The beach strip is frequently patrolled by policemen, there are CCTV cameras and many lights at night. As everywhere else, there are several basic safety rules to follow. Avoid dark, deserted areas, and do not go out alone in the early hours of the morning. The promanade along the beach is safe to walk, but do not venture to the side and back roads of the hotels.
Avoid the Point Road (aka Mahatma Gandhi Road) area at all times.
At night, it is still a good idea to stick to the main streets and not go out at night unless you are very familiar with a particular area. Avoid the usually busy central business district, which is empty after dark. Above all, use common sense.
Remember, you're a tourist, not a celebrity. Dress down to blend in with the people in the CBD (keep the fancy stuff to a minimum).
The harbour area is quite safe, as are the shopping malls and higher residential areas.
The Point, the area between downtown and the port, is known for prostitution and cheap hotels has higher crime rate (although parts are currently undergoing a massive redevelopment). Avoid walking here alone or at night and take cars or metered taxis if you need to go to this area. .
Street children can be a problem, and its best to keep clear of them. Many sniff glue, carry knives, and act quite unpredictably.
The Most Frequently Asked Travel Questions about Durban
Where To Stay & Best Hotels in Durban - updated May 2024
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Durban Travel Guide from Wikitravel. Many thanks to all Wikitravel contributors. Text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0, images are available under various licenses, see each image for details.
