Durban Tourism City Walking Tours

Durban Tourism, the city's official tourism office, runs guided walking tours of the city centre led by local guides, and they are a straightforward way for first-time visitors to explore downtown Durban on foot. Two routes are offered, each taking about three hours, and both start and finish at the KwaMuhle Museum on Bram Fischer Road, formerly Ordinance Road.

The Oriental Walk-About focuses on the city's Indian and Zulu heritage and on Mahatma Gandhi's years in Durban. It visits the Juma Masjid, Emmanuel Cathedral, the muti market where traditional medicines are sold, the meat and fish markets and the Victoria Street Market, giving you a vivid picture of the trading life of the old Grey Street district. The Historical Walk-About covers colonial history and art deco architecture, with stops at the old Station Building, the Town Hall and City Hall, Francis Farewell Square, the statues of Dick King and John Ross, the Vasco da Gama clock, the Old Court House and the KwaMuhle Museum itself.

Groups are small, with a minimum of two people and a maximum of six per guide, so the walks feel personal and you can ask plenty of questions. They suit history enthusiasts, architecture fans, photographers and anyone who wants context for the city beyond the beachfront. Older children with an interest in history will enjoy the markets in particular, although the walking and the heat may tire younger ones.

Tours run from Monday to Friday, with departures at 09:30 and 13:30. Book ahead by phone with Durban Tourism, as the walks need a minimum number of participants and places per guide are limited. Wear comfortable shoes and light clothing, bring water, a hat and sunscreen, and carry only the money you need for small purchases in the markets. The morning departure is usually the cooler choice in summer.

Starting at KwaMuhle Museum means you can arrive early to look round the museum's free exhibition on the Durban System before setting off. Afterwards, the Old Court House Museum and City Hall's Natural Science Museum are a short walk away, and the bunny chow eateries of Dr Yusuf Dadoo Street make an obvious lunch stop after the Oriental route.