Durban Airport is also known as The King Shaka International Airport. It’s always witnessing an influx of travellers from across the world. With the availability of so many cheap flights to Durban, this coastal city is one of the most popular tourist destinations in South Africa.
Hanging out near the airport is not the primary goal for most visitors when there are so many popular attractions in the main city. But sometimes, you may be running short on time. If you’d like to take a quick detour before catching your next flight, there are plenty of things to do near Durban airport.
If you’re looking for airline options that offer the cheapest tickets, check out Mango airlines, FlySafair, and Kulula Airlines.
Things To Do Near King Shaka Airport
You can spend your spare time at the various King Shaka airport shops and restaurants. But if you get bored of those, there are plenty of options nearby.
Westbrook Beach
Are you nearing the end of your trip? Do you want to indulge in relaxation one last time before catching that flight back home and getting back to work?
Head to the Westbrook Beach, not too far away from Durban Airport and relax with your feet in the soft sands. You can take a dip in the ocean and swim in the safe area without a care in the world. You can also engage in various water sports here, such as kayaking, surfing, and bodyboarding.
If you’re travelling with kids, take them to the rock pools where they can explore the harmless inhabitants of the sea. They can also touch and feel the slimy texture of creatures like the starfish and the sea-cucumbers against their skin.
Gateway Theatre of Shopping
If you’ve suddenly remembered that you haven’t bought enough gifts for the people back home, don’t worry. The Gateway Theatre of Shopping is situated just 20 minutes from the airport. It’s one of the poshest malls in South Africa and offers much more than just shopping.
Apart from the 350 retail stores where you can indulge in retail therapy, the mall houses 18 movie theatres and 6 Nouveau theatres. There’s also an indoor theme park, a science park, and a skate park for the kids.
The place offers more than 90 restaurants to satisfy your hunger pangs. If you’ve been missing your workout sessions during the trip, you can spend some time at the gym here. The mall is truly one of the best places near Durban airport and offers multiple activities for all age groups.
Crocodile Creek
Crocodile Creek has been rated as one of the best things to do in Durban and is situated just about 30 minutes from the airport. It houses around 6000 Nile crocodiles, West African dwarf crocodiles, and slender-snouted crocodiles. Other reptiles found here include American alligators, snakes, tortoises, mongeese, wild monkeys, and deadly mambas.
You can witness these carnivores in their natural habitat in a fun and interactive way. The guides are well trained and give you fascinating insights into the lives of these creatures. You are allowed to hold little baby crocodiles, although it is important to follow the instructions carefully.
The Creek includes various restaurants and play areas for fun picnics. You can spend hours looking at how reptiles spend their time. A unique experience for family outings, especially loved by kids.
Mindgame Escape
Mindgame Escape is the perfect place to kill time while engaging your mind. You can put on your detective glasses for a day and solve mysteries and puzzles to get yourself out of the escape room where you’ll be trapped.
The game usually works in teams. You and your companions get 60 minutes to solve all the puzzles and find your way to freedom. There are certain hidden compartments inside the room and you need to have an eye for detail to figure out the correct answers.
A fun and challenging activity if you have spare time on your hands, Mindgame Escape is perfect for family bonding while brainstorming.
Traditional Thai Massage Therapy
Holidays, although meant to be relaxing, can sometimes leave you exhausted. All the walking around from sightseeing might lead to your body aching and craving a massage. If you’ve got some time to spend around the airport, head to The Thai Touch for traditional Thai massage therapy.
There are various different packages on offer, the most popular one being the 90-minute hot oil deep tissue massage. You can choose the treatment that you desire based on how tired you actually are.
The actual massage will take you into a state so relaxed that you will literally have to drag yourselves out of there. If you’re catching a flight soon after, you’ll likely drift into a deep peaceful sleep on board as an aftereffect of the therapy.
Snow Wonderland
Situated just around 15 minutes from the airport, Snow Wonderland offers a chilling winter experience throughout the year. You can experience the thrill of snowflakes against your skin, slide down the snow slopes, and build a snowman, even during the warm summer months.
The s’mores here are extremely popular and the perfect snack to munch on while hitting one another with snowballs. Chances are that you’ll leave your adulthood aside for a few hours and engage in childish behaviour while tripping in the soft snow.
If you’re seeking fun activities, Snow Wonderland is one of the best things to do near Durban Airport. It is bound to leave you gleeful and with fond memories.
In Conclusion- Things to do near KZN Airport
Most of the activities in Durban are not too far away from the airport. Whether you’re flying out of the city or into the city, it is fairly easy to reach most of these places either from your hotel or from the airport.
With proper planning, there can be enough time to spare, taking into consideration the time required for all the airport formalities. There are frequent shuttles to and from the airport and most of the popular places are easily accessible. You can also take a cab if you don’t want to waste time waiting for a bus.
With plenty of things to do near Durban airport, you’re not at a loss even if you’re unable to see the main attractions in the city.