Durban's Golden Mile is a long stretch of beachfront along the Indian Ocean, with warm water year-round. The promenade is popular for walking, cycling and surfing, lined with hotels and restaurants. Durban is known for its Indian-influenced cuisine, especially bunny chow.

uShaka Marine World in Durban is one of the largest aquariums in the Southern Hemisphere, set inside a replica shipwreck. It features sharks, rays, dolphins and penguins, plus a water park with slides. Wet 'n Wild and the Village Walk complete the complex on Durban's beachfront.

Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park is the oldest proclaimed nature reserve in Africa, established in 1895. It is renowned for its role in saving the white rhino from extinction. Home to the Big Five, its hilly landscape offers excellent game viewing.

iSimangaliso Wetland Park on the KwaZulu-Natal coast was South Africa's first UNESCO World Heritage Site. It protects lakes, wetlands, coral reefs and beaches. The St Lucia estuary is home to hippos and crocodiles, and the park also shelters turtles, whales and diverse birdlife.

The Amphitheatre in Royal Natal National Park is one of the most dramatic cliff faces on Earth, stretching about 5 km and rising over 1,200 metres. Tugela Falls, among the world's tallest waterfalls, plunges from its edge. It is part of the Maloti-Drakensberg UNESCO World Heritage Site.