Why should take your family to Durban for holiday
Durban’s warm climate and even warmer seas are a big attraction for holiday makers who can’t face Cape Town’s packed beaches and restaurants.
Cheap flights to Durban are easy to find from almost anywhere in the country. So, if you’re headed to the East Coast for a fun family holiday, then take this list of great things to do with kids in Durban along with you.
1. The SkyCar at Moses Mabhida Stadium
Eight years after South Africa hosted the 2010 World Cup Soccer Tournament, we are still enjoying the fruits of the upgrades and additions made to the country. The Moses Mabhida Stadium has an 85 000-seating capacity and a fun SkyCar that takes visitors up the impressive arch that extends over the stadium to a lookout point of spectacular views cross the seaside city.
Vertigo sufferers just don’t look down!
2. Durban Natural Science Museum
If your kids are history fans, then head straight to the Natural Science Museum at Durban’s City Hall. Egyptian Mummys, a life-sized T-Rex and loads of other treasures will keep them entertained on those East Coast not-exactly-beach-weather days.
3. Port Natal Maritime Museum
Durban is a port town after all, so naturally there would be a museum of sea-farer items. Grab your budding ship captains and intrepid sea-explorers and head off to the Port Natal Maritime Museum. It’s a great hands-on experience that lets kids climb aboard some of the exhibits and take a tour of the tugboats and minesweepers.
With a R5 for adults and R3 for kids entrance fee, it’s practically free.
4. Durban Botanic Gardens
Durban’s coastal flora is magnificent, to say the least. Pack a picnic and wander around Durban’s Botanical Gardens. When your kids need a rest then settle under one of the garden’s 100-year old trees, now considered to be heritage trees and get a glimpse of Wood’s Cycad, one of the world’s very rare plants.
Check their website for events, as Durban used to be overlooked as a concert destination, but with flights to Durban costing next to nothing, the music scene is being revived and the Botanical Gardens is becoming a popular family-friendly concert venue.
5. Galleria Ice Rink
If a day on the beach has you feeling like you need to find a cool spot to hang out for the day, then take your future ice-skating Olympians to the Galleria Ice Rink for some old-school fun. Skate between 10am and 5pm if your kids are little or have some fun with the teens and tweens in the evening skate session from 7:30pm until 10:30pm. Oh, and it’s half-price on Tuesdays.
6. Mini Town Durban
For decades, Mini-town has been a highlight of a trip to Durban. See Durban through the eyes of a giant as you wander around the waist-high buildings and a tiny harbour. It’s set outdoors, so it’s best to avoid it on a rainy day.
7. uShaka Marine World
If anything is worth catching a cheap flight to Durban for, it’s a visit to UShaka Marine World. Kids and adults of any ages can enjoy days getting their thrills from the water theme-park Wet ’n Wild. Wander around the aquarium and see the creatures of the deep up close, it’s a destination in itself! Book to see the amazing dolphin show or even go shark diving. Entrance fees vary depending on the time of year and what you want to do there, so it’s best to plan ahead and watch for the best deals on their website.
Durban has lots to offer and is especially great for families with a broad age group to keep entertained. Flights to Durban are also generally much cheaper than domestic flights to South Africa’s other major cities, so book your next holiday now.
