A rental car with air-conditioning from car rental Durban, King Shaka Airport is an added bonus when travelling in this subtropical region. Hot, balmy weather and beautiful beaches plus the blood-warm sea water of the Indian Ocean, make for wonderful holidays at the Durban, Kwa-zulu Natal coastline.

Besides the Blue Flag beaches, there are other activities that you have to experience in this colonial city. These include: for the sweet tooth” there is Durban’s famous rock-candy or if that doesn’t wet your sweet appetite, you can always buy a piece of sugar cane. You can take an unusual ride on one of the rickshaw carts. Hang on tight as you will scream as the operator jumps high in the air with you hanging on precariously in tow.

The rickshaw-ride decorated with African patterns and paraphernalia, even the driver (if you can call them that!) is dressed in his rickshaw regalia. This is a great photo opportunity, for your holiday album collection.

Durban has a large Indian community, a throw back from the colonial era. The Indian influence can be seen in some of the buildings and especially when it comes to spicy food. The daily market holds all types of surprises when it comes to spices and curries.

The purveyors of these strong smelling wares pile up the spices and curry powders in rounded pyramids at their stalls. There is a glut of spicy colours, burnt orange to bright yellow curries to choose from. The sellers are knowledgeable about Indian cuisine and will suggest spices for your curry recipes. Please remember that what the vendors may call mild curry may be extremely hot for your western taste buds. Nevertheless you can equip yourself with enough spices, powders and Roti pan breads to make a sumptuous Indian dish.

Be sure to buy some the huge bananas that Natal is famous for, to compliment your spicy feast.

We are also commemorating the 150th anniversary of the arrival of the first Indian indentured labourers in Natal in 2010.

If you have overdone the sun tanning on the first day and wish to explore the coastline, instead of a day at the beach, ideally situated starting point. You may wish to travel up North and head towards some of the smaller coastal towns. On the way you find Umdloti with its untouched beaches The Umgeni River Bird Park or Umhlanga Rocks, with its cabana styled holiday accommodation.

Take to the air with hot air ballooning or head down to the beach to experience the all year Dolphin viewing. Natal Sharks Board offers lectures and you will get to see a shark dissected.

If you are a keen fisherman there are many Deep sea fishing operators along the coast. Going further south will take to you coastal hamlets like Scottsborough. These little places offer great accommodation and the towns have a sense of old worldly charm. The locals of these hamlets are friendly in a laid back coastal way. The restaurants, easily counted on one’s fingers, offer personalised service and sumptuous meals, well below big city prices.

• Durban:
  The rickshaw-ride cost around R20.00 for a ride down the Golden mile.

Umdloti Beach is 5,5km away from the King Shaka International Airport

• The Umgeni River Bird Park
  The Bird Park is situated in an old quarry site
  Free flight Bird Shows take place at 11am and 2pm every day.

  Directions:
  The park is on Riverside Road, on the bank of the Umgeni River.

  From Durban, head North toward Umhlanga, and you'll find the park just 10 minutes drive from the city centre. Follow the signs off the N2 or M4 Highways.