Anyone Been To Durban?

[WickedWestCountryLass]

My Aunt lives in Durban and has offered for us to visit so I wodnered whether anyone has been and what they thought of it?

Yes I've been!
I was 3 months old at the time though, so can't tell you anything about it

I used to work with a guy from Durban. I know that it's humid & can be dangerous (carjacking) but not as dangerous as Jo'berg!

my dad was there in the war!

So maybe i'll pack a bullet proof vest eh?

de rigeur

I stayed there for a few days when I was travelling in s Africa with a friend about 6 years ago. Her family lived in Durban. It is a great city - lots to do, fantastic beaches, markets, shops, restaurants etc and the surrounding area, especially the Drakensburg mountains, is breathtaking.
I have to say though that everyone was very security conscious, had serious alarm systems and didn't really leave their homes after dark (except the teenagers to go clubbing ). It still felt v segregated (friend is from an Indian family) and I got a few strange looks travelling with her on buses etc (I'm white). We hired a car for most of our travelling and were warned alot about car-jacking etc.

I would love to go back. I still dream about that holiday, but have to say I think I might have reservations now I have ds, though I expect a lot has changed in the past few years.

Has anyone been more recently?

went there when I was 10!

I think seed.

My parents were going to go there in August (they are in Zimbabwe) but decided not to because it would be too cold. THey gave me the impression it is quite run-down now...like a british seaside town gone to seed. But don't take my word for this, I could be wrong

If I were you I would go. I took the kids to Zimbabwe this summer and most people thought I was mad, but it was fine.

not quite sure what's going on with my post...ignore "I think seed" that'll teach me to cut and paste

I went ... about 5 or 6 years ago? For a weekend (it was a friend's wedding and the only time we could get off to get there)

Agree very much with bee's impressions about the alarm systems. We were in shock when we were told not to walk the 100yds from friend's house to B&B where we were staying! It looked safe enough, but fairly obviously wasn't from their dire warnings!