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DURBAN
INTRODUCTION
Appropriately
enough, the Zulu name for Durban is Thekwini, meaning "The
Place Where the Earth and the Ocean Meet". But apart from an
effervescent ocean lined with golden beaches, Durban offers a subtropical
carnival atmosphere and summer sunshine all year round.
Probably the first European to have sight of
the bay around which Durban was to develop was Vasco De Gama on his
pioneering sea voyage to India in 1497.
Durban takes it's name from Sir Benjamin D'Urban, governor of the Cape
Colony at the time of the first successful colonial settlement in
1835.
Since then, Durban has been colonised by firstly Dutch and then English
traders. A large number of Indian labourers were brought to Durban
during the 19th century to farm the emerging sugar industry. With
them came traders and their ancestors form a large percentage of Durban's
current population.
Durban is a major gateway to Africa and is
also the largest and busiest port city on the continent. Due to this,
there is an extensive road network leading to and from any destination in
South Africa. Durban International Airport, is only a 10 minute drive from
the City and is serviced daily by domestic flights, as well as
international flights. The International Convention Centre, centrally
located, is an innovative, world class convention centre which can cater
for conferences of up to 5000 people.
ATTRACTIONS
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Dick
King Statue Situated at the
corner of Gardiner Street and Victoria Embankment, this statue depicts
Natal's gallant hero, who on his horse Somerset, rode a gruelling 960
kilometres to Grahamstown, over a 10 day period to obtain military
assistance for the besieged British troops at Durban's Old Fort.
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City
Hall An imposing,
architecturally magnificent building, dominating a whole block in the
centre of the city.
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Da
Gama Clock The clock was first
installed in Point Road in 1887 to commemorate Vasco Da Gama’s first
sighting of Durban on Christmas eve 1497, four hundred years before.
The stone plaque that stands nearby was unveiled in 1969 by the
Ambassador of Portugal, on the 500th anniversary of Da Gama’s birth.
Situated at the corner of Aliwal Street and Victoria Embankment,
Durban.
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The
history of apartheid is found in the Kwa Muhle museum
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Seafaring
memorabilia can be found in the Maritime museum
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History of
Indian indentured labour is shown in photographic and document form in
the Durban Cultural and Document Centre.
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The
province of KwaZulu Natal has some magnificent game reserves containing
the "Big Five". The city of Durban itself hosts a
surprising number of conservation areas - ranging from coastal
mangroves to indigenous bush reserves housing some of Africa's larger
game.
ACTIVITIES
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