Nobuhle Modise

A family holiday sounds idyllic until you hear the words: “What are we doing now?” The trick to getting the school holidays right is finding somewhere that gives children plenty to do without parents having to plan an itinerary from breakfast to bedtime. KwaZulu-Natal has several resorts where the activities are part of the stay, so there’s no need to spend every morning searching for the next outing. We've rounded up five options across the province where families can settle in, unpack and let the kids get on with having a holiday. Follow Time Out Durban on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok! To get the coolest news, features, and things to do straight to your inbox, sign up for our newsletter. TIME OUT DURBAN RECOMMENDS: 📍 The best things to do in Durban🍽 The best restaurants in Durban🏨 The best hotels in Durban🛏️ Where to stay in Durban📢 Latest news from Durban

Think you need a big budget to have a good day out in Durban? Think again. The city is packed with experiences that won’t leave your wallet feeling considerably lighter, whether you’re a visitor looking to explore the city or a local in need of a fun day out without spending a fortune. From its famous beachfront and buzzing promenade to its marine attractions and long-standing family favourites, Durban has plenty to offer at pocket-friendly prices. You can get out on the water, meet some of the ocean’s most fascinating residents, explore a miniature version of a South African coastal city or take in some of Durban’s best-known sights from the top deck of a double-decker bus. And with each of these experiences costing R200 or less per person, you can spend the day exploring without having to constantly check your bank balance. So, whether you’re planning a weekend outing, looking for something to do with the kids during the holidays, or simply want to rediscover your own city, here are five things to do in Durban for under R200. Follow Time Out Durban on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok! TIME OUT DURBAN RECOMMENDS: 📍 The best things to do in Durban🍽 The best restaurants in Durban🏨 The best hotels in Durban🛏️ Where to stay in Durban📢 Latest news from Durban

Durban’s Golden Mile offers a selection of world-class hotels. Behind the polished lobbies and welcoming smiles are teams working around the clock to keep some of the city’s best-known hotels running smoothly. At the helm of four Southern Sun properties along the Durban beachfront are four women who share a passion for people and the city they call home. Lettisha Singh, Nomfundo Nzama, Nicole Munro, and Portia Msomi share their stories with us. TIME OUT DURBAN RECOMMENDS: 📍 The best things to do in Durban🍽  The best restaurants in Durban🏨 The best hotels in Durban🛏️ Where to stay in Durban📢 Latest news from Durban Follow Time Out Durban on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok! To get the coolest news, features, and things to do straight to your inbox, sign up for our newsletter.

Tourism in KwaZulu-Natal is often reduced to its beaches, game reserves and big-name hotels. But behind those experiences is a diverse industry shaped by people working across conservation, hospitality, cultural tourism and travel, and increasingly, women are taking up space in all of it. For Women’s Month, we meet five women whose careers could hardly look more different. One works on the front lines of wildlife conservation, another leads one of KZN’s best-known luxury hotels. In contrast, others build hospitality teams, create cultural experiences, and grow their own travel businesses. Their stories also offer a glimpse into the many ways visitors experience the province. From the wilderness of iMfolozi and the shores of Umhlanga to KZN’s battlefields, heritage sites and local communities, their work helps connect travellers with the people, places and experiences that make the province distinctive. Together, they show that there is no single route into tourism and no single way to shape it. These are their stories. Follow Time Out Durban on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok! To get the coolest news, features, and things to do straight to your inbox, sign up for our newsletter. TIME OUT DURBAN RECOMMENDS: The best things to do in Durban The best restaurants in Durban The best hotels in Durban Where to stay in Durban Latest news from Durban  

We left Durban’s familiar beachfront behind for a day exploring the city through its history, communities, food, culture and sport. First stop: KwaMuhle Museum, where the stories of migration, labour and apartheid set the scene for everything that followed. If you know Durban mainly through its beaches, promenade and Indian Ocean views, there is another side of the city waiting to be explored. It is a Durban of history, communities, food, culture and sport, and you don't necessarily have to travel far to find it. That was the idea behind a township tourism experience organised by Durban Tourism, which took us on a day-long journey through the city, starting in the centre and eventually making our way to KwaMashu. The itinerary was designed to give us a taste of Durban beyond the beach, but what I particularly enjoyed was that the experience began before we even reached our first destination. The journey started in the minibus. We climbed into the minibus, and our tour guide immediately got to work. From the moment we left, we were being given context about Durban, its people, its history and the movement of communities into the city. It made the journey feel like part of the experience rather than simply transport between attractions. By the time we arrived at KwaMuhle Museum, we had already begun to understand that we were about to see a very different side of Durban. And it was the perfect place to start. Nobuhle ModiseKwaMuhle Museum is housed in the former Native Admini

If your car is already feeling expensive to run, there’s some more bad news: petrol prices are going up from Wednesday, 2 September. Both 93 and 95 petrol will increase by R1.34 a litre, according to the latest fuel price announcement from the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources. And it’s not just petrol taking a hit. Diesel drivers are facing an even bigger increase, with 0.05% sulphur diesel going up by R2.939 a litre, while 0.005% sulphur diesel will increase by R3.149 a litre.   engin akyurt on UnsplashBuckle up, Durban – another fuel price hike is on the way.       So, why is fuel going up? The latest increase comes as international oil prices climb. The department says the average Brent crude oil price rose from US$82.37 to US$87.88, with US-Iran tensions, uncertainty around oil moving through the Strait of Hormuz and higher shipping costs all contributing to the increase. There have also been increases in international petrol and diesel prices, with supply shortages and lower global inventories adding to the pressure. The rand did manage to soften the blow slightly. It strengthened from an average of R16.46 to R16.21 against the US dollar during the period under review, helping to lower some of the fuel price pressure. But there’s another factor motorists will want to know about: the Slate Levy. A levy of 83.28 cents a litre will be added to petrol and diesel prices from Wednesday, following a negative cumulative slate balance of R9.519 billion at the end

Hollywoodbets Greyville felt a little more like the Mediterranean than Durban on Friday night, as Lucky Fish Friday Night Racing brought its OPA! Greek Night theme to the racecourse. The 28 August event was the latest instalment in the Lucky Fish Friday Night Racing series, designed to reimagine the traditional night at the races. Rather than simply coming to watch the horses, guests are encouraged to make an evening of it, with each Friday bringing a different theme, food offering and entertainment line-up. The series kicked off earlier this month with a South Korean-inspired night, followed by a Ladies' Night and a Friday Night Fever theme. The idea is simple: keep the racing as the main attraction, but add enough food, music, entertainment and themed experiences to make it a destination for a Friday night out.  Nobuhle ModiseHollywoodbets Greyville provides the setting for Lucky Fish Friday Night Racing.  And Greek Night certainly embraced the brief. The racecourse was given a Mediterranean makeover, with male and female models dressed as Greek gods and goddesses adding to the spectacle and giving guests plenty to look at between races. There was also plenty happening for food lovers, with Greek-inspired dishes available around the venue. My pick for the evening was a delicious lamb souvlaki, a particularly good accompaniment to a night spent moving between the racing action, music and food stalls. On the entertainment front, Kyle Deutsch and Sketchy Bongo provided the s

Some rooms make it clear that much of the country's creative energy has landed in one place. The Art Legacy Gala at the Premier Hotel in Durban was one of them. Black Coffee, DJ Tira and Merlon brought together people from across music, fashion, art, television, film and business for the launch of the Art Legacy Fund, supported by the Black Coffee Foundation. Among the guests were Maxhosa Africa founder Laduma Ngxokolo, artist Zawadi Yamungu, Khaya Mthethwa, Dr Nduduzo Makhathini and his wife, Omagugu Makhathini. Actors, actresses, musicians, and other familiar faces from the entertainment industry were also in attendance. Unathi Nkayi was on hosting duties, steering the evening through speeches, performances and a fundraising drive that would eventually bring in more than R3 million. Nobuhle ModiseUnathi Nkayi hosted the Art Legacy Gala in Durban. It was a glamorous crowd, but the reason everyone had gathered was anything but frivolous.   The new fund is intended to help artists and creatives when life takes an unexpected turn, particularly those dealing with financial difficulty linked to health problems, mental health struggles or other serious circumstances. And Black Coffee was candid about why something like this is needed. Black Coffee on the highs and hard parts of being an artist Speaking to the room, Black Coffee reflected on his own journey into music and the importance of finding his identity as an artist. He spoke about developing his own sound and approach at

Trail runners, this is one for the calendar! Entries for the 2027 Oxpecker Trail Run open on 1 September, giving runners the chance to secure a spot at one of KwaZulu-Natal’s most popular trail-running weekends. Oxpecker Trail RunThe Oxpecker Trail Run combines challenging trails with a weekend of mountain views, camping and good times. Set around Spioenkop Mountain and the Tugela River near Winterton, the Oxpecker is designed as a full weekend experience rather than just a race. Runners can expect scenic trails, good food, a race village and plenty of time to relax and socialise once the running is done. The main Oxpecker is a two-day trail run, with a 21km route on Saturday followed by 15km on Sunday. It is open to everyone from walkers to experienced runners, with routes created by runners for runners. There are three weekends to choose from in 2027: the Yellow Billed Oxpecker runs from 30 April to 2 May, the Red Billed from 7 to 9 May, and the African Oxpecker from 14 to 16 May. The three weekends follow the same format, with the African Oxpecker offering prize money. Read: Trail running in the Drakensberg: Plan the ultimate weekend Oxpecker Trail RunThe Oxpecker Trail Run combines challenging trails with a weekend of mountain views, camping and good times. Read: 10 fun facts about the KZN Drakensberg And if the two-day run isn't enough of a challenge, the Oxpecker Trail Marathon takes place from 16 to 18 April 2027, with 42km and 21km options. Entries for the maratho

What happens when a grandmother’s food knowledge enters a professional restaurant kitchen? As soon as I entered the gates of Summerhill Guest Estate, I could tell I would be pleasantly surprised. I knew what I was there for and what was on the menu, but nothing prepared me for the gourmet sensation I read about in one of the many raving reviews of The LivingRoom. I knew the guest house was nestled somewhere in the rolling hills of Cowies Hill, and as a staff member welcomed me before I even reached the reception area, all the accolades were displayed right at the entrance. I hope this proves that Time Out Durban doesn't just tell you where to go, what to experience and what to eat without vetting it ourselves. I digress. We already told you about The LivingRoom’s MATRIARCHS series, which is what we were there for. I’m not going to lie, when I saw the menu, I was really curious about how foods such as Inhloko (cow’s head), Usu (tripe) and Isigwaqane – a popular dish among Zulu households, made by combining boiled sugar beans and speckled beans with maize meal – would be repurposed. I have to admit, Isigwaqane is not my favourite thing, so I was a little hesitant but determined to give it a try. Another least favourite thing of mine was also featured: Isijingi, a pumpkin pudding. But as my almost-three-year-old would say: “I was brave.” Read: The bold Durban flavours that are trending in 2026 Meeting Gogo Thandi   Nobuhle ModiseGogo Thandi Mchunu, whose family recipes and food

Umzulu Phaqa doesn’t give you the answer you’re expecting. Ask the KZN-born artist about the moment she decided not to quit music and you might expect a triumphant story about rediscovering her passion, finding her purpose and deciding to fight another day. Instead, Sphiwe Moya, the woman behind the Umzulu Phaqa moniker, laughs and tells me she hasn’t changed her mind. “I honestly still feel the same,” she says. That is perhaps the most revealing thing about the singer-songwriter’s journey. Because while she has just released her debut solo album, Volume 1, she isn’t pretending that the struggle that pushed her to the edge has magically disappeared. The eight-track album, released on 24 July, is a significant milestone for the Afro-fusion artist, whose work draws on contemporary pop, isiZulu storytelling and traditional influences.  But for the artist, making the album isn’t necessarily proof that everything is finally working out. It is proof that she is still figuring it out. “I’m still in the breaking up and going back and breaking up stage of this career,” she says. It is an unexpectedly candid answer from an artist whose career has, from the outside, seemed to be gathering momentum. Her music journey began almost by accident during the Covid-19 pandemic. Bored with the disruption to school and looking for something to do, she began posting videos on social media around 2019 and 2020. People responded. Then came collaborations and industry recognition, including work with

Ready to swap the treadmill for the beachfront? Durban women have another reason to get moving this Women’s Month, with eThekwini Sport Development and Recreation hosting a free Women in Sports Colour Run at Bay of Plenty. The 5km fun run takes place on Saturday, 22 August 2026, with the event running from 7am to 12.30pm. The city says the event is aimed at giving women an opportunity to prioritise self-care and a healthy lifestyle, while bringing a little more fun and colour to the usual morning run. And if the name is anything to go by, expect this to be less about chasing a personal best and more about enjoying the experience. Participants can take on the 5km route while getting covered in colour along the way. Whether you’re a regular runner, prefer a leisurely walk or simply need an excuse to get out of the house on a Saturday morning, the event offers an easy way to combine exercise and a bit of fun. The event is also part of the wider Women’s Month calendar, making it a fitting way to celebrate the women of Durban while prioritising movement, wellbeing and community. Best of all, entry is free. So, grab your trainers, call your friends and prepare to get colourful. What you need to know What: Women in Sports Colour Run Distance: 5km fun run Date: Saturday, 22 August 2026 Time: 7am-12:30pm Venue: Bay of Plenty, Durban Entry: Free Registration: No registration information has been publicly specified; contact the organiser for confirmation Age requirement: Not specified C

The countdown to the 100th Comrades Marathon is about to get serious. The Comrades Marathon Association (CMA)  will officially launch the 2027 race on Wednesday, 19 August at 10am SAST, giving runners their first major look at what is planned for the centenary edition of The Ultimate Human Race. The launch will be streamed live on YouTube, so whether you are a seasoned Comrades veteran, a first-time hopeful or simply fascinated by one of South Africa’s biggest sporting events, this is one to have on your calendar. Watch the Comrades Marathon 2027 launch live on YouTube (v) from 10am on Wednesday.   The 2027 Comrades Marathon will take place on Sunday, 13 June 2027, with the 100th edition set to be a Down Run from Pietermaritzburg to Durban. The milestone race follows a record-breaking 2026 edition, which saw entries sell out in less than 10 hours. The CMA ultimately accepted 22,399 entries after accommodating runner who were already in the final stages of submitting their entries when the advertised entry cap was reached. With the centenary race now firmly on the horizon, this week's launch marks the next major moment in the build-up to Comrades 100. The launch will set the scene for the centenary edition of The Ultimate Human Race, with the CMA set to share the key details runners will need as they begin planning for Comrades 2027. The Comrades Marathon has been a defining part of KwaZulu-Natal's sporting calendar for more than a century, drawing thousands of runners to the

South Africans are very good at being tourists. Just not necessarily in South Africa. Give us a passport and suddenly we’re travel experts. We’ll research restaurants for six months, save 47 places on Google Maps, buy an outfit specifically for the trip and announce that we’re “living our best life”. But suggest a weekend somewhere two hours from home and suddenly it’s: “Eish, that’s far.” Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille thinks we might need to change that. At the launch of Tourism Month in Durban, she reminded South Africans of a rather simple idea: “Tourism begins at home.” And honestly, she might be onto something. Because if you live in Durban or anywhere else in KwaZulu-Natal, there’s a decent chance you’ve spent more time telling visitors what they should see than actually seeing some of it yourself. Nobuhle ModiseTourism Minister Patricia de Lille speaking at the Tourism Month launch in Durban. The Durban problem Durban has a particularly funny version of this problem. We know the beachfront. We know the curry spots. We know where to go for a sundowner. We have strong opinions about which side of town has the best food. But ask a Durbanite when they last stayed in a hotel in their own city and you may be met with a long silence. And when was the last time you actually planned a weekend here? Not because family was visiting. Not because someone had a birthday. Not because you had tickets to a concert. Just because you wanted to be a tourist. Exactly. KZN is practic

For Sandulela Asanda, becoming a filmmaker was never part of the original plan. She studied economics and law, while continuing to write, act and perform in theatre. Film was always somewhere in the background, but she says she simply didn’t see filmmaking as an option for herself growing up. That changed after she watched Daughters of the Dust, Julie Dash’s acclaimed 1991 film. She recalls the moment she realised she wanted to tell stories through film: “I really want to be able to do that for both myself and for others.”  That was around 2016/2017. Almost a decade later, Asanda is celebrating the release of her first feature film, Black Burns Fast, while navigating an industry where women are still fighting to be heard, taken seriously and given opportunities. FilmmakerSandulela Asanda, director of Black Burns Fast. Learning to take up space Asanda says being a woman in the film industry has taught her to fight for the work she believes in, rather than relying on her personality or profile to sell it. “My selling point might not necessarily be who I am, but the work that I do can sell much better than me,” she says. She has also had to navigate the sexism that comes with being a woman directing in predominantly male spaces, including the subtle ways women can be labelled difficult for speaking up. Her response has been to stop worrying so much about being perceived as difficult. “I’ve actually learned how to just be okay with being difficult,” she says. “For me, it’s rath

Durban’s tourism story has long been closely tied to its beaches, but the city is looking to broaden the experience it offers visitors by bringing more heritage, township and community-based experiences into the mainstream. Speaking to Time Out Durban at Princess Magogo Stadium in KwaMashu, where the Hollywoodbets Sharks XV took on the Sanlam Boland Kavaliers in a Carling Currie Cup fixture, eThekwini Mayor Cyril Xaba said the city’s focus is shifting towards expanding its tourism appeal and ensuring the benefits reach communities beyond the traditional tourism hubs. The rugby fixture formed part of a wider Durban Tourism experience that took visitors through some of the city’s cultural and heritage offerings, including Kwa Muhle Museum and the Inanda Heritage Route, before ending with professional rugby in KwaMashu. For Xaba, bringing major sporting events into townships is part of a broader vision for an inclusive city. “It sends a good message that we are now shaping a new future, a future that is inclusive, a future that really is for all of us.”  READ: What it felt like when Currie Cup rugby came to KwaMashu Nobuhle ModiseDurban mayor speaks to Time Out Durban in an exclusive one-on-one interview. Beyond the beachfront  Xaba says Durban Tourism has already done the work of marketing the city as a destination. The next step, he says, is to give visitors more reasons to stay. “We are now at a stage where we are focusing on the tourism products,” he said. “Ours now is to