Durban, otherwise known as eThekwini, is recognised as the largest city in KwaZulu-Natal and is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. We all know Durban for the warm, subtropical weather and vast, amazing beaches, which makes it a tropical paradise for lazy, relaxing days in the sun and exciting nights filled with bright lights, music and busy streets filled with people and an energy that is exciting yet can’t quite be defined.
But there are a few things you might not know about South Africa’s third largest city! Powertime presents you these fun and surprising facts before the holiday season:
Durban was originally called Rio de Natal by Vasco da Gama when he visited in 1497. Natal in Portuguese means “Christmas.”- Durban later received its name from a somewhat controversial governor from the Cape colony, Sir Benjamin D’Urban)
- Durban has the busiest container port in Africa and is the 9th largest harbour in the world.
- The Gateway Shopping Centre has more than 350 stores, 70 restaurants, 18 movie theatres, an IMAX theatre, an indoor climbing rock and even a skate park designed by Tony Hawk making it the biggest shopping centre in Africa.
- The Bunny Chow is typically representative of Durban – a hollowed out loaf of bread filled with curry – although the name is a mystery it was thought to originate due to the ease of being able to eat it while on the move.
Ushaka Marine World, with 32 tanks, several restaurants and a dolphin and seal stadium, is the 5th largest aquarium in the world.- Every year Durban finds itself in the middle of one of the greatest animal migrations, the Sardine Run, where billions of sardines travel up the coast line attracting sharks, dolphins, whales, birdlife and of course numerous fisherman
- The first steam railway in South Africa was opened in Durban in 1860.
- Mahatma Ghandi, political activist and spiritual leader of the Indian independence movement actually started his political career in Durban when he arrived in 1893.
- CNN rated Durban “The Coolest City in South Africa you’ve never seen” in 2014. You can read the article here .