Seniors Stop In Durban

Visitors are flocking to Durban, a top ten South Africa destination. Durban is one of the best places for seniors to visit in all of South Africa.

Durban is a large (3.5 million), bustling city, with a truly cosmopolitan atmosphere, thanks to the Indian population.

Located in Durban is the largest Indian community in South Africa who are descendants of laborers brought in by the British to work in the sugarcane fields during the latter 19th century (one of which was a young Mohandas Gandhi).

Find out where to surf in Durban, visit markets or explore the beaches of the Golden Mile, a string of beaches that are protected from shark attacks. The Golden Mile is a main tourist attraction in Durban with a wide stretch of sand that sparkles year round.

Swim or surf while enjoying a sub-tropical sun and warm waters of the Indian Ocean. It is said that Durban is not only South Africa’s third largest city but it’s also among the friendliest.

 Seniors Find Year Round Warm Waters

Durban was first sighted by Portuguese navigator, Vasco da Gama at Christmas in 1497, while he was searching for a route from Europe to India. He named the area “Natal”, which means “Christmas” in Portuguese.

The city is set on Natal Bay and benefits from year-round warm waters making it one of South Africa’s top vacation spots. Durban is also one of Africa’s busiest and most important ports.

For senior birders, the Umgeni River Bird Park has over 3000 exotic and indigenous birds as well as 4 waterfalls, lush vegetation and several endangered species. More than anything else, the city is a natural paradise known for its gorgeous coastline.

CNN highlights Durban as the “coolest city in South Africa you’ve ever seen. The Promenade, as it is called, stretches along the coast of Durban and is home to many restaurants, pubs, hotels and shops.

Seniors Enjoy uShaka Marine World

Durban has the largest playground in Africa, the uShaka Marine World. In the playground is an aquarium that is one of the five largest in the world. The world class uShaka Marine World has positioned itself as a key attraction on Durban’s Golden Mile bringing together cultures, like no other place in Africa, offering a world of entertainment, excitement, fun and uniqueness.

This development is Durban’s latest ‘must-see’ attraction: a world-class oceanarium/aquarium, penguin, snorkel tank, fun adventure water rides, as well as an 80 meter long shipwreck and a retail section, to mention but a few of the attractions.

South Africa is loaded with super sites and Durban is one of the principle cities senior travelers will want to visit. The Victoria Indian Street Market is very popular with its mosques, temples, exotic shops and restaurants where you can sample some excellent Indian cuisine.

This Slide Show provides a nice overview of what you will experience while in town. The Botanical Gardens in Durban are world famous and if you are “into plants”, like yours truly, you will not want to miss the Gardens. The Moses Mabhida football (soccer) stadium is a new site and brings in sports fans from all over the world.

Senior travelers, a week in Durban could prove to be a trip of a lifetime.  -jeb