DURBAN has always been a firm leader in the South African tourism space. The city is known for its beaches, fishing, niche locations and wonderful weather. If you are a resident in the greater Berea area, here are a few ideas on where you can go in the sunny city on the Berea for under R100 this festive season!
uShaka Marine World: Dangerous Creatures – R64 entry
Durban’s uShaka Marine World is a world-class entertainment theme park and tourist destination located on Durban’s Golden Mile at 1 King Shaka Avenue in Point. Go from fear to fascination with Dangerous Creatures! Dangerous Creatures is an adventure reptile enthusiasts won’t want to miss! Find it in the Village Walk at uShaka Marine World. With snakes, amphibians and lizards on display, this is the perfect spot to soak up some reptile facts and enjoy the sights to see. Get your photo taken with a more-than-life-size giant anaconda at Dangerous Creatures or venture inside to see dart frogs, tarantulas and bearded lizards, which never let go once they bite down, a false water cobra, giant bullfrogs, tree vipers and more!
Burman Bush Nature Reserve – Free Entry
Burman Bush is 55 hectares of what remains of coastal forest in the heart of Morningside. Its value lies in the knowledge that little has changed in this patch of forest since 1850. Burman Bush Nature Reserve forms part of the Durban municipal Open Space System, also known as D’Moss – a collection of spaces that amount to some 74 000 hectares of land and water, linked together in a network. Other areas in the network include Paradise Valley and Kenneth Stainbank Reserve, as well as upper catchments and riverine and coastal corridors. Small as Burman Bush might be, there are three trails through the indigenous forest that lines the final stretch of the Umgeni River, and you can easily wander through there for two hours at a time, exploring the local flora and fauna. Fifteen different observation points are each marked by a wooden bench, but watch out for the Vervet monkeys, who won’t hesitate to steal any snack you might bring along – there is a strict no-feeding policy. Burman Bush lies on a slope that rises from 19m above sea level in some places to around 133m in other places. This in just 1km worth of climbing along a path that twists and turns and is often infiltrated by roots and rocks. As a result, the trail is often used by runners and walkers.
Mitchell Park Zoo – Find prices below
Mitchell Park Zoo is also known as Mitchell Park or Mitchell’s Park. Situated in the Morningside suburb of Durban, South Africa, it is the only zoo in Durban. The zoo was established as an Ostrich farm in 1910, but was unprofitable and started adding other animals. Today the Zoo holds various smaller animals such as blue duiker, small South American Monkeys, raccoons and various birds. The largest animals in the zoo today are Aldabra giant tortoises. The zoo also includes a children’s playground, a walk-through aviary, and the Blue Zoo tea garden, as well as a large lawn area for picnics. It is adjacent to Jameson Park, which was once a pineapple plantation and now displays some 200 species of roses.
The official Mitchell Park Zoo Durban prices are as follows:
Adults – R12
Children (2 to 12 years) – R10
School concessionary (pre-booked) – R9
Season tickets – R75
Pensioners – R6
Family Tickets, 4 members (annual pass) – R185
Additional member – R65
KZNSA Art Gallery – Free Entry
Founded in 1902, the Kwazulu Natal Society of the Arts (KZNSA) is KwaZulu-Natal’s foremost contemporary gallery, which hosts artists of national and international stature, and reflects the vibrant, creative heart of the province. It is a not-for-profit, public-benefit organisation and is committed to the promotion of contemporary arts and linked to an extensive network of national institutions that also promote and catalyse cultural change. The gallery has phenomenal local art and a café for visitors to unwind as well as a craft shop with incredible pieces for sale. Open from Tuesday to Friday and on Sundays, KZNSA Art Gallery is worth a visit!
Mini Town – Find prices below
Mini Town was built in January of 1969 and exists as a non-profit organisation. The miniature town has a railway track, supermarkets, an airport, a harbour, a distribution centre and many more structures that are all miniaturised. The re-creation of Durban’s coastal city is built to 1:24 of the city’s actual size. It is not an exact model of Durban, but Mini Town does have a number of Durban buildings on display. The harbour at Mini Town contains 212 000 litres of water, which is replaced each time the structure is maintained. The mini Durban amusement park also has a re-creation of the Durban Metro Railway, which runs through the little town with a power system of 32 volts, and is operated from a control tower by trained staff, along with all other mechanisms at the facility. Mini Town is one of Durban’s best-loved attractions and gives a good impression of some of Durban’s landmarks, and a walkabout will give you an opportunity to view the city on a different scale. It is a great activity for family outings – at a minimal fee!
Entry Fees:
Adults – R40
Children – R30
