Durban

What makes it unique

Durban is the city where South Africa's climate finally acts like you'd expect from a country this far south. The Indian Ocean here stays warm enough to swim in through the winter months, which is not something you can say about Cape Town's Atlantic side. It's also home to the largest Indian population outside of India itself, and that history shows up everywhere, from the food to the architecture to the rhythm of the city.

It's a working port city first, a beach town second, and that combination gives it a different energy than Cape Town or Johannesburg. Durban Pride and the newer eThekwini Pride both run through the city each June, smaller than Johannesburg's but growing every year.

Photo gallery for Durban goes here, drop in your own shots from the collection.

Some links on this page are paid or affiliate links. If you book through them, The Freedom in Leaving may receive a commission at no additional cost to you. We only recommend services we believe are relevant to our readers.