Flights from Johannesburg to Durban

Affectionately known by locals as ‘Durbs’, this city has stolen the hearts of many a visitor. It is the third most populated city in the country, after Johannesburg and Cape Town respectively.

A surfers paradise, the crystal clear waters of the Indian Ocean are enjoyed by a countless number of people. The development along the Durban beachfront with the 2010 world cup is a world-class tourist attraction offering a sea world and a water world for the kids, as well as a number of reasonably priced, quirky shops. Quality restaurants are not hard to come by either. Walking up the Moses Mabhida Stadium (or taking a ride in the sky car) offers spectacular views of the city.

As far as other attractions in Durban go, you can learn a little about the history of the city and its attractions by taking a free walking tour of the city. Take a trip to the botanical gardens with the whole family, especially on certain Sundays during summer when concerts are held. If you are visiting Durban with your family, you can keep the kids entertained by visiting Mini Town, located on the beachfront in Durban. You can also take the little ones to Mitchell Park Zoo. If you are more interested in the cultural side of things, visit the KZN SA Gallery to see some of South Africa’s best artists talent, and check out the stunning murals of the traders at Warwick Junction.

Hiring a car can allow you to explore the beautiful surrounding towns like Hillcrest and 1000 hills. If you like the beach, it is well worth spending a couple of days exploring the coastal towns like Scottburgh and Margate. Oribi Gorge is also worth a visit, where you can bungee jump and bridge swing into the gorge. The majestic Drakensberg mountain range is a little further away and is one of the country’s designated heritage sites. There are a number of spectacular hikes you can do here, as well as visit the San Rock paintings.

Booking your Durban flight: what are the options?

South Africa has a number of low-cost airlines, such as Mango, FlySaFair and Kulula. Flights to Durban take a little more than one hour. All of these airlines have online check-in facilities, which can cut down your queuing time and allow you to book your seat in advance. You will need to get your boarding pass one to two hours before departure but bear in mind that check-in usually closes around 45 minutes before your flight departs. Airlines have become more strict about passengers who are late, and no longer delay take-off for individual passengers. So make sure you are on time so you don’t miss your flight.

The benefits of using our website to buy your tickets

Booking tickets in this day and age is not difficult, especially if you use our website. It’s a simple process, that has almost instantaneous results. Use the flight booking tool featured on the top of this page to view and compare flights. Then all you have to do is provide information regarding how many people will be flying and your dates of travel. You will also, of course, have to specify which airport you will be departing from and landing at. Once you have provided this information, click on ‘search’ to see and choose the cheapest flights.

You can enjoy discounted prices of flights and accommodation, which you can learn about by cruising our Facebook page and signing up for our newsletter.

Is it better to fly with Mango, FlySafair or Kulula?

Is choosing between the different airlines as simple as choosing the cheapest flights? It may as well be. All of these airlines were founded in the ‘noughties’, and all offer similar features such as world-class in-flight service and in-flight magazines. Similarly, they all offer an affordable in-flight menu. One of the main differences that distinguishes FlySafair from the others is that it offers a relatively cheaper ticket if you don’t have any luggage to be checked in. SAA/BA is also an option. However, tickets with these airlines are sometimes more pricey than the alternatives. However, meals and fresh juice are provided at no extra cost.

When is the best time to visit Durban?

Durban basically has two weather types: warm and hot. The summer months of November, December, January and February can be very humid, and rain (with the odd thunderstorm) can be expected. June to November is when schools of dolphins and lots of whale activity can be seen along the coast. Due to reduced rainfall, the sea is usually a bit cleaner than the summer months. This being said, any time is a good time to visit Durban!

Essential info about Durban

Before going to Durban, there are a few things you might want to know before heading down south:

• Zulu and English are the most spoken languages in this city. Afrikaans and Xhosa are also commonly spoken.
• It has the 9th largest harbour in the world.
• The Gateway Shopping Centre is the largest shopping centre in Africa and has more than 350 shops.
• UShaka Marine World is the 5th largest aquarium in the world.
• The sardine run is an annual phenomenon that happens along the south coast of KZN. During this time, billions of sardines swim up the coastline and attract a frenzy of wildlife. Visitors should note that the shark nets are removed during this time.
• Mahatma Gandhi started his political career in Durban.

Out and about in Durban

King Shaka Airport is well equipped in terms of transport. If you are heading down the South Coast, you can make a booking for a ride on the reasonably-priced Margate Shuttle that stops at various points along the coast. Failing that, there are a number of car rental agencies you can use. These are not expensive, and offer you the freedom and flexibility for you to travel further distances on your own steam. Travelling on the train, or using public taxi services are not recommended as they are widely considered unsafe.