Everyone is looking for The Fugitive. We’re looking for somewhere to put our phones away, drink a coffee while it’s still hot, and forget what time we said we’d be home.
Durban has plenty of places for that. Some are quiet enough to hear the birds; others let you wander, browse and eat your way through a morning. None of the places below is a clue to The Fugitive’s whereabouts. They’re simply worth knowing when you want a few hours to yourself.
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You know the sort of coffee stop that makes you reluctant to open your laptop? Make this one of those visits. Order a cup, take a seat, and let the next half hour be free of errands. It’s an easy escape when you can’t spare a whole day but need to step out of the usual routine.
Make the trip: CraneFlower is at 8 Msenga Road in Kloof. Check its current trading hours before you go.
A patch of green can feel like a find in the middle of a busy day. Chris Saunders Park gives you somewhere to pause in uMhlanga without committing to a long outing. Bring a coffee, take a walk, and stay until you’re ready to rejoin the day.
Make the trip: Find the park on Centenary Boulevard in uMhlanga. It is a public park, so plan your visit for daylight hours.
For a change of scene, head towards the Valley of a Thousand Hills. PheZulu offers game drives and a reptile park, but you can also slow the outing down with a meal and a view across the valley. Choose the experience you want before leaving home and give yourself time to enjoy it.
Make the trip: PheZulu is in Botha’s Hill, about 35 kilometres from central Durban. Check the current activity times and rates when planning your visit.
This one asks you to leave Durban behind for the day. Pennington’s stretch of coast is a good choice when you want the sea without trying to fit your outing between other appointments. Walk, find a place to sit, and let lunch happen when you get hungry.
Make the trip: Pennington is roughly 74 kilometres south of Durban. The beach has a tidal pool as well as picnic and braai areas; check local beach conditions before swimming.
If a quiet room isn’t your idea of an escape, take a Saturday drive to the Karkloof. Browse the produce, choose breakfast from the stalls, and make a morning of it. It’s a place for slowing down among other people, with no need to rush from one stop to the next.
Make the trip: The market is at Preston Farm, 9 Karkloof Road, about six kilometres from Howick. Its host lists Saturday trading from 8 am to noon.
For actual sightings and competition details, follow East Coast Radio’s official Fugitive trail. These five places are recommendations for your own time out, wherever the hunt takes ECR next. www.ecr.co.za
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