Playground of the Zulu Kingdom
KwaZulu Natal, South Africa
Africa's bewitching seaside playground in the sun, Durban has from its earliest days possessed a special charm. Today, Durban offers the broadest spectrum of unforgettable experiences – from long and tranquil beaches to the historic and culturally rich city centre, all set against the background of a magnificent tropical environment.
Durban is also the gateway to two World Heritage Sites, majestic Drakensberg peaks and vast Game Reserves of the Zululand Bush, plus history-drenched Battlefields, fascination-filled Midlands and a beautiful coastline that stretches seemingly forever in both directions. Indeed, Durban is Africa's ultimate coastal playground in the sun!
Background
Initially called ‘Port Natal’, Durban was founded in 1824 by merchants from the Cape Colony who had reached a contractual agreement with the mighty Zulu King Shaka authorising them to establish a trading station. In 1835 the town was named Durban after the Cape Governor of the time, Sir Benjamin D'Urban. After the Voortrekkers founded the republic Natalia, the British defeated them in 1842, thus securing their dominance in Natal.
Now Durban was set to become one of the most important seaports of the British Empire. Particularly significant was the boom of the sugarcane industry in Natal towards the end of the 19th century. Durban's seaport became the largest sugar terminal in the world. Today, more than 4 million people live in the metropolitan area of Durban. The city is, after Johannesburg, the second-largest in South Africa.