Under The Southern Sky

Walk along the promenade and glimpse the wonderful wildlife in Durban, stand under the starry night or venture out into the untainted topography of Cape Town.... The coastal cities of South Africa give Zaral Shah a taste of nature in its finest form

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

- Zaral Shah

As a geography buff, it’s a country that I’ve always fancied for its location — where the Indian Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean meet. South Africa found a more definitive place in my memory when I learnt about the country’s tumultuous history and extraordinary vineyards.

BUSTLING METROPOLIS

Durban, ‘the warmest place to be’, is amid dark grey clouds and spells of rain when we land, but the drive to our hotel on Durban’s Golden Mile gives us a good glimpse of the city. A new day brings with it more rain and an informative drive to the Valley of a Thousand Hills. With one last uphill curve, our bus comes to a standstill and on alighting we are greeted by a number of locals dressed in traditional attire. With numerous ranges visible even on a fairly foggy day, it is only on seeing the panorama that I understand why it gets its name. After a Zulu dance performance enacting the courtship and marriage customs of the people and a walk through the Cultural Village and Phezulu’s Reptile Park, we make our way back to the city centre.