Page 9 - KZN Business Sense 4.4
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“the warmest plaCe to be”




               urban, ‘the warmest    coffee spots, our choice for the   with their brand endorsements,
               place’ is a popular tourist   morning was Surf Riders Café.    happy birthday messages and
        Ddestination. However,        The relaxed eatery offers great   even marry me proposals!
        when visitors arrive for a holiday,   poached eggs or granola and   We cycled passed the
        a question that is often asked is   yogurt amongst its breakfast   amphitheatre and stopped
        “What should we do today?”    selection – which lived up to   next to the beautiful Sunken
                                      expectation.
          Recent family visitors, on a                              Gardens, which invite a stroll
        ten-day visit, to our beautiful   After watching the endless   through.
        city discovered that there    stream of cyclists (walkers and   Another stop was alongside
        are plenty of attractions:    joggers, of all ages, including dogs
        golden beaches, Zulu culture,   on leads) passing by, our guests   the skate park, in front of
                                                                    the Bay of Plenty, where
        the Victoria Spice Market,    were happily up to the challenge
        heritage trails and sporting   of hiring a tandem bicycle.  skateboarders, roller-skaters
                                                                    and BMX riders test their
        activities. An overnight stay   With a few false starts, much   skills.  Alongside, the popular
        in a game reserve offered     laughter and some nervous     restaurant Circus Circus was
        memorable animal encounters.   peddling, we were off to explore   being well patronised.
        We travelled a little further   the promenade further.
        to spend a few days in the                                   We cycled passed Minitown,
        uKhahlamba Drakensberg                                      which provides an interesting
        Mountains.                                                   perspective on Durban’s
        Day one                               The 20th                  landmarks at 1:25 scale.
          For a start, we                                                   A slight incline took
                                                                             a bit more leg power,
        decided our guests       Mercer’s Quality of Living                   but the flat was again
        needed to be               report released on the                     soon reached. The
        Durbanites and                                                         promenade has
        join us for an early      20 March 2018 has once                       a total ascent of
        morning visit to the                                                   9.78 m and has a
        beachfront to cycle       again voted Durban the                       maximum elevation
        along its world                                                        of 19.42 m.
        class promenade,            most liveable City in
        followed by a swim                                                     Cycling passed
        in the ocean.                     South Africa.                      the Suncoast Casino
                                                                            revealed much
          After parking at the                                            construction activity as
        carpark at Addington                                            renovations and massive
        Beach (next to uShaka                                        expansions are underway – to
        Marine World), we took a                                    provide more entertainment
        walk along the uShaka Pier to   The brick-paved promenade   options for Durban’s visitors!
        enjoy the sunrise. Watching the   stretches 5.6 km north from
        swimmers, surfers and stand   uShaka Marine World, past the   We admired the iconic
        up paddlers relishing the warm   Suncoast Casino to Blue Lagoon   Moses Mabhida Stadium as
        Indian ocean waters meant that   at the Umgeni River mouth, a   we continued cycling past
        our guests were soon longing to   total distance of 11.2 km which   Country Club Beach and glided
        be able to catch the waves.    makes a great opportunity for   effortlessly down to the Blue

          Nearby, Ocean Ventures offers   a leisurely and safe cycle while   Lagoon pier, which is a popular
                                                                    fishing spot.
        surf boards and kayaks for hire   enjoying the “Golden Mile”.
        and lessons if required. They offer   The promenade is currently   A quick turn around and we
        dolphin and whale viewing on a   being extended further south all   were on our return journey.
        rigid inflatable boat as well.  the way to the harbour entrance   After a slight hill to climb, we are
          Xpression on the Beach,     at North Pier.                beginner cyclists, the Bike and
                                                                    Bean (also a bike hire outlet) was
        situated above Surf Riders     Cycling north, we stopped    a good place for a pit stop for a
        Café, also offers paddleboards,   to watch several families with   refreshing cooldrink.
        surfboards and bodyboards to   small children enjoying a splash
        hire and lessons.             in the paddling pools. Above   A bit more peddling and too
          But today, a bicycle ride had   us, the cable car located at the   soon, we were back at Ocean
                                                                    Ventures to return our bikes well
        been proposed. However, coffee   amusement park provided    satisfied with our ‘exercise’.
        and breakfast were first needed to   tourists a scenic view of the
        fuel the ride.                Durban beach-front.            A refreshing swim in the sea
          While the promenade offers a   The various sandcastles dotted   was now in order!  
        wide range of restaurants and   along the beaches entertained us
                                                                    (Read Day Two in What Works edition 2)



























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