Durban has a way of surprising people. Travellers often arrive expecting a beach city and leave with a full array of sensory memories. From the fiery hit of a curry-soaked bunny chow eaten without cutlery, the thunderous pull of a wave at Bay of Plenty, the crack of a drum at a Zulu cultural performance, and the misty green roll of the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands opening up just an hour inland. Time Out recently ranked Durban 14th on its list of the world's best places to travel in 2026, citing its Zulu cultural history and Indian food influence — particularly bunny chow — as key reasons for its global appeal.
Read more: Durban decoded: Surf, spice, and Zulu soul on the Indian Ocean