Sample Car Hire Tour – Durban, South Africa
The sunny city of Durban is a popular tourist resort and an excellent holiday destination in its own right. You can get around the city via public transport, but many of the gems of the region are a good bit out of Durban, so you’ll definitely need a car to see the best of the area.
Pick up your car at Durban Downtown and head east bound along the Old Fort Road (check out www.mapquest.com for a handy map of the city centre). Take a right along the Umgheni Road (R102), and after about 1 km go left along Argyle Road (M17). The famous Florida Road is just on your right. This lavish boulevard is the main shopping area and home to many a fine bar, boutique and restaurant. Follow the road right up to the end and circle back to Argyle Road (M17) via Woodley Crescent.
Head back eastbound until the end of Argyle Road, where you’ll come to Suncoast Boulevard, right on the coast. You’re now at the foot of the famous Golden Mile. This sandy stretch runs from the South Beach to the North Beach and is home to many of the city’s attractions, such as the Suncoast Casino & Entertainment Centre, the uShaka Marine World Complex and Blue Lagoon Park.
From the Golden Mile you can pick up the M4 Northern Freeway. Some 25 km northbound you’ll find the opulent town of Umhlanga, home to the vibrant Umhlanga Lagoon Nature Reserve.
From here continue right up to the coast along the M4, through Compensation Beach and onto the N2. The views of the ocean along this route are breathtaking, and you’ll eventually arrive at St Lucia, some 220 km from Durban. This beautiful area is home to the incredible Greater St Lucia Wetlands Park, an enormous wildlife reserve populated with crocodiles, rhinos and hippos.
Get back onto the N2 and continue north for 100 km, arriving at the town of Mkuze. Here you’ll find the White Elephant Reserve and the Lubombo Mountains. From here head north for about 12 km, turning left at the R69 route. After around 150 km you’ll come to Vryheid, a colourful town with a fascinating Zulu heritage.
From the town take Route 33 as far as the historic mining town of Dundee, then pick up Route 68 for 15 km and take the N11 southbound, via the gateway town Ladysmith (from here you can access the various wildlife reserves scattered among the Drakenburg Mountains). Get back on the N11 and pick up the N3, which will bring you right back to Durban city centre and the end of your car tour (via the majestic Victorian city of Pietermaritzburg, which is well worth a stop over.). If this sounds a bit complicated, don’t worry, just type in Durban on Google Map and you can check the route for yourself.
This sample tour should give you an excellent cross section of what Durban and the surrounding region has to offer, though of course the itinerary you choose is entirely up to you! the easiest way to get a round would be by car so take a look at our Durban Car Hire page.
Remember to give us a shout via the comment box below if you have any questions or things you want to add… enjoy your trip.