Points of Interest in Durban
22 points of interest in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal with CastAwayZA. Get GPS directions on the free app.
Points of Interest
The Old Fort
Durban, KwaZulu-NatalThe Old Fort in Durban is a historical landmark and national monument originally built in 1842 by British troops under Captain Thomas Charlton Smith. Located at 208 KE Masinga Road, it marks the site of the 1842 siege where British forces were surrounded by Boer commandos. Today, the site is known for its peaceful gardens and the Old Fort Chapel, a popular wedding venue repurposed from the fort's former ammunition magazine.View details →Points of InterestDurban Botanic Gardens
Durban, KwaZulu-NatalThe Durban Botanic Gardens, established in 1849, is the oldest surviving botanical garden on the African continent. Spanning 15 hectares in the suburb of Berea, it serves as a peaceful sanctuary for both indigenous and exotic plant collections. Living Fossil: Home to the Wood’s Cycad (Encephalartos woodii), one of the rarest plants in the world and extinct in the wild. Heritage Trees: Features over 80 trees older than 100 years, including the oldest Jacaranda in South Africa (planted in 1885) and a massive 1880 Lychee tree. Orchid House: Originally named the Ernest Thorpe Orchid House, a new Tropical Display House opened in 2025 to showcase a vibrant collection of rare and exotic orchids. Butterfly Habitat Garden: A specialized dome-like structure designed with specific host plants to attract local butterfly species.View details →Points of InterestBanyan Tree Botanical Gardens Durban
Durban, KwaZulu-NatalThe Durban Botanic Gardens, often colloquially searched for as the "Banyan Tree Botanical Gardens" due to its famous Walking Tree (Ficus benghalensis), is Africa’s oldest surviving botanical garden. Established in 1849, it is located at 9A John Zikhali Road, Musgrave, Durban. The Banyan "Walking Tree": A majestic Indian fig tree that drops aerial roots which grow into new trunks, allowing it to "walk" across the garden.View details →Points of InterestTuffy's Point
Durban, KwaZulu-NatalTuffy's Point (also known as Tuffy's Beach) is a historical landmark and fishing spot located at the Point Waterfront in Durban. It is named after a legendary local fisherman nicknamed "Tuffy" and is a popular site for both historical interest and recreational fishing.View details →Points of InterestDurban North Breakwater Light Beacon
Durban, KwaZulu-NatalThe Durban North Breakwater Light Beacon is a maritime navigational aid located at the entrance to the Port of Durban in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Often confused with the more famous Umhlanga Rocks Lighthouse (situated 15km north), this specific beacon marks the tip of the North Pier (breakwater) to guide vessels safely into Africa's busiest port. The beacon typically emits a green light (flashing every 3 seconds), which follows the international maritime convention for marking the starboard (right) side of a channel when entering a port.View details →Points of InterestWilson's Wharf
Durban, KwaZulu-NatalWilson's Wharf is a commercial waterfront complex and marina located at 14 Boatman's Road along the Victoria Embankment within the Port of Durban. Established as a hub for maritime tourism and leisure, the precinct features a working slipway and deep-water berthing that serves as the primary departure point for Durban's commercial harbor cruises, private yacht charters, and deep-sea fishing excursions. The double-story complex houses a variety of open-air seafood restaurants, fast-food outlets, and pubs, alongside an indoor craft market, specialty retail shops, and a fresh fish market. Operating daily with secure on-site parking, the venue provides visitors with direct views of active shipping lanes, container vessels, and naval craft moving through Africa's busiest cargo port.View details →Points of InterestLookout Point Bluff
Durban, KwaZulu-NatalThe Lookout Point on the Bluff in Durban is a hidden gem located on Finnemore Place. This scenic spot is part of the KZN Whale Route and offers panoramic views of the Indian Ocean, the Durban harbour entrance, and the city skyline. The Bluff Staircase: A popular wooden staircase with over 300 steps leads down from the lookout area, making it a favourite for both fitness enthusiasts and photographers.View details →Points of InterestCave Rock
Durban, KwaZulu-NatalCave Rock rises proudly on the Bluff in Durban, renowned as one of South Africa’s premier surf spots. Just offshore, a reef and underwater channel create powerful breaks reminiscent of Hawaii’s legendary waves. Known for its big-wave conditions, Cave Rock attracts surfers from across the globe eager to ride its flawless, tubular swells when large southern systems roll in. This is a destination reserved for seasoned surfers—the sheer size and force of the waves demand skill and experience. Beyond the surf, low tide reveals a network of rock pools teeming with marine life, adding another layer of natural wonder to this iconic coastal landmark.View details →Points of InterestOld Whaling Station
Durban, KwaZulu-NatalThe Old Whaling Station on The Bluff in Durban, active from 1907 to 1975, was once among the world’s largest land-based whaling operations, processing over 3,640 whales at its 1965 peak. Today, the derelict site remains a restricted, eerie relic often visited via guided tours (e.g., Durban Walking Tours). It is located on land owned by the South African National Defence Force (SANDF). Current State: The station is largely abandoned, overgrown, and, as of 2024, sometimes accessed via specialized tours that require permission from the SANDF.View details →Points of InterestDurban Bluff Lighthouse
Durban, KwaZulu-NatalThe original Durban Bluff Lighthouse, constructed in 1867 as the first on the East African coast, was an 81-foot iron cone located in KwaZulu-Natal. Designed by Peter Paterson, it was demolished in 1941 for wartime gun emplacements. It was replaced by the modern Cooper Lighthouse (1953) on the Bluff.View details →Points of InterestBluff Nature Reserve
Durban, KwaZulu-NatalThe Bluff Nature Reserve is a 45-hectare protected sanctuary in Durban, South Africa, and is considered the city's oldest nature reserve. It features a large pan (wetland) surrounded by coastal forest and reedbeds, serving as a significant refuge for diverse water birds. Bird Watching: The reserve is a premier birding spot with two elevated bird hides overlooking the pan. Notable species include the Lesser Jacana, African Purple Swamphen, and various herons and egrets.View details →Points of InterestSunken Gardens
Durban, KwaZulu-NatalThe Sunken Gardens at 107A Snell Parade is a historic beachfront park located along Durban's Golden Mile in North Beach. Built in 1934 as a Great Depression public works relief project, its manual construction provided employment to struggling workers, while its stonework, stairs, and pagoda columns were later expanded with the help of Italian prisoners of war during World War II. While historically celebrated as a prominent public garden and coastal retreat for families, the site currently faces prominent structural deterioration, overgrown vegetation, and localized maintenance concerns.View details →Points of InterestAmphitheatre Garden And Lawns
Durban, KwaZulu-NatalThe Amphitheatre Garden And Lawns is a public park located at 41 Snell Parade on the Golden Mile in North Beach, Durban. This coastal park features a sunken garden design, fountains, ponds, a children's playground, and public restrooms. It offers wheelchair-accessible parking and entrances, with peak visitor hours typically occurring on weekday afternoons.View details →Points of InterestPoint Waterfront Canals
Durban, KwaZulu-NatalThe Durban Point Waterfront Canals are a series of urban waterways located in the Point precinct of Durban, originally engineered to circulate seawater for the adjacent uShaka Marine World. Today, this protected, clear-water canal system functions as a thriving marine sanctuary home to over 30 fish species, including Grunter and Stumpnose. The precinct is a hub for recreational commercial activities, where visitors can rent pedal boats, take guided pontoon tours, or book gondola rides operated by Zulumoon Gondolas.View details →Points of InterestBeach Front Swimming Pools
Durban, KwaZulu-NatalThe Beach Front Swimming Pools, located at 11 Palmer St, South Beach, are a public recreational facility situated along the Durban beachfront promenade. This complex features multiple swimming pools with varying depths, including dedicated shallow areas designed for toddlers and small children. The facility is free to access for the public, staffed by on-duty lifeguards for safety, and operates daily from 09:00 AM to 05:00 PM, Monday through Sunday. Its location offers direct pedestrian access to South Beach, the Indian Ocean, and nearby commercial amenities along the Golden Mile.View details →Points of InterestHigh rocks
Durban, KwaZulu-NatalHigh Rocks is a coastal rock-fishing landmark located along Cuttings Beach in Merebank, situated immediately adjacent to the SAPREF oil refinery complex. The site features a distinct rocky ledge structure that projects into the Indian Ocean, making it a prominent destination for local rock-and-surf anglers targeting regional fish species. Because the deep-water ledge is highly exposed to the open sea, the surrounding marine environment is characterized by powerful wave action, strong rip currents, and shifting tidal swells that require caution from visitors. Access to the fishing spot is closely tied to the geography of the nearby industrial perimeter, which marks the southern coastal edge of the Durban metropolitan area.View details →Points of InterestAir Force Base Durban
Durban, KwaZulu-NatalAir Force Base Durban is an active military installation of the South African Air Force situated on Rana Road at the old Durban International Airport site in KwaZulu-Natal. The base is home to 15 Squadron, which operates Atlas Oryx and BK 117 helicopters tasked with critical regional operations, including maritime search and rescue, disaster relief, and VIP transport. Structurally, the base falls under the command of Colonel Mashaole Peter Ramoipone, who officially assumed leadership on 1 May 2026. While long-term strategic plans entail relocating the base to a new facility at King Shaka International Airport, it remains operational at its historic south Durban location to maintain immediate response capabilities along the eastern coast.View details →Points of InterestDurban Harbour
Durban, KwaZulu-NatalDurban Harbour, also known as the Port of Durban, is Sub-Saharan Africa's busiest container port and the premier shipping gateway for the southern African region. Situated on South Africa’s east coast along major international maritime trade routes, this extensive natural harbor features a 21-kilometre circumference and operates 58 berths managed by over 20 terminal operators. The port handles approximately 60% of South Africa's total container traffic and welcomes more than 4,500 commercial vessels annually, supported by an internal rail network spanning over 302 kilometres to transport freight inland. To accommodate modern, ultra-large container ships, the entrance channel has been widened to 220 metres and deepened to 19 metres at its outer approach, while ongoing infrastructure upgrades continue to expand capacity at major hubs like Pier 2. Beyond its industrial functions, the port integrates public and leisure infrastructure on its northern shores, featuring Wilson's Wharf for commercial boat cruises, the Port Natal Maritime Museum, and the MSC Nelson Mandela Cruise Terminal, which functions as the primary hub for luxury passenger liners.View details →Points of InterestBayhead Natural Heritage Site
Durban, KwaZulu-NatalThe Bayhead Natural Heritage Site is a 20-hectare nature reserve located within the industrial zone of the Durban Harbour in KwaZulu-Natal. Managed by the Transnet National Ports Authority, this site preserves a critical remaining fragment of the mangrove forests and tidal mudflats that historically covered the Durban Bay area. The reserve features three species of mangrove trees, which provide a specialized habitat for abundant populations of fiddler crabs, red mangrove crabs, and mudskippers. Additionally, the sanctuary serves as an important refuge for aquatic birds, with over 120 species recorded utilizing the mudflats for feeding, making it a key destination for regional ornithological observation. The site is equipped with an environmental education centre, a network of wooden boardwalks, and a dedicated bird viewing hide to facilitate public access and ecological research.View details →Points of InterestJapanese Gardens
Durban, KwaZulu-NatalThe Japanese Gardens, located at 6 Prospect Hall Road in Durban North, is a free-admission municipal park featuring traditional Japanese landscaping elements integrated into a coastal South African setting. The grounds are defined by a network of paved walking paths, bamboo groves, stone lanterns, and distinctive red and green arched bridges that span interconnected lily ponds and waterways home to Koi fish and waterbirds. Open daily from 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM, the park provides public amenities including on-site parking, restroom facilities, a children's playground, and designated lawns that accommodate picnics and gas-powered braais, though open wood or charcoal fires are strictly prohibited.View details →Points of InterestBridgevale Park
Durban, KwaZulu-NatalBridgevale Park and Nature Reserve is a community-managed green space located at 12 The Dr, Athlone, Durban North. Maintained by the volunteer group Enviro Fixers Durban North and the Durban North Conservancy, the reserve features a flat, 1-kilometre oval trail suitable for walking, running, and prams. The park focuses on indigenous biodiversity, featuring ten tagged trees with educational QR codes and providing a habitat for over 80 recorded bird species. It is a dog-friendly venue equipped with waste disposal stations, and it operates daily from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM. The park is fully fenced and relies entirely on public donations and community funding for its ongoing maintenance and security.View details →Points of InterestBlue Lagoon Park
Durban, KwaZulu-NatalBlue Lagoon Park is a public recreational area located at the mouth of the uMgeni River along the Ruth First Highway in Durban. Positioned at the northernmost end of Durban's Golden Mile beachfront promenade, this open space overlooks the river estuary and the Indian Ocean. The park is equipped with picnic tables and built-in barbecue (braai) facilities, making it a frequent site for public outdoor gatherings and weekend leisure. Its paved pier and adjacent breakwater are used regularly for shore fishing, while the calmer waters of the lagoon support paddling, kayaking, and canoeing activities. Additionally, the park serves as the hosting venue for the weekly Blue Lagoon parkrun, a free 5-kilometre community running event held every Saturday morning.View details →See all 22 points of interest in KwaZulu-Natal — free
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