General information on Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Background information on Durban and KwaZulu-Natal Province
KwaZulu-Natal Province, also known as the garden province of South Africa, is a subtropical region of beautiful valleys and lush vegetation on the warm Indian Ocean. It is one of the country’s most popular holiday destinations, and the province extends from Port Edward in the south to the borders of Swaziland and Mozambique to the north. The western part of the province is marked by the majestic Drakensberg mountain range, with several of the peaks higher than 3 000 metres. The range has been awarded World Heritage status for its natural beauty and the wealth of San/Bushman rock art found in its caves—the richest concentration on the African continent.
Although KwaZulu-Natal is the country’s third smallest province, taking up 7,7 % of South Africa’s land area, it has the largest population at an estimated 9,9 million people. It is approximately the size of Portugal, covering a total area of 94 361 square kilometres.
The province has undergone rapid industrialisation owing to its abundant water supply and labour resources in recent times. Despite considerable development in the province, large rural areas are still found where the people are very poor and still dependent on subsistence farming for their livelihood.
Durban is located on the far-east side of the country, about 600 km from Johannesburg. It is the largest city of the KwaZulu-Natal Province, and one of the country's main seaside resort cities with excellent beaches and a distinctive tropical climate. The city is well equipped for the needs of tourists and has for years been the prime holiday venue for locals.
Durban is one of the fastest-growing urban areas in the world. Its harbour is the busiest in South Africa, and it is rated as one of the 10 largest in the world. The port of Durban handles more than 30 million tons of cargo with a value of more than R100 billion every year.
Visas
South African missions or representative office in your country or the nearest one situated to you will handle requests for visas to South Africa. Visas are considered by the South African missions abroad and must be affixed in the applicants' passports before departing to the RSA. Visas are not issued on arrival at South African ports of entry . Applicants arriving without visas will be refused entry into the RSA and placed on return flights in terms of legislation.
Transport information
• Air transport
Fly to OR Tambo International Airport (in Johannesburg, South Africa) and get a connecting flight to Durban International Airport.
• Transport form airport to hotel
Shuttle/taxi, transfers and other forms of transport are available.
• Driving (car rental/hiring)
Car rental/hiring is recommended, owing to the long distances between major cities. Although petrol prices have risen sharply over the last few years, fuel is still relatively inexpensive by European standards. Car rental companies operate in all major cities and airports.
The minimum permissible driving age in South Africa is 18 years. If you wish to hire a car, however, the minimum age is 23 years, and you must have a licence valid for 5 years. A valid national driving licence is acceptable if it is written in English, and contains the driver’s photo. If not in English, then the driver will have to obtain an International Driving Licence before he/she is allowed to hire and drive a car in the country.
In South Africa cars are right-hand drive and we drive on the left-hand side of the road. Keep left and pass right is an important rule in South Africa. The speed limit is 120 km per hour (75 mph) on open roads, 100 km per hour (62 mph) on minor roads, and 60 to 80 km per hour (37 to 50 mph) in urban areas. The wearing of seat belts is compulsory. Tourists should be aware that there are a number of toll roads in South Africa, and payments are cash only. Also, be aware that credit cards are not accepted at petrol stations and you must pay for fuel with cash.
Airport taxes
Airport taxes are included in the flight ticket.
Language
English is widely spoken and is one of the 11 official languages of South Africa. The other 10 official languages are: Afrikaans, isiXhosa, isiZulu, isiNdebele, Tshivhenda, isiSwati, Sesotho, Sepedi, Xitsonga and Setswana. In KwaZulu-Natal the dominant language is isiZulu, followed by English and Afrikaans. Remnants of British colonialism and a mix of Zulu, Indian and Afrikaans traditions give the province a rich cultural diversity.
Medical/Health
No vaccination is required for visitors to Durban. Visitors to the Kruger Park and game farms in the Northern and Mpumalanga provinces should use antimalaria medication and mosquito repellents to minimise the risk of contracting malaria.
Currency
The currency in South Africa is the South African Rand (1 Rand = 100 cents). Approximate exchange rate : US$1 = R7,50. The airports, banks and most hotels have foreign exchange facilities. Credit cards are accepted at most of the large hotels and restaurants, but not by street vendors.
Weather
KwaZulu-Natal is situated in a summer rainfall area where the climate ranges from extremely hot along the coast in summer, to heavy snow on the mountains in winter. During April, in autumn, the temperatures for Durban are:
Average daily maximum 26 ºC
Average daily minimum 17 ºC
Time difference: GMT + 2 hours.
Electricity
Electricity for South Africa is 220 Volts, 50 Hz. Plugs are 3-pin triangle.
Telephones
International dialling code (Durban): +27 31 For national telephone enquiries dial: 1023
Public phones are either coin (blue public phones) or card operated (green). Phone cards can be bought at post offices, bookshops, airports, some hotels and supermarkets.
Mobile phones can be rented from various airports.
Congress venue
The International Convention Centre is approximately 16 km from Durban International Airport, and it is strategically located near Durban’s central business district, just minutes from a large variety of hotels. It is a venue of multiple dimensions, flexible enough to meet any need—from international conventions, sporting events, arts festivals, concerts, etc.
This world-class facility is renowned for its high standard of service excellence and has staged some of the most prestigious conferences in the world, such as the XIIIth International Aids Conference, the World Economic Forum’s Southern African Summit, the African Union Summit, etc. It is one of the most advanced conference facilities in the world and was listed as Africa’s leading conference centre for three consecutive years, in 2001, 2002 and 2003 by World Travel Awards.
Accommodation
The following hotels in Duran have been block booked for the duration of the congress:
Hilton Hotel Durban * * * * *
12-14 Walnut Road, Durban, South Africa 4001 Tel: +27 31 336 8100 Fax: +27 31 336 8200 E-mail: [email protected] http://www.hilton.com/en/hi/hotels/index.jhtml?ctyhocn=DURHITW
The Hilton Hotel Durban is located right next to the International Convention Centre. It has several restaurants and unique upmarket cocktail bars. An outdoor swimming pool and a spa are available.
The Royal Hotel * * * * *
267 Smith Street, Durban, South Africa 4001 Tel: +27 31 333 6000 Fax: +27 31 333 6002 E-mail: [email protected] www.theroyal.co.za
The Royal is conveniently situated in the centre of this busy cosmopolitan city. The hotel offers six unique restaurants and a choice of three upmarket cocktail venues. It is also central to all transport networks, 15 km from Durban’s International Airport and offers an in-hotel car hire depot.
The Balmoral Hotel * * * *
125 Beach Road, Durban, South Africa 4001 Tel: +27 31 368 5940 Fax: +27 31 368 5955 E-mail: [email protected] www.raya-hotels.com
Located on Durban’s Golden Mile, it is a short walk away from the shopping and business district and the International Convention Centre. It offers a fully-licensed Waterfront Restaurant.
Protea Hotel Edward * * * *
149 Marine Parade, Durban, South Africa 4001 Tel: +27 31 337 3681 Fax: +27 31 332 1692 E-mail: [email protected] www.proteahotels.com/edwarddurban
The hotel is within five minutes’ walk from the city centre, and 25 min. from Durban International Airport. It features an á la carte restaurant, bar, swimming pool and undercover parking. Golf, tennis, squash and gym facilities are also available.
The Elangeni Hotel * * * *
63 Snell Parade, Durban, South Africa 4001 Tel: +27 31 362 1300 Fax: +27 31 332 5527 E-mail: [email protected] www.southernsun.com
The Elangeni Hotel is centrally situated near the International Convention Centre and shopping centres. Located on Durban North Beach, overlooking lush gardens and the ocean, it also offers three superb restaurants: Japanese, India, á la carte or carvery and 2 bars. A fitness centre, 2 pools, sauna, gymnasium and massage facilities are available.
Southern Sun North Beach * * *
83/91 Snell Parade, North Beach, Durban, South Africa 4001 Tel: +27 31 332 7361 Fax: +27 31 337 4058 E-mail: [email protected] www.southernsun.com
The Southern Sun North Beach is a short stroll or drive from the central business district and the International Convention Centre. It is minutes away from a host of the city’s tourist attractions and it also has easy access to all major transport facilities, and 25 min. from Durban International Airport.
Garden Court South Beach * * *
73 Marine Parade, South Beach, Durban, South Africa 4001 Tel: +27 31 337 2231 Fax: +27 31 337 4640 E-mail: [email protected] www.southernsun.com
Situated on Durban’s Golden Mile, overlooking the Indian Ocean, it has one restaurant, an outdoor pool and parking. The hotel is approximately 16 km from the airport. Transport to and from the airport is available on request (charge/at an additional cost).
Garden Court Marine Parade * * *
167 Marine Parade, Durban, South Africa 4001 Tel: +27 31337 3341 Fax: +27 31 332 9885 E-mail: [email protected] www.southernsun.com
This modern art-deco hotel has a prime position on Durban’s Golden Mile, and it overlooks the Indian Ocean. It features a breakfast room, two restaurants, a bar and an indoor pool. Parking is available. The hotel is 16 km from the airport. Transport to and from the airport is available on request (charge).
City Lodge Durban Central * * *
Cnr Brickhill & Old Fort Roads, Durban, South Africa 4001 Tel: +27 31 332 1447 Fax: +27 31 332 1483 E-mail; [email protected] www.citylodge.co.za
The City Lodge features a mini gym and a swimming pool, and is situated 2 blocks away from the main beach, 2 min. from Durban’s CBD. The City Lodge is within walking distance from the International Convention and Exhibition Centre and 20 minutes’ drive from Durban’s International Airport.
Food
South African cuisine is an earthy combination of African, European, Indian and Malay influences, possibly best articulating the country's rich and complex history. Restaurants that serve "traditional cuisine" are relatively scarce and you are more likely to find international restaurants in the large cities.
Classic South African dishes exhibit a blend of flavours, drawing inspiration from the various nationalities that have infused their character into the food. Italian prisoners of war, brought to South Africa as labourers, contributed pasta; Malay slaves brought spices, and contributed the national dish bobotie; Indian sugar-cane workers brought curry and spices; Chinese railway workers brought Szechuan cuisine; English settlers brought roast beef; and the Portuguese contributed peri-peri.
With the extensive Indian and Atlantic Ocean coastline, visitors should make the most of the wonderful seafood on offer. Popular linefish include hake, yellow-tail, sea bass, tuna, and mackerel. Shellfish is another delicacy—do not miss out on lobster, crayfish, oysters and mussels, as well as abalone when it is available.
Fresh fruit is a further treat and is widely available. Each region has its own specialities and prices are absurdly low. Try prickly pears and mangoes in the north of the country, pineapples and bananas from the eastern Cape, apples and grapes from the western Cape and wonderful citrus fruit wherever you go. Formatted: Bullets and Specialities Numbering
Typical South African dishes, drinks and cooking techniques:
Braaivleis—The "braai" is a barbecue that has become an expression of culture, and perhaps even a unifying force across race barriers. It is the one occasion where men are interested in food preparation, and Afrikaners particularly take the associated arcane rituals very seriously. Most suburban houses have a dedicated braai area in the garden. Vetkoek—A divine road to cholesterol: deep-fried twists of cornflour saturated with syrup.
Melktert—A definitively Afrikaans dessert tart made of set milky custard flavoured with nutmeg.
Bobotie—If South Africa has a national dish it is probably this delicious Malay- influenced curried-mince dish.
Samoosas—A small triangular pastry of Indian origin containing curried vegetables and/or meat.
Chutney —Fruity and spicy relish.
Rooibos—A popular herbal tea made from a red bush; has reputed health enhancing properties to compensate for its distinctive taste.
Biltong—Salted, spiced and dried meat, sold either sliced or in strips; perfect as an appetiser or general snack. The vegetarian equivalent—dried fruit—is an energising snack food.
Potjiekos—Another Afrikaans cooking technique reflecting their history as pioneers and frontier farmers. The idea is to put any available ingredients (meat and vegetables) into a metal pot. The pot is then surrounded by hot coals for several hours. This often results in a bredie—something like a tomato stew.
Boerewors—Spicy sausage, much prized by connoisseurs, and it is one of the important elements of braaivleis. In its dried form it is sold as "droëwors".
Mieliepap—A staple of African dishes, this is delicious and nourishing maize-meal porridge. Pap has long been the staple food of southern Africa, and can be eaten at all times of the day.
Masonja—Mopani worms, cooked with chilli or paprika and served with peanuts. This is delicious, nutritious and an authentic taste of traditional Africa.
Bunnychow—Ubiquitous Indian takeaway meal consisting of a hollowed-out half-loaf of bread filled with curried beans, chicken, sardines, or anything that comes to hand.
Sosaties —Kebab-like skewered meat, often with rings of fruit or vegetables.
Peri-peri—A spicy Portuguese flavouring usually found in chicken and now exported by famous local restaurant chain, Nando's Chicken.
Umngqusho—Samp and beans, is a favourite traditional dish of the Xhosa people containing samp and cowpeas. In the case of samp the maize kernels are broken into pieces to facilitate cooking. In South Africa both these ingredients are already mixed in the sold product. Samp can also be served with fried onions or as a side dish. Formatted: Bullets and Numbering Beverages (drinks) South Africa is best known for its wine , which is enjoying a revival in Europe and the Far East after a period of indifferent reviews. Wine is produced in the Western Cape Province and the Cape vineyards have a good reputation for full-bodied Cabernets, and musky Merlots, while Chardonnays and Rieslings are popular white wine grape varieties.
Beer is widely consumed, across all social and racial divides. South African Breweries (SAB) dominates the beer market (at 96 %) with their stable of bottled lagers. Inexpensive and ubiquitous, lagers such as "Castle", "Amstel" and "Black Label" sell in huge volumes at the expense of the independent brewers such as Forrester's (from Knysna; makers of honey-flavoured ales) and Windhoek (from Namibia; makers of the increasingly popular Windhoek lager).
Witblits—Translates into "white lightning" which should suggest some of its ferocious alcoholic properties; also known as "mampoer" and even "benzene" to wary victims.
Umqombothi—A home-brewed sorghum beer that is very rich in vitamin B.
Amarula—A creamed whisky liqueur served in the style of Baileys Irish Cream. It is made from the fruit of the indigenous marula tree. Elephants adore the marula berries and have been known to become intoxicated after feasting excessively upon these.
Agriculture in KwaZulu-Natal
The comparatively good rainfall (more than 1 000 mm per year) and the fertility of the soil make agriculture central to the economy. The production of sugar cane is a major source of income for farmers and sugar-cane plantations abound along the Indian Ocean coastal belt. Subtropical fruit is also produced on the coastal belt, while in the interior of the country, most farmers concentrate on dairy and stock farming as well as vegetables. Other sources of income from agriculture for the province are forestry and tea plantations.
Some of South Africa’s best-protected indigenous coastal forests are found along the subtropical coastline, e.g. Dukuduku and Kosi Bay. The magnificent St Lucia Estuary and Kosi Bay lakes are also situated along this coast. The Greater St Lucia Wetlands Park was declared a World Heritage Site in 1999. The northern part of the province, south of the Swaziland border, is typical Africa savanna and provides a natural backdrop to the rich wildlife, protected in several game parks.
The province is very active in its conservation activities. The Royal Natal National Park has more than 1 000 plant species, 12 species of antelopes and three of the world’s seven species of crane. There are also several other reserves such as Giant’s Castle and Kamberg Nature Reserve.
Tourism
A variety of tourism attractions are found in the vicinity of Durban and the KwaZulu- Natal Province, including the Drakensberg, the Battlefields route and numerous game parks. The Drakensberg National Park is a paradise mountain wilderness unparalleled in Africa. The Zulu name for the mountains, uKhahlamba, means "Barrier of Spears", and it is a good description of the jagged peaks of this 200-km-long World Heritage Site. It is a land of steep cliffs and outcrops, and flower-strewn valleys—breathtaking!
Hiking trails wend their way up to the elevated ridges and plateaux, but you do not have to have a head for heights to enjoy the Berg; driving trails and bridleways allow you to explore the park with minimum effort. Nearby Tugela is home to the world's second-highest waterfall, which plunges 850 m over a precipice to the churning waters below—a must-see.
Tranquil resorts, championship-quality golf courses, and various Zulu cultural sites offer variety among natural wealth. The Drakensberg National Park is home to more than 35 000 primordial rock paintings, a unique testament to the lives and experiences of South Africa's original ancestors (the San). Get there by car, turning off the N3 to Durban at Estcourt, or catch a bus or train to Estcourt where arrangements can be made for hotels to pick up visitors.