The Municipality of eThekwini is predominantly made up of the City of Durban but also includes a number of surrounding towns to the north and south as well as inland. The area is the major industrial and commercial hub of KwaZulu-Natal and the Port of Durban is the main entry point for maritime trade in South Africa. It is also one of the major tourist hotspots in the country with its extensive beaches, top hotels, restaurants and tourist attractions.
Durban has a rich heritage from the days when it was part of a Boer Republic in 1800 to the battles with the British and the Zulus in the late 19th century, the eventual English takeover in the Victorian era, apartheid from when the Afrikaners dominated the country from 1948 to eventual liberation in 1994 when power was eventually transferred to the Black majority. Today the city is a cosmopolitan melting pot of diverse populations all living together in harmony in this vibrant and beautiful part of South Africa.
The city is a well developed tourist destination with many kilometres of protected bathing beaches, beach front entertainment and attractions, restaurants and hotels. There are numerous world-class shopping malls, a vibrant night life, theatres and cinema complexes.
Umhlanga, to the north, is a sophisticated tourism mecca as well as being one of the most upmarket residential areas in eThekwini. The area boasts numerous world-class hotels and time share resorts as well as one of the largest shopping malls and entertainment complexes in the country – the Gateway Theatre of Shopping.
The world-renowned Natal Sharks Board is located here, so needless to say the pristine bathing beaches are all protected against sharks as are those in Durban.
The industrial areas are located to the south of the harbor and beyond lies the popular town of Amanzimtoti with its high rise holiday apartment blocks and busy beaches. This area is the launching pad for diving on the world-famous Aliwal Shoal and for deep-sea fishing. There are a number of smaller towns and more relaxed beaches further south but still within eThekwini, such as Kingsburgh, Warner Beach and Illovo Beach.
Going inland for about 30km you will find the beautiful Valley of a Thousand Hills through which the mighty Umgeni River flows from the distant Drakensberg to the Indian Ocean. Expect to see unspoilt nature and wildlife, magnificent scenery, warm country hospitality, arts and crafts and Zulu culture.
The King Shaka International Airport is situated in the village of La Mercy, about 12km north and slightly inland from Umhlanga and about 30km from Durban but still within eThekwini.
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