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SOUTH AFRICA    (3 - Durban)

 

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Durban beach

Durban

Durban is South Africa's Acapulco, Viña del Mar, Mar de Plata or Surfer's Paradise if you know what I mean. It wasn't too crowded when I was there in march.


 

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Durban beachfront

Durban

Hotels, bars, restaurants and fantasy amusements of all kinds on the beach front are extensive and lavish. The place must be a madhouse in high season!


 

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Zulu tourist rickshaws

Durban

Durban was the first place where I saw the black culture being put to the fore as a tourist attraction. Zulu tourist rickshaws on Marine Parade and native artifacts along the beach front added a welcome touch of colour.


 

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The Wheel

Durban

This ferris wheel equipped shopping mall fitted well in showplace Durban. It would not have been out of place in Las Vegas! In spite of all that jazz, I managed to find a cheap place to stay just around the corner from that crazy mall. I stayed at the Durban Beach Hostel which was OK and only 6.50 US$ per day.


 

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Indian Market

Durban

Durban is also a busy port and an important commercial center serving the north-eastern part of the country. The Indian community is large, successful and quite visible around the Indian Market.


 

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Victoria Street Market

Durban

The large Victoria Street Market shows that there is more to Durban than its touristic beach front. I was pleasantly surprised to note that the black majority was more visible here than in the other cities I had visited so far.


 

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Zulu Village

Zulu Village

I took a tour to the "Zulu Village" tourist attraction featuring Zulu dances. I seldom go on such tours but I enjoyed this one.


 

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Zulu chief and I

Zulu Village

Our hosts were communicative and deserved an "A" for open friendliness.


 

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Zulu dances

Zulu Village

The dance show was varied and excellent. It featured mock war, village rejoicing, several traditional dances and, at the end, modern rock to which the audience was invited to participate.

Below on the left, two performers rest after strenuous dancing and on the right, an invitation meant for me that I naturally could not resist...


 

Resting performers An invitation to dance
looker

Zulu dancer and I

Zulu Village

She was a good dancer and we got along well. I was enthusiastic and got a little winded but it was fun, she was real sweet and friendly and we even drew applause from the tourist audience!


 

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