Things to do with kids in Durban
Durban is a fun and entertaining destination for those travelling with children. The famous Golden Mile beachfront offers gentle waves in which kids can splash and play, and wading pools for those too little to venture deep.
Shark nets protect most of Durban's coastline, making the ocean very safe. There are usually some funfair rides and other fun distractions along the beachfront, including the old gondola that allows a view of the beach from above.
Minitown in North Beach is another way to get a bird's eye view of the city, as it allows visitors to wander through miniaturised versions of buildings and landmarks. uShaka Marine World gives children an exciting educational experience in its massive aquarium. By contrast, parents can let kids loose in the Wet 'n Wild Water Park, which is home to numerous exciting water slides. Parents should pack sunscreen though, as the Durban sun can be brutal, especially in the summer months.
Gateway Theatre of Shopping in Umhlanga has much to offer children of all ages, and ensures there's a lot to do in Durban for kids and teenagers, with a massive indoor climbing wall, and a skate park designed by Tony Hawk. It also boasts an IMAX theatre, ten-pin bowling, a video arcade, indoor carnival rides, and go-kart racing. Gateway is the best place to head with kids on a rainy day.
For a relaxed afternoon picnic, the Durban Botanic Gardens are a scenic oasis in the middle of town. Otherwise, travellers can visit the manicured Mitchell Park, which has a restaurant and tea garden, a small and slightly dilapidated zoo, and a playground that features a special area specifically designed for handicapped children.
uShaka Marine World
uShaka Marine World is the largest marine theme park in Africa. The park is tastefully themed with African imagery and has five zones offering entertainment, dining, shops, water s…
uShaka Marine World
uShaka Marine World is the largest marine theme park in Africa. The park is tastefully themed with African imagery and has five zones offering entertainment, dining, shops, water slides, and access to uShaka Beach. Wet 'n Wild contains a number of water thrills, ranging from heart-stopping, adrenalin-pumping rides to lazy activities for the less adventurous. There is an aquarium with thousands of fish, reptiles, and aquatic mammals on display; a dolphinarium that performs regular musical shows; a penguin rookery; and underwater activities such as snorkelling and the 'shark walk'. The Village Walk features the Dangerous Creatures exhibit, which includes spiders, snakes, frogs, scorpions, and other poisonous creatures. uShaka is also involved in marine animal rescue and rehabilitation.
Website www.ushakamarineworld.co.za
KwaZulu-Natal Sharks Board
For something fun and educational, parents should take their kids to the KwaZulu-Natal Sharks Board. Located just nine miles (15km) north of Durban, it offers visitors the chance t…
KwaZulu-Natal Sharks Board
For something fun and educational, parents should take their kids to the KwaZulu-Natal Sharks Board. Located just nine miles (15km) north of Durban, it offers visitors the chance to learn about the marine life found off the coast of Durban's Golden Mile. The Sharks Board maintains the coastlines shark safety gear and also does research into sharks and runs a public education programme. There are almost daily presentations and shark dissections at the complex. Kids will love visiting the display hall to view the variety of lifelike replicas of sharks, fish and rays, including that of a 1966-pound (892kg) great white shark. The dissections can be disturbing for sensitive kids but they are fascinating and very educational.
Website www.shark.co.za
Mini Town
Located on Durban's beachfront, this knee-high miniature replica of Durban makes a great outing for families and kids of all ages. It features moving models of planes and trains, a…
Mini Town
Located on Durban's beachfront, this knee-high miniature replica of Durban makes a great outing for families and kids of all ages. It features moving models of planes and trains, a circus complete with animals, a movable bridge that makes way for passing ships, several of Durban's landmark buildings, and a tug boat that makes its way around its very own miniature dock. All models and buildings have been created on a 1:24 scale. Mini Town was established more than 30 years ago and, although it is very well maintained, it has retained a charming, old-fashioned appeal.
Umgeni River Bird Park
Tucked away near an industrial section of Durban North and the Umgeni River, the Umgeni River Bird Park houses an ever-growing bird population. Over 200 species of birds live as re…
Umgeni River Bird Park
Tucked away near an industrial section of Durban North and the Umgeni River, the Umgeni River Bird Park houses an ever-growing bird population. Over 200 species of birds live as residents along the shady winding paths. The park is situated in a lush tropical garden in what used to be an old quarry site, and was opened in 1984 after extensive landscaping. The park's free-flight bird show, which runs from Tuesday to Sunday at 11am and 2pm, has been entertaining families and school groups for over a decade. It features vultures, owls, cranes, and other impressive fowl.
Website www.umgeniriverbirdpark.co.za