Durban's Ricksha bus in Durban Beachfront, KwaZulu Natal (original) (raw)

Cape Town and Johannesburg each have their own version of the hop-on-hop-off city sightseeing bus. Durban's equivalent is the Ricksha bus (not spelt 'Rickshaw', to prevent any confusion with the Hong Kong equivalent).

And although it is more of a hop-on (rather than a hop-off) scenic tour of Durban (you remain on board for the duration of the trip), it is, by all accounts, definitely worth doing, particularly if your overview of Durban's city centre is a little vague.

The Ricksha bus follows a route through pretty much the whole of central Durban, taking in the Victoria Street Market, Francis Farewell Square, beachfront, the Berea, Florida Road, Mitchell Park, Morningside (including the house of King Goodwill Zweletini and the presidential house of Jacob Zuma), the Cube viewpoint, Wilson's Wharf and the city centre.

Look out for the bright blue and orange double-decker bus 'city tour experience', and enjoy three hours' of major attractions. The tour guide travels with you, which means you can ask questions about the various sights en route � highlights include: the oldest cemetery, City Hall, Moses Mabhida Stadium and Juma Musjid Mosque.

For newcomers to Durban the Ricksha offers a choice way to get an overview of the city.

There are two tours a day: 9am and 1pm, with two refreshment stops en route.

For a period the place of departure for the tours moved from the Old Pavillion Site to uShaka Marine World. Make sure to double-check beforehand where you need to meet. There is an office at North Beach.