Durban half day tour; Valley of 1000 Hills and City tour 13th April 2015
I met my clients in Durban at the docks where the Queen Mary 2 ship stopped for the day. Having left an hour before my collection time I was sure I would be nice and early but I was wrong. A big fender bender on the N3 just before Durban city cost me a lot of time and I ended up being late! Very embarrassing! At least I had the clients number so I could call ahead to let them know.
Our Durban half day tour began and we headed up into the Valley of 1000 hills and to the township of KwaNyuswa. It was here that I did a little township tour and showed the clients how the majority of South Africans live. It was a great opportunity to explain to my clients about the great Zulu King Shaka and the structures of Zulu society.
We also had a look at the views and everyone we went past waved back at us and seemed really happy which I always find incredible as its always the poorest of the poor which are happiest.
After this we continued our Durban half day tour at Phezulu safari park and began with the Zulu cultural village tour and watched the singing and dancing of the Zulus.
Durban half day tour; Valley of 1000 Hills
Durban half day tour; Valley of 1000 Hills
The Zulu cultural village was packed and I had to make a plan to find a place for my clients to sit and enjoy the show. It was then time for the Zulu family to shine and show us more about their amazing culture.
Durban half day tour; Sangoma shows the herb Imphepho
Durban half day tour; Sangoma shows the herb Imphepho
Above the Sangoma shows the guests the herb Imphepho which is burned like incense to ward off evil spirits and to call upon the ancestors. On a Durban half day tour the Zulu Cultural village is a must visit.
We then got to enjoy both the Zulu ladies and Zulu men showing off their skills with their traditional Zulu dance.
Durban half day tour; Zulu men dancing
Durban half day tour; Zulu men dancing
The views over the valley of 1000 hills behind the dancers is an attraction on its own and I am sure the clients enjoyed it. The Zulu dancers never seem to tire or appear frustrated at having to do the same song and dance 4 times a day it is a real spectacle.
Durban half day tour; Zulu dancing
Durban half day tour; Zulu dancing
Video of the Zulu dancing on our Durban half day tour
After this amazing experience on our Durban half day tour we headed for the City of Durban for our City tour. I stopped in the Berea area to show my clients the more affluent communities as well as the Globe off the top end of Florida road the party street in Durban. It was here that we got out to look at the amazing view over the city and to see the Moses Mabida Stadium.
Durban half day tour; Moses Mabida stadium and Moses Mabida statue
Durban half day tour; Moses Mabida stadium and Moses Mabida statue
For those that don’t know Moses Mabida was one of the many ANC stalwarts which fought against the apartheid government. The new stadium was named after him.
This is an amazing stadium and we took the sky car to the roof of the Stadium were we enjoyed the views over the city, another of the must sees if you only have a half day tour of Durban.
Durban half day tour; Best view of Durban from the Stadium roof
Durban half day tour; Best view of Durban from the Stadium roof
The above picture is of one of the many view you can see on a half day Durban tour from the roof of the Moses Mabida stadium. It looks out to the point and the point at which the ships enter the harbour of Durban or as it was once know Rio de Natal.
It was time now to cover the Golden Mile and see the new Promenade as well as the Rickshas and craft market scattered along the beautiful beach front.
It was lovely and I am glad my clients went away with a new idea of what Durban is really like.
What a great Durban half day tour.
