Durban and its surrounding areas boast a number of small to medium-sized nature reserves. Some of the larger reserves (such as Silverglen and Stainbank) offer surprising accessibility to African wildlife within the city limits. Additional attractions include tours, walks and community projects such as the Sangoma (witch doctor) training facility at Silverglen.

Durban is richly endowed with tropical flora which attract a large variety of wildlife.
Visitors can enjoy the best in birdwatching at such spots as the Amanzimtoti and Umgeni River Bird Parks. The province of KwaZulu Natal has some magnificent game reserves containing the "Big Five."

In keeping with it's rich cultural diversity, there are many genres of art on display in Durban. From the traditional, oil paintings inspired by the Dutch masters at the Durban Art gallery to the avant garde exhibitions at the NSA Gallery, (just minutes from The Studio).

Beaches
Across the Point from the busy harbour lies the Durban beachfront, or the Golden Mile, so named due to the large number of hotels, restaurants, night clubs, curio sellers and dozens of other attractions which can be found there. The area is also the beginning of the Durban beaches which stretch from the Point northwards as far as the eye can see. Sailing, snorkelling, scuba, swimming, surfing, fishing - all of these activities and more are on offer.

Drakensberg
The mighty Drakensberg mountain range with peaks reaching upwards of 3000 metres forms the north western border of KwaZulu-Natal.
The magnificent outline of cliffs and peaks of this 1600 kilometre range inspired the Zulus to describe the escarpment as "The Barrier of Spears". To Voortrekker pioneers they became known as the "Dragon Mountains" inspiring myths of fire-breathing monsters high up in the This rugged landscape is the perfect setting for the restoration of body and soul.

A variety of wildlife can be seen in this area including antelope, baboons, small mammals and reptiles. The whole area is a bird sanctuary inhabited by an abundance of diverse birdlife, including sugar birds, kingfishers, storks and eagles - and the endangered lammergeyer. Plantlife varies widely with altitude - proteas flourish on the slopes while cycads, ferns and yellowwoods are found in the sheltered gorges.

The highest concentration of hiking trails and walks in South Africa can be found here. Many of these trails lead to sites which were once inhabited by the Bushmen (the San people) hundreds of years ago. They have left a legacy of the richest rock art that can be seen. These sensitive depictions of daily life and religious beliefs bear testimony to the harmony that these long-departed tribes enjoyed with nature.

The trails wind along mountain slopes, past crystal clear pools, up rope ladders and crevices to overnight resting places in huts and caves.

Midlands
To the West of Durban lies the breathtaking Valley of a Thousand Hills, as well as the pulsating rhythm of PheZulu Village, a living Zulu museum. The quaint villages of Kloof and Hillcrest are worth exploring, with charming country hotels and shops providing lovely stops for lunch or shopping. Visitors enjoy a choice of cool tree lined garden venues or viewpoints overlooking the valleys in the area.

Drive on for another hour and watch subtropical bush give way to the rolling green hills of the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands. Boasting cooler evenings and less humid days, the mild Midlands climate is a welcome alternative to the midsummer coastal heat.

Perhaps best known of the attractions is the "Midlands Meander", a charming collection of plant nurseries, art and crafts shops and stalls, restaurants and tea gardens - all tied together by a network of winding roads.

North Coast
Visitors travelling north will be left breathless by the unspoilt beauty of the rugged beaches and lush, undulating hills of Northern KwaZulu-Natal. The coastline is known as the Dolphin Coast, because of the vast number of dolphins seen frolicking and surfing. Within a two and half hour drive, on excellent highways, lies what is probably one of the most famous wetlands in the world – the St. Lucia Estuary. In addition to the "Big Five", KwaZulu-Natal is home to the largest concentration of black and white rhino in the world, administered by the KZN Nature Conservation Service. The ecosystems of this area, coupled with the charisma of the mighty Zulu Kingdom, with its cultural traditions, are an immense attraction to any visitor.

South Coast
Wild subtropical flora and endless beaches gave the name Sunshine Coast to the southern coast of KwaZulu-Natal. There is plenty on the South Coast for visitors to enjoy, including the majestic Temple of Understanding, the picturesque Clairwood Turf Club, or the Zulu beadwork and pottery, at the Umnini Craft village.

But the region’s true beauty lies in its paradise of golden beaches, coastal dune forests and long summer days. Emphasis is on outdoor attractions with big game fishing and scuba diving at Aliwal Shoal, one of the top ten diving sites in the world.
The South Coast offers some of the finest golf circuits to be found in Southern Africa. Within two hours of Durban there are no less than nine excellent 18 hole courses, two of which are rated in South Africa’s top ten.