game reserves. From Durban one can drive for two and a half hours to the Umfolozi/Hluhluwe game reserve where one can experience elephants, lions, many varieties of buck, giraffes, and a whole posse of smaller wildlife such as warthogs, tortoises, snakes and birds. Game drives are offered with guides who have an whole array of interesting stories to tell and winter is probably the best time to view these animals too, since the cloying summer heat is over and the animals are less likely to be seeking respite from the heat.

Whatever your fancy we truly do have it all though, beaches, wildlife, shopping and much more. And I am proud to say that Tourism South Africa, and particularly in my area Tourism Durban, have gone all out to ensure that they are able to assist visitors and tourists to the city. Best of all, a mere 23 days before the event is about to kick off, our temperatures are still in the mid-20s and the sun shines 13 days out of 14!

So if you're visting South Africa for the World Cup Soccer, or at any other time for any other reason, we welcome you ... but if you get the opportunity, come to Durban, we have a stadium too!