In short
Durban holds the largest population of Indian descent outside the subcontinent, inherited from nineteenth-century indentured labourers. That produced a cuisine of its own, including bunny chow — a hollowed loaf filled with curry.
The Indian Ocean here is warm all year, unlike Cape Town. The coast runs north towards iSimangaliso, a World Heritage reserve.
What it really costs
Durban is markedly cheaper than Cape Town and Johannesburg, for both accommodation and eating out.
A car is still needed: public transport is limited and the distances to the parks — Hluhluwe-iMfolozi, the Drakensberg — run into hours.
What nobody tells you
The Drakensberg is three hours away and rises above three thousand metres. It is the sharpest contrast in the region and appears on no beach circuit.
Safety needs care, more than in Cape Town in some central districts. Moving around at night is done by car.
Swimming warnings are real: sharks, rip currents, and a protective net on patrolled beaches. You swim between the flags.