Gauteng and the northern areas experience thunderstorms regularly during evenings in the summer months, and winters are usually warm during the day and cold at night.

This historic square in the middle of Durban is the spot where the city originated as a tiny settlement of itinerant traders and hunters in the early 19th century. It is named for Henry Francis Flynn, one of the prominent inhabitants of the time. Around the square are some interesting sights, particularly the 1910 City Hall on the south side, which is an exact replica of the City Hall of Belfast, Ireland. On the first floor of the City Hall is the Natural Science Museum with an interesting insect section; on the first floor is the renowned Durban Art Gallery. Various musical, song and dance performances are held on the City Hall steps every Wednesday at 1pm. Alongside the City Hall is Durban’s local history museum housed in the Old Court House, which was the first public building ever erected in Durban, in 1866.

Sea World

Durban’s Sea World Aquarium and Dolphinarium are billed as a ‘window to the oceans’. It offers daily presentations such as fish feeding, dolphin care and training, facts about seals, dolphins and penguins, and scheduled shark feeding encounters. All funds raised from entrance fees are channelled into marine research, education and stranded animal rehabilitation. Sea World is situated in the heart of Durban’s Golden Mile beachfront on the Marine Parade.

KwaMuhle Museum

The notorious building that was once the ‘Department of Native Affairs’ where every black South African in Natal was required to register in the days of Apartheid, now houses a museum dedicated to tracing the history of racial laws in Durban, including memorable video and photographic exhibits. Despite this the building is known to all as KwaMuhle, meaning ‘place of the good one’, the name honouring a white man who ran the department but did his best to fight the system within its constraints.

Juma Musjid Mosque

The magnificent Juma Musjid Mosque, the largest mosque in the Southern hemisphere, dominates Durban’s central Indian district. It’s gilt-domed minarets tower over the bustling commercial area, but inside the marbled worship hall is peaceful and boasts a simple elegance. Tours of the mosque can be arranged. Around the mosque, on Grey Street, are several Indian food outlets, most offering the uniquely Durban ‘bunnychow’ (half a loaf of bread scooped out and filled with curry). Off of Grey Street is the Madressa Arcade bazaar. Also in the area is the brightly painted Victoria Street Market (on the corner of Queen and Russell streets) offering incense, henna tattoos, spices and other exotic goods.

Botanical Gardens

Durban’s botanical gardens are renowned for having the finest collection of plantlife anywhere in Africa. Established in 1851 the gardens, on Sydenham Hill Road west of the Greyville Race Track, are the city’s oldest natural attraction, providing a relaxing spot to stroll among huge indigenous and exotic trees, and the stunning orchid house display. The gardens are also abuzz with birdlife and boast a lovely tea garden.

The BAT Centre

On the Victoria Embankment beside the Durban harbour is a haven for traditional artists known as the BAT Centre (an acronym for Bartle Arts Trust). The centre features an enormous studio where artists work, a theatre, exhibition galleries and a restaurant serving authentic African dishes. There are stunning views of the harbour from the restaurant deck. Nearby is the Maritime Museum, which details the history of the harbour and houses a restored tugboat and other interesting exhibits.

• Gateway shopping centre (+27-31 566 2332)
• The Workshop shopping centre (031-3049894)
• Etosha Curios - Local Craft (3073402)
• Pavillion-Westville shopping centre
• African Art Center - Local Craft
• BAT Centre - Art
• The Pavilion Westville - Shopping Malls (031 265 0558)

• Roma Revolving Restaurant - Italian (+27 31 3682275)
• The Famous Fish Company - Seafood
• Butcher Boys - Steakhouse - (+27-31- 312 8248)
• News Cafe - Local
• Little India - Indian - (+27-31- 201 1121)
• Caffe Veneto
• Thirsty - Seafood
• Razzmatazz - Special
• Angelo's in Unhlanga Rocks - Other