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Car hire in Durban – The New Gateway to South Africa
A vibrant, subtropical port city, Durban (the third-largest in South Africa) that has been undergoing a cultural revival in recent years. But despite its charming colonial architecture, laid-back atmosphere, genial hospitality and warm seawater, the city is often overlooked in favour of its more illustrious counterpart, Cape Town. The coasts both north and south of Durban offer some amazing road-trip potential, and this is paired with the possibility of venturing into the interior to explore the surrounding KwaZulu-Natal province, an area abounding in wonderful scenery and unique natural attractions.
The city itself is an up-coming tourist destination with many fine museums to visit, such as the Durban Local History Museums which collectively offer a fascinating insight into the city's diverse history and rich cultural heritage. But the strength of Durban for the modern visitor is the large number of other attractions it now has in its portfolio, including the Amanzimtoti Bird Park, Kloof Nature Reserve, uMhlanga Lagoon Nature Reserve, Mitchelle Park Zoo, Durban Botanic Gardens and the Umgeni Mangrove Trail, not to mention uShaka Marine World, one of the best combined water park and aquarium complexes in the whole of Africa.
With a car hire in Durban you'll be at liberty to immerse yourself in the kind of slow-paced, soak-it-all-up type of travel experience for which South Africa is so renowned. The landscapes are vast and wildly mesmerising and the feeling of history as you traverse the land the brave Zulus fought to protect against the Boers and British in the 19th century is quite overwhelming. After touring the city and savouring its many cultural attractions, many visitors head for the Drakensberg Mountains to admire the exceptional beauty of its soaring basaltic buttresses, a uniquely natural phenomenon that is protected by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.
Auto Europe has been offering the best deals on car hire in Durban and many other key places in South Africa since 1954. We offer the cheapest rates, extra promotions such as free additional drivers, and the widest choice of vehicles in over 180 popular destinations around the world, and you can book your cheap car rental in Durban in just a few clicks of the mouse through our state-of-the-art search engine. Please feel free to call our award-winning rental specialists if you require any help with your reservation and they will be happy to find you the best deal. For added peace of mind, why not take a look at the user ratings and comments posted by some of Auto Europe previous customers in the city on our Durban car hire reviews page.
For more information on renting a vehicle in Durban, click on the car hire related topics listed below:
| Suppliers | Car Hire FAQs | Travel Guide |
Where to pick up a car hire in Durban
By working with all the world's top car hire providers, Auto Europe can offer you a wide choice of locations in and around Durban, meaning that you can pick up your vehicle in the city centre and be on your way in a few minutes. Besides the many car hire companies operating at Durban Airport, there are several conveniently-located suppliers' offices in other parts of the city, most of which are in close proximity to Durban's top tourist attractions, such as the excellent Kwamuhle Museum and the city's Botanic Gardens, one of the best attractions of its kind in Africa. In order to help you make the right choice, our state-of-the-art booking engine allows you to do an extensive search to find the best vehicle and the most suitable pick-up point for your trip.
Durban Airport
Durban Airport is a major international gateway to South Africa and one of the busiest airports in the whole of Africa. Opened in time for the 2010 World Cup, it was named in honour of King Shaka, the 19th-century Zulu leader. With a capacity for ore than 7.5 million annual passenger movements, it has attracted the interest of airlines all over the world, including Airlink, BA Comair, FlySafair, Kulula, Mango, South African Airways, South African Express, Air Botswana, Air Mauritius, Air Namibia, Airlink, Kenya Airways, RwandAir, TAAG Angola Airlines, Westair Aviation, Air France, Austrian Airways, Britih Airways, Cathay Pacific, Condor, Edelweiss Air, Fly Emirates, Ethiopian Airlines, KLM, Lufthansa, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, Thomas Cook Airlines and Turkish Airlines. When you arrive to collect your car rental, you'll find the offices of many of the most prestigious vehicle providers close to the main arrivals area, with the collection point in a car park nearby.
Durban Airport (DUR)
Website: Durban Airport
Address: King Shaka Drive, La Mercy, 4405, South Africa
Telephone: +27 32 436 6000
Book with the best car hire suppliers in Durban
Auto Europe is a leading international car hire company currently offering a vast selection of convenient pick-up and drop-off locations in 190 different destinations around the world. Thanks to our many years of experience dealing with all the global and local car rental companies, we can offer you the best standard of service and cheapest prices on the market.
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Should you require additional information about the car hire companies we work with or their policies, for example out of office pick up or questions regarding age restrictions, our car rental specialists are just a phone call or e-mail away and happy to assist you.
Frequently asked questions about renting a car in Durban
This section features the most frequent questions asked by people booking a car hire in Durban. Scroll down for important tips relating to a wide range of essential car hire topics, such as credit cards, coverage, tolls, traffic and much more. If you need any more information, please call our reservations team and they will be happy to help you with your reservation and assist you with your travel itinerary.
Do I need a credit card to rent a car in Durban?
Yes. A credit card will always be required for travellers who rent a car in Durban and other key locations in South Africa. When you arive to collect your vehicle, the local supplier will ask for a credit card (Visa, Mastercard, Diners, American Express, etc.) in the name of the main driver which must contain enough funds to cover the deposit to be held for the duration of the rental period. This amount is then released back onto the credit card once the vehicle has been returned in the same condition as when it left the pick-up station (ie undamaged in any way). Please make sure that any previous damage to the vehicle is noted by the local car rental staff before you depart from the station. Please also note that debit or prepaid cards are not accepted. To find out which card types will be accepted for your rental, just click on the blue and white info icon (i) in the car details after making a quick search in our booking engine. For luxury car, the car hire company might ask for a second credit card (also in the name of the main driver) due to the high value of such vehicles. For more information, please consult our special Credit card and Deposit FAQs page.
What insurance do I need for my car rental in Durban?
All the rates offered on our website through the Auto Europe booking engine include the minimum amount of legally-required coverage, consisting of Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) with or without excess and Theft Protection (TP), also with or without excess. Please note that CDW does not cover damage to certain parts of the vehicle, so for added peace of mind we suggest Auto Europe's Full Damage & Theft Protection coverage for a small additional charge. Coverage details can be easily accessed by clicking on the blue and white info icon (i) after making a search in the booking engine. Here it is possible to find out about the CDW deductibles, Theft Insurance deductibles and Liability Insurance. The same info is also included in the car voucher’s terms and conditions. Please be aware that at the tie of pcik-up, staff of the local supplier may also try to offer you additional coverage such as include Personal Accident Insurance (PAI), Personal Effects Coverage (PEC), Super CDW, Seguro Relax Insurance, Road Assistance, Travel Insurance, etc. which are entirely optional and will most likely be surplus to your requirements. Unfortunately, Auto Europe will be unable to refund the money for such coverage should you decide that it wasn't required in any way during you trip. Please go to our Car Hire Coverage page for more info about covering yourself adequately for your car hire in Durban.
How is the traffic in Durban?
Being a modern, upcoming destination, it's easy to get around with a car remtal in Durban. Road networks link it to many of the main cities in South Africa, which makes road travel the best way to see all the sights both inside and outside the city centre. The N2 from Cape Town provides a very scenic coastal route, while the N3 from Johannesburg skirts the majestic Drakensburg Mountains. Durban is also well connected to the motorway network, but driving distances to other cities are long. Relatively close, you can find Pietermaritzburg, about 40 miles from Durban, which can be reached in about 50 minutes by driving along the N3 motorway. Continuing on the N3 you will find Johannesburg, though the 352-mile drive will take about five and a half hours. If you are willing to venture even farther, you could drive down to coastal East London by following the N2 motorway for about 407 miles, with a drive time of seven and a half hours. For more useful information for driving your car hire in Durban visit our driving information page.
Where can I park my car hire in Durban?
Parking your car hire in Durban is relatively easy, although safety can sometimes be an issue, so try to check that you're parking in a car park that has on-site security and be sure bot to leave any belongings visible inside the vehicle that might attract the attention of thieves. Durban recently rolled out a pay-and-display system throughout the inner city with parking available in most of the central parts subject to a time limit. Durban Airport has around 6,500 parking space avilable, many of which are located in very close proximity to the main terminal building. There are 6 disabled bays in the shaded parking close to the walk way to the terminal and a total of 18 disabled bays in the parkade, broken up into 2 bays on level -1. Pay and display parking operates in central Durban. Alternatively, if you wish to, you can also pay one of the so called 'car guards', who operate in the city, to keep watch over your car while it is parked.
Do I need to pay tolls when driving my car hire in Durban?
Yes, all national roads in South Africa are tolled so we recommend planning your route carefully and carrying enough cash in order to pay for your tolls. The most important road for visitors with a car rental in Durban is the N3, a 415-kilometre stretch of toll road between the Heidelberg South interchange in Gauteng and the Cedara interchange in KwaZulu-Natal. It traverses four of South Africa’s provinces, namely Gauteng, Free State, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal and is considered to be one of the most strategic road links in southern Africa. It is also popular with travellers looking to visit many of the popular holiday resorts in the Durban area. You can pay the tolls using cash (South African tender) or credit cards issued by South African Banks.
Do I need an international driving licence to hire a car in Durban?
It depends on the supplier. For instance, with the local car rental company First Car an international driving licence (IDP) is required if the driver's home licence is not written in English (the rules are that the licence must be written in the Roman alphabet and been held for at least 2 years). With the suppliers Budget and BLUU, an international driving licence is mandatory.
Durban Travel Guide
With up to 320 days of sunshine a year, and miles of golden sands fringing its Indian Ocean shoreline, Durban has emerged in recent as one of South Africa's top holiday destinations. And no other region captures the country's diversity like KwaZulu Natal, which is easily accessible to anyone who decides explore the city's surroundings with a car rental in Durban.
Best day trips with my car rental in Durban
There is an abundance of breathtaking scenery just beyond the city, with the vibrant coastal town of Umhlanga to the north and the beautiful Sapphire Coast to the south. And to the west lies the verdant Valley of 1,000 Hills, which is a favourite day-trip destination for tourists because of its many nature reserves and cultural villages. A little further afield lie the big game reserves where visitors can often catch a glimpse of the Big Five! Plan your day trip or why not a one-way car hire road trip with the help of our suggestions below.
Midlands Meander
The Midlands Meander is a driving route that starts about an hour away from Durban, just outside Pietermaritzburg. With a car hire in Durban you can have a fun day out of the city on a route that takes you through a scenic valley for some 80 kilometres. Besides all its natural beauty incorporating the Drakensberg Mountains as a backdrop, the Midlands Meander is also dotted with many pretty little villages where visitors can buy locally-made handicraft products, from weaving, pottery and paintings to wood crafts, leather goods and freshly-made cheese. There are more than a 150 great places to dine along the way and there are all sorts of activities including horse-back riding, skydiving and white-water rafting. Don't miss the Midmar Dam which is a very popular place for enjoying a picnic or barbecue when the weather is fine.
Drakensberg Mountains
The aforementioned Drakensberg Mountains (which in Afrikaans means 'Dragon Mountains') is an area of breathtaking scenery and one of the most popular tourist destinations in South Africa. Its jagged peaks rise high above vast swathes of dense forests and deep valleys with picture-book cascades feeding the clear mountain streams. The surrounding Drakensberg Park (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) is a place of exceptional natural beauty with its soaring basaltic buttresses, incisive dramatic cutbacks and golden sandstone ramparts amidst a series of visually-spectacular sculptured arches, caves, cliffs, pillars and rock pools.
Valley of 1,000 Hills
Inland from the popular resort area of Umhlanga Rocks lies the Valley of 1,000 Hills, a region of rounded hills affording many scenic viewpoints, Zulu homesteads and dramatic gorges. Rising up along the banks of the Umgeni River as it flows into the Indian Ocean, the hills descend from the distant Drakensberg Mountains and one of the best road trips in the area is the old road between Durban and Pietermaritzburg, which runs along the southern edge of the valley. Don't miss the chance to visit Phe-Zulu, a typical Zulu village where visitors can see traditional dance performances and witness the ancient rituals of the local witch-doctors. Take time to explore the PheZulu Safari Park which has an abundance of wild animals in their natural habitat, as well as a crocodile and snake park.
Inanda Township and Heritage Trail
Located about 20 minutes north-west of Durban, the Inanda township has a rich historical legacy due to the fact that it was where Mahatma Gandhi adopted his world-famous passive-resistance philosophy whilst visiting in 1904. Inanda is also where Nelson Mandela cast his vote in South Africa's first democratic elections in 1994. Passing through the enchanting Inanda Valley, the Inanda Heritage Route takes visitors to the Phoenix Settlement where Gandhi once lived and where his original printing press can still be seen.
Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park
Situated about a two-hour drive from the centre of Durban, Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park is South Africa's oldest game reserve. Established in 1895, it is one of the few places in the KwaZulu-Natal province where you can see the Big Five (lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and buffalo). Activities include an estuary boat trip, a visit to a wild cat sanctuary and the chance to buy traditional products and souvenirs at the Dumazulu Cultural Village. The park is also known for its rhino conservation (both the black and white rhino can be observed here), along with cheetahs, giraffes, zebras and more than 300 different types of bird.
What to do in Durban
Few cities in the world are as vibrant and dynamic as Durban, and even fewer have such a potent mix of cultures. It's also a good place to relax on the beach in the warm waters of the Indian Ocean before dining in one of the many excellent waterfront restaurants nearby once all the city sightseeing is done.
- Golden Mile: Completely redeveloped for the 2010 World Cup (for which Durban was a top venue), the city's stylish seaside promenade is a major attraction for visitors who can now walk the entire length of its fabulous beach-front area. Lined with fashionable boutiques and al fresco-style restaurants, it is one of the best places in South Africa to relax on a golden, sandy beach and soak up the year-round sunshine whilst surfing, swimming and enjoying the many types of water-sports available.
- Kwamuhle Museum: Housed in a former Native Affairs Department building, this inspiring museum portrays life in the Durban area before, during and after the time of apartheid. The collection includes photographs of township life and exhibits based on contributions made by people responsible for the development of the city. Don't miss the amazing Shadows of the Past sculpture located in the museum's courtyard, a striking piece created by the popular Durban-born artist Ledelle Moe.
- Botanic Gardens: Set on the slopes of Berea Hill, a short drive north-west of the city centre, Durban's Botanic Gardens are the oldest tourist attractions of their kind in Africa. Established in 1849, you can tour the premises and visit an orchid house and sunken garden before seeing an ancient and very rare cycad collection. It's also a good place for a picnic, after which you can treat yourself to to tea and cakes at the Charles James Tea Garden, or a delicious cappuccino at the nearby Gourmet Café.
- Florida Road: Buzzing with upmarket restaurants, stylish cafés, trendy art galleries and sophisticated cocktail bars, Florida Road is one of the most bustling and vibrant parts of the city, particularly by night. Essentially a neighbourhood focusing on eating, drinking and having a good time, this charming tree-lined boulevard runs from the rose gardens of Jameson Park to Greyville and features many beautiful Victorian and Edwardian buildings on both sides of the street.
- Indian Quarter: Encompassing the Juma Masjid Mosque and Victoria Street Market, Durban's Indian Quarter is the largest of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere and offers its many visitors a multicultural mix of sights, sounds and very exotic aromas. Selling everything from spices and saris to wonderful hand-made jewellery, it's a place to find a real bargain and dine on some of the finest and most authentic Indian cuisine available in South Africa.
- uShaka Marine World: Located on Durban’s Golden Mile, this excellent modern water park and aquarium is the perfect place to treat the kids to a fantastic day out in the city. uShaka Marine World features several key attractions in one large complex, including Sea World (based on replicas of four shipwrecks), Wet n Wild (a wonderland of splash pools, slides and super tubes), Kids World, Sea Animal Encounter Island, Dangerous Creatures, Village Walk, Chimp & Zee and uShaka Beach, none of which should be missed!