DURBAN - Beaches

Durban is situated on the east coast of South Africa, besides the warm Indian Ocean. The city of Durban and it's surrounds offer many beaches which allows swimming all year round. . Because of the long beaches and the semi-tropical climate Durban draws many beach enthusiasts. Excellent conditions await surfers, kitesurfers and booggie-boarders. The Durban and surroundings beaches are lined with shark nets offering the necessry protection from the gentle giants of the oceans.
To the north of Durban is the Dolphin Coast with the following towns - Sheffield Beach, Salt Rock, Ballito, Port Zimbali, Umdloti Beach and Umhlanga Rocks
To the south lies the South Coast with Scottburgh, Umtentweni, Shelley Beach, Margate, Ramsgate and Southbroom.
Particularly well known are the so-called “Golden Mile” beaches in Durban - Country Club Beach (Kite-Surfing), Battery Beach (Sun Coast Casino), Bay of Plenty (Beach Cafe), North Beach (Joe Kool's and surfing) and Ushaka Beach (Ushaka Marine World).
Gibela Backpackers Lodge, Durban is a 25 min walk - 5 min drive from the beachfront.

Move to the right for BOK emblem

The Springbok emblem is set to be culled in its current form, but the leaping antelope will stay on future national rugby team jerseys.
That was the decision taken at an SA Rugby Union Presidents’ Council meeting in Johannesburg last week.
The union will duly place the flower on the left breast of the bottle-green jersey, following calls to scrap the Springbok emblem during a national sports indaba in Durban last month.
The Springbok will move to the right breast, and the team will still be known as the Springboks.
The union will discuss its decision with sports minister Makhenkesi Stofile on November 18 .
Stofile claimed that the government “owned” the Springbok emblem. But yesterday the union confirmed that it owned the emblem.
“The council noted legal advice that Saru is the sole proprietor and legal owner of the Springbok badge, emblem and trademark and would continue to wear the emblem alongside the King Protea on the national playing jersey,” the union said in a statement.

MR BONES 2 Premiere in Durban

Mr Bones 2: Back from the Past - the follow-up to the phenomenally successful Leon Schuster comedy, Mr Bones - will have its world premiere screening at a glittering invitation-only gala event at the International Convention Centre in Durban on November 13.
The city of Durban is proud to host the world premiere event, in association with film producers Videovison Entertainment. The majority of the film was shot in and around Durban earlier this year in what the city hopes will be the first of many such major collaborations with South African and international film-makers.
Mr Bones 2: Back From The Past was initially planned to have been shot in Mumbai, but after visiting locations in and around Durban, Schuster and director Gray Hofmeyr (who also directed the original 2001 film) re-considered the location and ultimately transferred the shoot of the movie to Durban.
Durban features strongly in the movie. It was chosen as the film has a strong Indian flavour. The film was shot in and around the city with major locations being the Dakota informal settlement in Isipingo Beach; Umhlanga; La Mercy and Blue Lagoon.
It is the first time Schuster has done any major filming in Durban and, judging from the praise from director, producer and crew, he may well be back. “Everybody had a great time in Durban,” confirms producer Anant Singh of Durban-based Videovision Entertainment. "Leon was keen to do a movie in Durban and this one will help put our city as a major film location in South Africa." Singh said that the majority of the budget of the film was spent in Durban and this would have a positive economic impact on the city.
The benefits are substantial from a tourist standpoint, because you can assume that almost every South African will at some point see the movie,” said Singh.

City of Durban Exhibit at the 2008 RHS Chelsea Flower Show

eThekwini Municipality has for the second year in a row won a Silver Gilt Medal for it's exhibit at the Chelsea Flower Show in London of which it can be very proud. The theme of the 2008 Chelsea Flower Show was Gardening for Climate Change. Members of the eThekwini Municipality Parks, Leisure & Cemeteries Department went over to London to build the stand. Francois Lenferna, horticulturist with the Department, who was responsible for the design of the exhibit came up with a very innovative design.A modern gazebo, consisting of three tiers on a veranda area. Structures captured water that ran down living pillars, watering flower pots on the way down. This water then seeped into other flower beds, thus making full use of the trapped rain water, which finally drained down the pillars The deck of the gazebo was made out of recycled plastic and two chairs were created out of old car tyres. Both dry and tropical plants were used in the display, demonstrating the movement of plants from desert and dry areas to areas with lots of rain. All plants in the display were indigenous, which included five species of cycads, many aloe varieties from around KwaZulu-Natal with the main feature plant being Euphorbia Ingens. Raised beds created height within the design and allowed for isolated watering of specialised plants. The use of ferns, intertwined with Gloriosa Rothchildiana dripping down the pillars, softened the feature. Said Christo Swart, Deputy Head, Parks, Leisure & Cemeteries, "Once again our stand created tremendous interest amongst the exhibitors, with particular attention given to our selection of plants and the innovative design of the gazebo. We were honoured to have Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II visit our stand for the second year running. Durban can be very proud of it's achievements at this year's show."
The Durban Botanic Garden is a 15 minute walk from Gibela Backpackers Lodge. Leaving Gibela Backpackers Lodge, you will walk along Cowey Road, where you will pass L'Espresso Coffee shop, Woolworths Food Store, Fruit and Vegetable Market and Bread Ahead Bakery - all you need to stock up on some nice goodies to sit back relax and enjoy a picnic at the bird pond in the gardens. SEE YOU SOON !!!