£322+ Cheap flights to Durban

Getting around Durban

Like in most South African cities, the best way to get around is by car. If taking a flight to Durban, be sure to check that you have the latest updated street maps and/or GPS as a number of street names have changed in recent years. There is a commuter train service between Durban and the surrounding area as far as Stanger on the north coast, Kelso on the south coast, and Cato Ridge inland. The local bus service covers most of the beachfront and central residential areas and the larger Aqualine buses run through the outer metropolitan area.

Both metered taxis and minibus taxis can be found in the city. Metered taxis must be called and ordered to a specific location. Minibus taxis (combi taxis) are the main form of transport for those locals who can’t afford private cars. Durban’s iconic Zulu Rickshaw pullers have been around since the early 1900s, but today the remaining rickshaws mostly cater to tourists.

Getting downtown:

The King Shaka International Airport (DUR) is located around 22 miles (35 km) from Durban. The Airport Shuttle runs regular departures to the beach and major hotels. These are fairly quick and cheap and they don’t need to be booked ahead of time, although they do stop at ten o’clock at night. Check with your accommodation as some will run their own services. Alternatively, for a more luxurious arrival in Durban, it is possible to hire a taxi, a limo, or a rental car direct from the airport.

What is good to know if travelling to Durban?

• The Golden Mile (known to locals simply as “the Mile”) is named for the beaches near central Durban that stretch along the Indian Ocean from South Beach to the modern Suncoast Casino. It is well known for its excellent surfing and wide sandy beaches.
• The uKhahlamba / Drakensberg Park is a World Heritage Site known for its exceptional natural beauty, soaring basaltic buttresses, dramatic cutbacks, and golden sandstone ramparts. The site is home to a many threatened species of birds and plants and the largest group of rock paintings south of the Sahara
• Walk on the wild side with a cheetah walk at Le Sueur Cheetah and Wildlife Centre in the Nambiti Private Game Reserve. You’ll be joined on a two-hour stroll through the bush with a trained guide and cheetahs.
• South Africa’s last free-ranging elephants are protected in the dry, sandy coastal belt forests of Tembe Elephant Park partly-owned and fully managed by the Tembe tribe. The 116 sq miles (300sq km) reserve between Zululand and Mozambique is home to more than 200 of the biggest elephants in the world. The largest of these gentle giants, Isilo, is thought to be about 50 years old, to weigh about seven tons and to stand at 10.5 ft (3.2m) tall. A stay at the park will see you tracking elephants, the Big Five, and a full range of African animals.

Durban airport overview

The spacious and attractive Durban King Shaka International Airport, known also as La Mercy Airport, was built in preparation for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. Replacing the cramped Durban International Airport, the facility is large and modern, with state-of-the-art facilities that rival higher-traffic destinations Cape Town and Johannesburg for convenience. Named for the famous Zulu king of the 19th century, the architecture of the airport contains hints at the region’s culture, and eagle-eyed passengers will find many traditional Zulu shields.

Handling a little more than half of its 7.5 million passenger capacity, the airport rarely feels crowded. This is partly due to the limited number of destinations available on direct flights to Durban King Shaka Airport. Air traffic is primarily focused on local flights to Johannesburg, Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, George and East London. Most international flights to Durban International Airport connect via Johannesburg, but there are flights available to Mauritius, Maputo and Dubai.

The main annoyance of the airport is not the service or facilities, but its remote location 35km (22 miles) north of Durban. The current total lack of public transport options make getting into town an expensive prospect if you don’t have someone to pick you up.