Travel to Durban

Flying to Durban

British Airways (www.britishairways.com) runs a direct service between London and Durban from winter 2018. There are also plenty of options with one connection. You can travel via Dubai with Emirates (www.emirates.com), alternatively take South African Airways (www.flysaa.com) or Virgin Atlantic (www.virginatlantic.com) to Johannesburg and take a connecting flight from there. Flights tend to be cheaper during the winter months (May to September).

Flight times

From London - 14 hours (including stopover); New York - 17 hours; Los Angeles - 25 hours (including stopovers);  Toronto - 21 hours (including stopovers); Sydney - 17 hours 30 minutes (including stopover).

Travel by road

Durban is around 570km (354 miles) from Johannesburg, while Cape Town lies 1,600km (997 miles) to the west. Major roads are of high quality in South Africa. The legal driving age is 18 years, though car hire companies often require drivers to be at least 23.

Driving is on the left. The speed limit on highways is 120kph (75mph), 80-100kph (50-62mph) on national roads and 60kph (37mph) in urban areas. Foreign licences are valid if they are in English with a photograph of the holder, but the AA recommends an International Driving Permit to prevent potential complications. You must carry your licence at all times.

The main motoring organisation in South Africa is the AA (tel: +27 861 000 234; www.aa.co.za).

Emergency breakdown services

The AA (tel: 0861 000 234, in South Africa only).

Routes

The main arterial road N3 runs to Durban from Johannesburg via Pietermaritzburg, the N1 reaches the city from Cape Town via Bloemfontein, and the N2 links Durban with Port Elizabeth via the Transkei.

Coaches

Express long-distance coach services run regularly from Johannesburg, Cape Town, Port Elizabeth and other large centres. Operators include Greyhound (tel: +27 11 611 8000; www.greyhound.co.za), Translux (tel: +27 861 589 282; www.translux.co.za) and Intercape (tel: +27 21 380 4400; www.intercape.co.za). Services operate from the motor coach terminal, New Durban Station, NMR Avenue.

Time to city

From Johannesburg - 6 hours; Cape Town - 16 hours; Pietermaritzburg - 55 minutes; Port Elizabeth - 10 hours.

Travel by Rail

Services

Durban's main railway station is immediately to the north of the central city district, located between Umgeni Road and Masabalala Yengwa Avenue.

Operators

Rail services in Durban are operated by Shosholoza Meyl, the South African long-distance rail network (tel: 086 000 8888, in South Africa only or +27 11 774 4555; www.shosholozameyl.co.za). Its trains are modern, comfortable and cheap and it offers sleeper trains to and from Johannesburg twice a week.

Journey times

From Johannesburg - 14 hours 30 minutes.

Travel by boat

Durban Port is the largest and busiest shipping terminal in Africa. It is also the base for summer cruises with MSC Cruises.

Ferry operators

MSC Cruises (tel: +27 87 075 0850; www.msccruises.co.za) operates a two-day sailing to and from Durban, cruises to Mozambique and Mauritius, plus voyages from Durban to Cape Town, some of which continue to Walvis Bay, Namibia.

Port Website