INDABA is ranked one of the largest tourism marketing events on the African calendar and one of the top three ‘must visit’ events of its kind on the global calendar, so I was more than happy to be a part of it for the first time… and it set the tone for what would be a splendid 10-day experience in the KwaZulu-Natal province.
So like I always do, based on my experiences here is my guide on what to do when in the KwaZulu-Natal province.
Happy belly, happy tourist
Yes food, why not? As a well-known foodie, I start the experience with all cool places and the cool food I ate during my stay. I stayed at Hilton Durban and I must start by saying their restaurant makes some really tasty buffets. Their Indian/oriental styled cuisine provided my palate with some rather amazing flavours; not the usual bland Eurocentric cuisines we find in most top hotels.
After my previous experience at Max’s Lifestyle, one of the best restaurants in Umlazi, I kind of figured that Durban was home for good braai (South African barbecue varying by the type of meat, sauce, rub, or other flavorings used). So I was always looking forward to it whenever I heard that we would be having braai (even though I’m on diet).
This time, we visited Classique Braai Lounge, for our main braai induction. Perfectly positioned between Durban and PMB, in Hillcrest’s Oxford Village, Classique is a cool spot to socialize or network. When I heard that Lungile Nhlanhla, MasterChef South Africa top 5 finalist for Season 1, supervised the kitchen it whetted my appetite even further, and well I was not disappointed. Our braai platter included beef, lamb chops, pork chops, wors (sausages) and chicken wings. And for a table full of Nigerians and Ghanaians, it was no surprise that the chicken was always first to get finished…hahaha.
The highlights of Classique Braai Lounge was not all about the meat but for me, the fact that I tried new stuff including the interesting starters and side dishes such as Usu (tripe/offal), Jeqe (steamed bread), Inyama Yenhloko (lip meat), Dombolo and pap.
Another interesting dining experience to try in Durban is definitely the Roma Revolving Restaurant, which presents incredible scenery, sumptuous food, and a romantic Italian setting. The Retro plush restaurant offers a 360-degree view of Durban, as it revolves slowly 31-floors-high, overlooking the city.
With Gino Leopardi at the helm of affairs, he ensured we got a taste of Italy in Durban. He even suggested I had my Prawn starter with lettuce instead of avocado, and I totally loved it. For my main, I opted for wild rabbit marinated in red wine, fresh herbs, carrots and celery, then slow-cooked in a sumptuous ruby meat sauce, and served with mashed potatoes.
Dolphins, fun and games at Ushaka
It is now official; I cannot visit Durban without visiting Ushaka Marine World! And with the wide range of fun things to see and do, it is no wonder that each experience feels new and different. The 16-hectare world-class theme park has fast positioned itself as a key attraction on Durban’s Golden Mile, offering a world of entertainment, excitement, fun and uniqueness.
Entertainment is non-stop, extending from the daytime operations of Sea World, Wet ‘n Wild, and uShaka Beach, to the night time festivities of the Village Walk. uShaka Sea World is the fifth largest aquarium in the world, with 32 tanks totaling 17,500 cubic meters of water. The underground aquarium is designed around five shipwrecks and it is home to shark species such as ragged-tooth sharks, spinner sharks, hammerhead sharks, and local catsharks. It also has a large collection of fish species including giant groupers, potato bass, kingfish, and cobia.
The fantastic dolphin stadium can seat 1,200 visitors, and we got the chance to see a spectacular show including a solo performance by Gambit as well as a group show, which brought out the kids in all of us.
There was even more fun waiting for us along the Ushaka beachfront including the rickshaw rides with pullers in magnificent headdresses adorned with beads and other decorations.
Go Native!
You cannot be in the KwaZulu Natal Province without experiencing some Zulu culture. I returned to the Phezulu village, where the world famous Gasa clan has over the last 30 years allowed the opportunity to savour the taste and feel of their culture. Here, we experienced the history behind traditional beehive shaped thatched huts, where the various artifacts, beliefs and rituals of the Zulus were explained.
I also finally got to taste the famous African beer Yvonne Chaka Chaka sang about, Umqombothi. It is a beer made from maize (corn), maize malt, sorghum malt, yeast and water, and tasted like Pito back home in Ghana (not that I drunk pito oh… I just know).
We also experienced the famous Zulu dancing, with dancers in their traditional garb, showing off their skills with grace, agility and humour, as they enacted a typical Zulu marriage ceremony.
Get wet, wild and free in Port Edward
Port Edward is a small resort town situated on the south coast of KwaZulu-Natal, right on the Eastern Cape Province border. It a perfect getaway from the craziness of busy city life, and there is no perfect getaway like the Wild Coast Sun Resort. Basking in the glory of natural splendour and the warm ocean, as well as the unspoilt sandy beach, the Sun International family and conference resort is a favourite getaway destination for many.
It enjoys a magnificent beachside setting only 5 kilometers south of Port Edward. The resort lies on 750 hectares of natural bush between the Mzamba and Mtamvuna Rivers. Some of the extraordinary leisure facilities found at the resort include restaurants and bars, the Wild Waves water park, a casino, and a world-class golf course.
My sea-facing room offered a spectacular view of the Indian Ocean, but the beauty of the Wild Coast Sun Resort is better experienced beyond sights.
the view from my bedroom
The Wild Coast Sun Wild Waves Water Park has an incredible and exciting assortment of water activities that appeals to all ages, and the thrill-seekers amongst us joined other guests to enjoy the adrenaline-pumping Aqualoop, Superbowl, the steep Speed Slides (Boomerango), as well as the more relaxed leisurely Lazy River.
Don’t think that I am such a killjoy, there was also a quad biking and Segway tour; and I had my adrenaline rush, quad biking!!! Even is I was just a passenger..wink
Let’s go on a cruise!
The KwaZulu-Natal province is home to Durban Harbour, the fourth largest in the southern hemisphere, so it is a good place to catch a boat cruise. We visited Wilson’s Wharf for a fun boat cruise. It is the City’s trendiest fusion of fun, food, and more, blended with the rustic interface of a boating marina and working slipways. Our experience on the boat was a blend of music and drinks with some Nigerian jollof rice on deck, and yes we haven’t heard the last of the jollof wars between Ghana and Nigeria.
During our stay at the Wild Coast Sun resort, we also enjoyed the scenic splendour of an Umtamvuna river cruise, this time it was an adrenaline pumping exhilaration of a surging speed boat!
Let’s go dancing…
Well it is a lie, I don’t dance but nightlife in South Africa as always offers plenty options for the nocturnal ones. Most of my nightlife this trip was around the INDABA, with parties in some of the choicest locations in Durban.
We had our welcome party at The Joint Jazz Café, a restaurant nestled on the picturesque Beach Front. The Lounge, a second level of the venue presents a close and comfortable setting where urban musicians lovers hang around to listen to live music and inspired DJ sets, around great drinks and food including authentic Shisa Nyama. We experienced performances from several local talents, as well as a fashion show by some of Durban’s most fashionable designers.
As I shared in a previous guide to Nightlife in Durban, the Florida Road is always a good place to go for a fun night. This time, I visited the Cubana Havana Lounge, part of the chain of South Africa’s only authentic Latino social cafe and eatery, which provides the services of a cocktail bar and cigar lounge with a unique flavoursome cuisine. It was especially fun meeting a group of Ghanaian friends there on our outing.
So there you have it…a summary of 10 days of fun and excitement in the KwaZulu-Natal province courtesy South African Tourism. I hope it has provided you with some insight into places to go and things to do if ever you are in that region for business or holiday. Cheers!!!
