Durban or eThekwini as it is known in the local Zulu dialect, is a modern African city that has opened its doors to visitors from all corners of the world! The city has a population of over three million people and tourism has played a major role in its growth.?Durban lies in the historic Zulu Kingdom?of KwaZulu-Natal. However, its modern look is quite different from the historic images of the exploits of the Zulu warriors.

The KwaZulu-Natal region has a diversity of attractions? unsurpassed in the whole of South Africa. It encompasses the towering Drankensburg mountains, sublime tropical beaches, top rated nature and game reserve, historic battle fields, the rolling green hills of the Natal Midlands, greater St Lucia Wetland Park and the City of Durban itself. Actually it is a tourism hub of note. It has a well-developed infrastructure?dedicated to providing?all services tourists could possibly need. To be honest, South Africa’s tourism product is probably one of the best developed on the continent.

Travelling on an invitation to cover  this year’s Indaba, Africa’s top tourism trade fair —and third largest in the global calendar — would open up a chance of a lifetime to visit this marvellous city right on the edge of the Indian ocean. Indaba, which is Zulu word for coming together to discuss matters of importance, has overtime grown to be an exhibition avenue by many tourism stakeholders keen to showcase what Southern Africa’s? best tourism products has to offer the rest of the world.

The journey from Nairobi’s?Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to Oliver Tambo Airport in Johannesburg took slightly over four hours. On arrival, we transferred to the local departure lounge as we waited to board a South African Airways to King Shaka International Airport  in Durban, which would become my ‘temporary’ home for a couple of days. We met true Africa’s hospitality at its best as we arrived at the King Shaka Airport to a grand reception by a welcoming party from the organising committee of Indaba 2012. A bevy of beauties clad in striking red T-shirts and black trousers were on hand to usher us into the courtesy buses to our hotel in downtown Durban. With smooth roads that lacked a single pothole led us past through a huge sugarcane plantations as we criss-crossed?the beautiful scenery.

 

busiest port

This is sugarcane country by the looks of it, and approaching the airport from the air almost looks as if you are landing in a cane field, until the tarmac comes up to meet you. Large ocean going ships waiting to dock in Africa’s busiest port, the Port of Durban, were visible from the side windows of the coach we were riding in.  The magnificent Southern Sun Hotel, part of Tsogo Sun chain of hotels , a towering five star resort located a stone throwaway from the golden beaches of the Durban coast was all inspiring.

On hand to welcome us were Zulu traditional dancers and the hotel staff who promptly checked us in. From my hotel room on the 20th floor the view beneath was breath-taking. Located on a scenic location around the Natal Bay?where waters remain calmer throughout the year, the Golden mile next to the city’s main beach features a host of entertainment spots with several seafood restaurants that straddle the location adding to the beauty of the place.

 A paradise for swimmers, which is evident from the large number of enthusiastic water lovers seen in water each day alongside fishermen and surfers alike, Durban waters, I learn, are safe to swim in with no fear of shark attacks. Shark nets are in place to prevent the sea predator from coming too close to the shore.
Voted by Lonely Planet as one of the top 10 family beach holiday cities in the world, Durban has a wide range of accommodation options to suit your needs and requirements.
These range from up-market hotels, holiday apartments, guest houses, B&B, backpacker establishments? and bush lodges. In terms of cuisine, Durban restaurants offer a variety in terms of style, location and vibe with all tastes being satisfied here.

 

 

 

Durban’s dusk

Nightlife in Durban is hip and happening complete with elegant lounges, funky taverns, cosy inns, trendy clubs, discos?offering distinctive local theatres and live music. Access to Durban is served by regular South African Airways flights?from all major cities in the rainbow nation?to the King Shaka International Airport? providing seamless? access to the province. The road network is also impeccable, superb major road links?that connects the entire region, not to mention that if your mode of choice is sea, the Port of Durban is as big as they come. Venue of the Indaba fair itself was the Chief Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre.

The event, a four day colourful affair,?was packed with activities? which span from a variety of workshops, conferences, musical and a golf day! Exhibitors included the likes the Kenya Tourist Board (KTB), who had a stand at the trade fair. 

 

exhibition galore

There were a number of indoor exhibits that ranged from? provincial authorities?and products to accommodation, tour operators, game lodges, transport, online travel, media publication and industry associations.
The outdoor exhibitors included transport, camping and safari companies. KTB Managing Director  Muriithi Ndegwa summed up Kenya’s participation at the travel fair when he said Africa provides an important market which? has the great potential of sustaining and cushioning the? tourism industry.

 KTB Board Chairman Kitili Mwendwa added that Kenya was eager to tap into the South African market considering that there is a large pool of disposable income among the trendy and keen South African travellers.

At the trade fair, the tiny Indian ocean island of Seychelles was drumming up support and aggressively marketing the forthcoming Routes Africa event, a meeting of airlines and tourist boards scheduled for Victoria, Seychelles from July 8 to July 10. The enigmatic Seychelles Minister for Tourism, Alain St Ange,?spent the entire Indaba duration alongside tourism officials from the isle fielding questions from interested parties about the event.

Routes Africa will bring together route development professionals from across Africa, the Middle East and beyond to discuss the latest development within the region and establish potential for new air traffic routes? to and from Africa.

The Seychelles Tourism Board in conjunction with the Seychelles Aviation Authority are hosting the event. By the end of the fair when I was getting ready to leave for home, I was more than a little impressed by tourism products on display, as well as  of Durban’s scenic environment.