Durban curries are legendary. The hot, local indigenous ones as well as the more delicately flavored Northern and Southern Indian curries. Here are a few places to try out:

Vintage India Restaurant
20 Windermere Rd, Morningside
Tel: 031 309-1328 (licenced yes – Wheelchair Access – No)

Jaipur Palace
Riverside Hotel,Northway, Durban North
Tel: 031 563 0287(licenced – yes W/A – Yes)

Ulundi
Royal Hotel 267 Smith Street
Tel: 031 333-6000 (licenced – yes W/A – Yes)

Amaravathi Palki
Tinsley House, 225 Musgrave Rd,Berea
Tel: 031 201-0019(licensed – yes W/A – No)

Victory Lounge cc
187 Grey St
Tel: 031208-6234
http://www.victorylounge.com

Sunrise Chip 'n Ranch
Brickfield Road, Overport

Open till very late and serves the best beans chip and double cheese Rotis in the world. If you want a packet of hot chips, ask them for chips with the works- you’ll get them dressed with salt, vinegar and chili powder- a take-away that will lift the roof off your head.

AND the LEGENDARY Durban Bunny Chow

For the uninitiated a definition: Bunny Chow - any kind of curry packed inside a hollowed out half or quarter loaf of bread with the hollowed out bit placed on top to soak up the gravy. No plates or eating utensils required. Only your hands.

The choice is yours, from a luxury hotel, self-catering apartment or back- packers' lodge; you’ll find accommodation to suite your taste and pocket in Durban. Self catering apartments and cottages are to be found in the Umhlanga and Amanzimtoti areas. The B&B’s on the Berea can be recommended as excellent accommodation because of their proximity to all facilities and the overall high standard. Prices across the range.

If you want to experience township living, you can stay in a B&B in one of the African townships. These townships are a legacy of apartheid townplanning - townships used to be areas where black African people were isolated, kept apart from whites, who lived in the cities.( but not too far for them to commute to bring them a cup of tea in bed at six am so that master and madam could get ready for work).
Today, 13 years since liberation, although anyone can live where they like, the majority of Black people still live in their communities in the townships.

Townships have their own unique vibe and a great sense of neighborliness and community although most of the people are still very poor. A township experience can be highly recommended for travelers who enjoy getting to know the real people of the area, who have traveled in Africa. Not for the fussy or squeamish.

As home to the Zulu nation and its king, as well as the location of the Battlegrounds of the Zulu and Boer Wars, the variety of cultural attractions within the province is enormous.

The city was, for a time, the home of Mahatma Gandhi who influenced history in the area and the Gandhi Settlement in Phoenix outside Durban is becoming increasingly well known. Durban also has the largest mosque in the southern hemisphere, the Grey Street Mosque, whose golden domes can be seen from most parts of the city and whose muezzin can be heard calling the faithful to prayer five times a day. Attractions such as the Indian Market in Victoria Street with its spices, curries and saries provide further flavour to the city.

The city exhibits further non-African influence with its Edwardian industrial architecture along Point Road, a row of English Terrace houses in the area dating back to the early days of the century, and a host of art deco-styled homes and buildings throughout the city.

The Kingsmead Cricket Grounds in Durban and the Kings Park Rugby Stadium, recently renamed the Absa Stadium, are well known and well used venues for provincial, national and international events. The Durban Beachfront also hosts the Ocean Action Festival during Easter and the Gunston 500 International surfing competition later in the year. These two events also underwent name changes during 2000, the first to Beach Africa and the second to the Mr Price Surfing Classic. The province is also host to five of the country’s premier endurance events, the Pietermaritzburg-Durban “Dusi” canoe marathon, the Comrades ultramarathon road race, the Mont- aux-Sources 50km Mountain Challenge, the Giants Challenge 80km mountain bike race and the Midmar Mile (swimming). Pietermaritzburg is home to the Scottsville Race Course. Durban offers two horse racing tracks, Clairwood Park and Greyville, home of the July Handicap - South Africa’s premier horse race.

Ten things not to miss in eThekwini (that's what the locals call Durban)

1. Ushaka Marine World
2. Valley of 1000 Hills
3. Gateway theatre of shopping
4. Temple of Understanding in Chatsworth
5. African Art Centre in Florida Road
6. Inanda – Heritage Trail
7. Florida Road – restaurants, shops and boutiques
8. The Playhouse Theatre/ Sun Coast Casino and Beach
9. Natal Sharks Board http://south-africa-travel.suite101.com/article.cfm/the_natal_sharks_board
10. 100 kms of Beaches

Read my story Durban, South Africa's Playground http://africatravel.suite101.com/article.cfm/durban_south_africas_playground
If youre into scuba and you're brave, you may want to Dive with Sharks
http://south-africa-travel.suite101.com/article.cfm/diving_with_sharks_in_south_africa