Monuments in Durban

5 monuments in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal with CastAwayZA. Get GPS directions on the free app.

Bluff Lighthouse

Durban, KwaZulu-NatalThe Bluff Lighthouse in Durban, Natal, once stood proudly atop the Bluff headland before being demolished to make way for modern development, a reflection of the city’s tendency to replace the old with the new. Built between 1864 and 1867 under the direction of Natal Colonial Engineer Peter Paterson, the iron, tapering cone-shaped structure rose 81 feet with a domed lantern roof and ball finial, always painted white. Its light, set at 70 feet and revolving to reach peak brilliance every minute, shone from 282 feet above high water and was visible up to 25 miles out at sea. Construction was arduous, with materials ferried across the bay and hauled up the steep 195-foot Bluff, but the lighthouse became a vital beacon until replaced by a newer structure further inland.View details →Monuments

View From Bluff Lighthouse

Durban, KwaZulu-NatalThe view from the Bluff Lighthouse (officially known as the Cooper Lighthouse) in Durban offers a breathtaking panoramic outlook of the Indian Ocean coastline and the KwaZulu-Natal skyline. Durban Skyline: The elevation provides a clear vantage point for the city's skyline, with views reported to reach as far as Richards Bay on exceptionally clear days. Maritime Activity: As it sits near the entrance to Africa’s busiest port, the location is ideal for watching large cargo ships and vessels entering and leaving Durban Harbour.View details →Monuments

The Old Fort

Durban, KwaZulu-NatalThe Old Fort, located at 208 KE Masinga Road, Stamford Hill, Durban, is a historical landmark established in 1842 by British troops under Captain Thomas Charlton Smith during a military campaign against the Boers. The site originally served as a vital military outpost and defensive stronghold during the Siege of Durban, but it has since been transformed into a peaceful heritage site featuring tranquil public gardens and historical monuments. Key features of the fort include the Armoury Chapel, which was converted from an ammunition store and holds commemorative brass plaques, and the adjacent MOTH Museum containing military memorabilia. The site is free to visit and operates from Monday to Friday between 9:00 AM and 3:00 PM, offering wheelchair-accessible entrances and parking for visitors.View details →Monuments

Old Fort and Warrior's Gate Monument

Durban, KwaZulu-NatalThe Old Fort and Warrior's Gate Monument, located on K E Masinga Road in Durban, is a historic heritage site that combines 19th-century colonial history with 20th-century military commemoration. The Old Fort was originally established in 1842 by British forces under Captain T. Charlton Smith during a conflict with the Boers, serving as the site of a famous month-long siege that prompted Dick King's legendary relief ride to Grahamstown. Today, the fort's grounds feature peaceful gardens, a commemorative chapel, and the former barracks, which have been converted into veteran accommodation. Adjoining the fort is Warrior's Gate, a medieval-styled building erected in 1936 that serves as the headquarters and national shrine for the Memorable Order of Tin Hats (MOTH). This site functions as a military museum, housing a vast collection of global militaria that includes battlefield relics, medals, small arms, and outdoor artillery displays such as a World War II Stuart light tank and a 40mm Bofors anti-aircraft gun.View details →Monuments

Beachwood Mangroves Nature Reserve

Durban, KwaZulu-NatalThe Beachwood Mangroves Nature Reserve is a 76-hectare protected estuarine ecosystem proclaimed as a national monument in 1980 at the mouth of the Umgeni River in Durban North. It preserves the largest remaining population of black, red, and white mangrove trees in the Durban area, which serve as a critical natural storm barrier that stabilises the local coastline. The swampy habitat supports a unique ecosystem teeming with fiddler crabs, red-clawed crabs, and mudskippers, while also attracting rare bird species such as the Mangrove Kingfisher. Visitors can navigate the wetlands via an elevated wooden boardwalk system that leads through the forest canopy to a view of the sand dunes and beach. To protect this sensitive environment, the reserve restricts general public access to the third Saturday of every month from 08:00 to 13:00, during which entry is free and honorary officers provide guided walks, while weekday visits are reserved strictly for pre-booked educational tour groups.View details →

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