Food - Travels with Verne and Roy

What’s On in Durban?

Plenty. Durban has quite enough to keep me busy, and that’s the truth.

By comparison to my home town, Singapore is a major world city that offers just about every entertainment you could possibly think of – everything from world-class concerts and exhibitions to international sports events and more. New restaurants of every level and description, from hawker stalls where a meal costs around US$3 to global celebrity chef restaurants where you’ll easily pay $200 or even $300 a head. So, after our nearly 16 years in this amazing metropolis, am I missing all that? No, not really.

The 5-star Oyster Box in Umhlanga Rockshas a selection of more-or-less fancy restaurants, including the Lighthouse Bar – and no, it’s not actually in the lighthouse itself

KZN Midlands Meander – Road Trip for Three

Durban’s not just about sun and surf – it’s also less than a two-hour drive from an agricultural hinterland that bristles with dozens of more-or-less-chi-chi farm stalls, handicrafts and cottage industries, craft breweries, hostelries, spas, cafés and restaurants. This bucolic wonderland is called the Midlands Meander, and what better destination for a couple of nights’ R&R with my sister Dale from London and our mutual BFF Julie?

Craft ales at Rawdon's Hotel, Balgowan - home of Nottingham Road Brewery — At Rawdon’s Hotel, Balgowan – the home of Nottingham Road Brewery

Day One – of pork crackling, dental disasters and craft ales