The 15 Best Day Trips from Durban
How far each place is, what to see there, and a plan for the day.
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There are 15 good day trips from Durban, South Africa, led by Pietermaritzburg, KwaDukuza, Mpumalanga. The closest is Ntuzuma, about 25 min by car, and 5 of them fit into half a day. Below: drive times, distances, what to see, and a sample day plan.
Built from 15 nearby places, with sights from real traveler trips, on Packy AI. Last updated November 2026 by the Packy AI Travel Team.
Day trips from Durban
- 1
Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 15 min by car67 km north-west of DurbanKnown for Kwa-Zulu Natal National Botanical Gardens.
- 2
KwaDukuza, South Africa
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 15 min by car64 km north-east of Durban - 3
Mpumalanga, South Africa
Half-day tripAbout 45 min by car38 km west of Durban - 4
Ntuzuma, South Africa
Half-day tripAbout 25 min by car15 km north-west of Durban - 5
Tongaat, South Africa
Half-day tripAbout 40 min by car33 km north of Durban - 6
Port Shepstone, South Africa
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 45 min by car113 km south-west of Durban - 7
eSikhaleni, South Africa
Full-day tripAbout 2 hr 10 min by car138 km north-east of Durban - 8
Mandeni, South Africa
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 20 min by car87 km north-east of Durban - 9
Folweni, South Africa
Half-day tripAbout 40 min by car26 km south-west of Durban - 10
Margate, South Africa
Full-day tripAbout 2 hr by car128 km south-west of Durban - 11
Empangeni, South Africa
Long day or overnightAbout 2 hr 20 min by car148 km north-east of Durban - 12
Howick, South Africa
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 25 min by car88 km north-west of Durban - 13
Richmond, South Africa
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 25 min by car73 km west of Durban - 14
Mpophomeni, South Africa
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 25 min by car88 km west of Durban - 15
Ballitoville, South Africa
Half-day tripAbout 45 min by car40 km north-east of Durban
A sample day: Durban to Pietermaritzburg
- 08:30Leave Durban
- 09:45Arrive in Pietermaritzburg (1 hr 15 min drive)
- 10:00Kwa-Zulu Natal National Botanical Gardens
- 12:00Lunch
- 13:15Explore the old town, markets and cafes of Pietermaritzburg
- 15:45Head back to Durban
- 17:00Home in Durban
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
- What are the best day trips from Durban?
- The best day trips from Durban are Pietermaritzburg, KwaDukuza, Mpumalanga, Ntuzuma, Tongaat. The closest is Ntuzuma, about 25 min away by car.
- What is the closest day trip from Durban?
- Ntuzuma is the closest, 15 km north-west of Durban, roughly 25 min by car. Best as a half-day trip.
- Where can I go within an hour of Durban?
- 5 places are within about an hour's drive of Durban: Ntuzuma (25 min), Folweni (40 min), Tongaat (40 min), Mpumalanga (45 min), Ballitoville (45 min).
- What is the biggest city near Durban for a day out?
- Pietermaritzburg is the largest city in day-trip range, 67 km north-west of Durban and about 1 hr 15 min by car. With that much to see, start early or stay the night.
- Where can I go for a weekend from Durban?
- For a weekend away from Durban, pick the places far enough to be worth a night: Empangeni (148 km, 2 hr 20 min), eSikhaleni (138 km, 2 hr 10 min), Margate (128 km, 2 hr), Port Shepstone (113 km, 1 hr 45 min). Closer places on this list work better as a single day.
- How far is too far for a day trip from Durban?
- Up to about two hours each way keeps the day relaxed. The farthest place on this list is Empangeni at 148 km, around 2 hr 20 min by car, which is better as a long day or an overnight stay.
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