Bunny Chow, Zulu history helps Durban crack the world's top travel destinations list
Durban has been ranked 14th among the world’s top destinations to visit by Time Out Worldwide in the newly released list of ‘The Best Places to Travel in 2026.
Image: File Picture
Durban has been ranked 14th among the world’s top destinations to visit by Time Out Worldwide because of its rich cultural history of the Zulu Kingdom and Durban’s Indian food influence in particular the bunny chow.
In the newly released list of ‘The Best Places to Travel in 2026’, the global media and hospitality brand ranked Durban 14th, further cementing its status as a premier destination for tourism, leisure, and entertainment.
Andrew Hallett, the Content Director at Time Out South Africa, added that Durban is best for warm water, warm weather, and warm people.
“Many travellers to South Africa will opt for Cape Town or the Kruger National Park, but I’m here to steer you towards Durban, with the warm, welcoming waters of the Indian Ocean soon to have a Club Med as its newest attraction,” Hallett stated.
He added that Club Med is expected to open in July 2026 and is dubbed 'Beach and Safari'. Hallett said the world-famous resort will offer guests the chance to experience the ocean, safari (bushveld to locals), and the rich cultural history of the Zulu Kingdom.
Time Out Worldwide recommended 2026 travel hotspots include Unesco’s next World Book Capital in Morocco. This is Time Out’s rundown of the best places to travel in 2026 and which places Durban competed against:
- Canadian Rockies
- Rabat in Morocco
- Algodões in Bahia, Brazil
- Hamburg in Germany
- Aoraki/Mount Cook in New Zealand
- Mendoza in Argentina
- Cirencester in England
- Central Vietnam
- Nepal
- Favignana in Sicily
- Gothenburg in Sweden
- Oaxaca in Mexico
- Rottnest Island in Australia
Hallett advised that if you are more of a DIY traveller, Durban and its surrounds offer majestic mountain hikes in the Drakensberg, Big 5 and wetlands adventures, arty escapes along the Midlands Meander, some of the best waves to catch for surfers and plenty of golden beaches.
“It is also home to a smorgasbord of the most delicious food in the country, in large part thanks to the Indian influence, which Durbs is home to,” Hallett said.
He explained further that while Durban has so much going for it in terms of things to do and see, where he believed it truly shines is in its food offering.
"It's influenced by so many different cultures, but classics like the humble Bunny Chow are really what make the city a must-visit for foodies and food travellers. It's something so uniquely Durban and carries with it so much history," he said.
"We are seeing more and more people globally travelling to taste the world, as you can tell so much about a city or country's cultural depth by what is served up on a plate. It just makes sense that Durban is in this conversation in 2026," Hallett added.
EThekwini Municipality Mayor, Councillor Cyril Xaba, described it as well deserved, noting that the City has worked tirelessly to ensure a thriving tourism sector.
“We are pleased to receive this global recognition. This is a clear indication that Durban’s tourism sector is firmly on an upward trajectory as we work towards fully surpassing pre-COVID-19 growth levels,” he said.
Xaba added that the City’s commitment to accelerating service delivery through infrastructure upgrades is fundamental to creating a conducive environment for tourism growth and investment.
In 2025, the City recorded a significant increase in visitor numbers compared to the previous year.
According to the municipality, during the festive season in 2025, Durban welcomed close to 1.2 million visitors, up from 998,000 in 2024, which is an impressive 19 percent increase.
- Accommodation occupancy rose to 77 percent, compared to 72 percent in 2024.
- Direct tourism spend increased from R2.2 billion to R2.7 billion, reflecting 24 percent growth.
- The sector’s GDP contribution grew from R5.5 billion to R9.6 billion, creating more than 14,000 job opportunities.
Xaba said that these figures reaffirm tourism as a key driver of the local economy.
“The latest development follows an announcement by the University of KwaZulu-Natal that business confidence in eThekwini improved significantly, rising from 52.12 points in the third quarter of 2025 to 63.38 points in the fourth quarter,”he said.
“This clearly demonstrates that eThekwini is rising, and we will spare no effort in ensuring that we live up to our slogan of being Africa’s playground and a premier destination for investment,” said Xaba.
He attributed the latest accolade to the political and administrative stability currently prevailing in the City, which has enhanced performance, accountability, and investor confidence.
zainul.dawood@inl.co.za