The Golden Mile in Durban was developed as a tourist destination in the 1970s, and provide many tourist attractions.

Hotels in Durban

Durban was originally called Port Natal, and was founded by British settlers. Indian workers were brought in to work the sugar cane plantations, making this one of the largest population centers of Indians in South Africa. Zulu is the most common local language in Durban, and Afrikaans features far less in Durban than in the rest of the country. Durban is today a sophisticated cosmopolitan city of over three million people and thereby the third largest city in South Africa. Durban is known as home to Africa's best managed and busiest port and a popular tourist destination. The Golden Mile, developed as a tourist destination in the 1970s, provide many tourist attractions, particularly for people on holiday from Johannesburg. It lost its international holiday status to Cape Town in the 1990s, but remains more popular among domestic tourists.

Accommodaition in Durban is conveniently concentrated along the beachfront or Golden Mile, close to the Durban Central Business District. High rise Durban hotels with sea views and swimming pools are found side by side along this lively strip. The suburbs of Berea and Morningside is another area close to the beach front and the business district with more hotels, guesthouses, bed and breakfasts and affordable self-catering apartments and villas, well endowed with exceptional restaurants and shopping malls. Durban North is also an extremely popular choice with holiday makers.

Durban International Airport service both domestic and international flights, with regular scheduled services to Swaziland, Mozambique and Mauritius, but also to destinations outside of Africa. The airport handled four million passengers in 2005. A new airport is currently under construction at La Mercy, approximately 35 kilometers (22 miles) north of Durban city center. The airport is called King Shaka International Airport and will replace the existing Durban International Airport. It is expected to open on May 1st, 2010, just over a month before the start of the soccer World Cup 2010.