The long, beautiful promenade and warm beaches continue to attract Durbanites and tourists in their droves. These and other attractions have contributed to a steady rise in property prices.
Durban’s promenade is undoubtedly the province’s favourite, widest and longest beachfront stretch, and because it’s one of Durban’s top attractions for anything from swimming to people-watching, the powers-that-be ensure that attention is paid to any threats of crime or grime.
It’s a gloriously open stretch of promenade hugging the sea for most of its route – from Ushaka Marine World in the south to Blue Lagoon and the Umgeni River in the north. This good-looking attribute has contributed to the demand, and escalation in value, of, in particular, the front-line apartments in North Beach, but all property along this seaside belt, including South Beach and those in the second line.
Aside from a few incomprehensible hiccoughs such as the never-ending stop-start upgrade to Rachel Finlayson saltwater swimming baths, everything else is alive and well. There’s something for everyone, and because it’s so well-paved, well-lit, and wide, professional cyclists can rub shoulders with wobbly cruisers. The early Sunday morning Park Run/Walk masses weave their way quite happily among the myriad of other beachgoers.
Durban beachfront is home to everybody, and is a regular co¬ffee and breakfast spot, particularly on the weekends. It’s laptop central during the week, where businesspeople enjoy a co¬ffee and check their emails before work, or hold a breakfast meeting at Circus Circus. On the weekends, it’s family and friends meet-up time.
And then there’s the sea. Before dawn, regular gatherings of surfers, swimmers, paddle skiers, body boarders and more are all out there, doing what they love best. Selected piers are crowded with fishermen trying their luck, others in traditional religious garb congregate on the beach for baptisms and candlelit ceremonies. The sandcastle professionals build their masterpieces for the tourists. From school children to pensioners, the beachfront is energetic. The rest just raise their co¬ffees to the majestic sunrise, get their phones ready for the perfect Instagram shot, or give the dog a run.
For many Durbanites, the sea is the city’s pull for them, and now, a sociable hub. Everybody has their favourite beach, eatery, and walking or cycling route. People are joining up with Learn to Surf programmes, rolling out their yoga mat with the SurfsUp group predawn, or hiring a bicycle and riding from one end of the promenade to the other.
I’ve lived in the Edenroc retirement hotel for the past five years, and I just love the position. Panoramic sea views, a safe place to walk, and the promenade is the perfect place to mix with young and old alike.
-Meg Snow, North Beach resident.
Things to do on Durban Beachfront:
- Swim, surf or bodyboard
- Skate at the Skate Park or on the promenade
- Take surfing lessons at Learn 2 Surf
- Yoga and exercise with SurfSup
- Join a cycle group or solo-it
- Walk your dogs along the Promenade
Dine out in Durban Beachfront:
- Afro’s Chicken: for stunning chicken and chips
- Circus Circus Beach Cafe: for great coffee
- The Joint Jazz Cafe: for delicious sandwiches and burgers
- Bike and Bean: for tasty food with a view
- Cafe Jiran: for the freshest bistro fare
- Surf Riders Food Shack: for woodfired pizzas
- Vasco’s Restaurant at the Hilton Durban: for delectable buffet-style cuisine
Nature nearby:
- Beachwood Mangrove Nature Reserve
- Umgeni River Bird Park
- Umgeni River Estuary Green Hub: the Durban Green Corridor project is a partnership between the eThekwini Municipality and the Duzi Umngeni Conservation Trust
This article originally appeared in Neighbourhood, Sunday Times.
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