This is a large area, including city and suburbs.
Moving through this greater Durban area, you can experience African, Indian and Colonial influences on laid back “Durbs”.
Durban is a lovely city with some beautiful Art Deco and other buildings such as the state of art, Moses Mabdiba Stadium, which you will see en route to the various artists and crafters. Where possible, we guide you around the edges of pulsating ‘eThekweni”as the city centre is presently a mess. Most visitors miss some of our lovely Durban suburbs, leafy and calm with some interesting colonial homes.
Visit the gems of Durban, the people in their studios. Most are the private homes of talented people, the artists and crafters, some better known overseas than in South Africa. There are amazing artists with very different styles on this route. The crafters include jewellery makers, glass workers, leather workers, those who embroider and ceramicists. You are spoilt for choice and can find treasures for your home, family and friends and, not least, yourself.
Along the way are delicious artisan foods to buy, great cafes and we have included some special places to eat including one of South Africa’s top restaurants at Summerhill. The selected Craft Shops and Galleries are there for a reason… they have good work on offer.
Never been into an artist’s studio? This is a good way to do it. Just call ahead in case they are in the middle of creating. Each place you visit will give you an understanding of what they do. You may get to watch glass being blown, or the process of oil painting or relax and just look to find out what sorts of things appeal to you.
Durban beaches have always been special but now in Nov 2022, they are sadly not safe to swim in following April flood damage to sewerage works which remain unfixed. Recent readings have resulted in swimming bans being lifted but independent researchers have found the readings to be inaccurate.. However, our advice is DO NOT SWIM. Durban has heaps more to offer visitors. You can still enjoy the lovely coast by hiring a bike and riding along the fantastic promenade from the casino right up to the harbour entrance. Look at our choices, explore the Indian Market and the Botanic Gardens plus other gems and you will still have a fantastic holiday.
Moving West, through Westville and Cowies Hill you travel through up- market well established suburbs with trees and great gardens. In Marianhill you start to see areas, previously demarcated as Black only, which have become more suburban.
In the Rainbow Nation that is new South Africa, there is change in these suburbs but you will still see predominantly Black South Africans in some areas, Indian South Africans in some suburbs and white South Africans in others. The colours of the suburbs are like the rainbow… separate with blurring edges as the middle class develops from previously disenfranchised people. To those who know and live in South Africa, you are used to this. Those who arrive from other countries are not. No other Saunter so epitomizes the rich diversity of people and craft as on this Saunter. Just look at the surnames on any of the Saunters to see the ancestral heritage of South Africa. Try not to miss a single one. Every artist and crafter chosen has different styles and varied wares.
Moving North from Durban accross the wide Umngeni River, Durban North is a well heeled residential area and this continues along the coast to La Lucia. We have some superb artists and crafters here.
Enjoy sauntering!
