This month, May, people from around the world will be descending on Durban for the African Travel Indaba. A tourism tradeshow showcasing travel in Africa. There is never a bad time to be in Durban, the warmest place to be for its climate, welcoming people and of course, one of my passions, the bunnychow.
I was there earlier this year marking thirty-one years since my first visit. For me it is the home of sport in South Africa. With friends and family, we watched the Sharks play rugby at Kings Park and the Durban Super Giants play cricket at Kingsmead. Two stunning stadiums with fantastic crowds generating a great atmosphere.
Staying at the Southern Sun Elangeni & Maharani Hotel we had magnificent views of Durban. From our room we looked down onto the Golden Mile promenade, the beaches and the warm Indian Ocean. Joggers, walkers, cyclists and skateboarders intermingled on the promenade with Zulu rickshaws. The beaches were busy with families enjoying the hot weather. Sandcastles and soccer matches are popular on the searing sand. The warm Indian ocean is a mecca for surfers, body borders, swimmers, kayakers and paddle boarders. And now cruise ships are a common site making their way to the relatively new Nelson Mandela Cruise Terminal bringing in more tourists to the holiday hot spot.
On a hot humid morning I ventured up to the hotel roof garden and pool. I am not great with heights but from here you look down on the city and the two stadiums mentioned. You can see the neighbouring town and beaches of Umhlanga beyond the third of the city’s major stadiums, Moses Mabhida Stadium. I am told that when the conditions are perfect on a clear day, looking inland you can see the Drakensberg Mountains on the horizon. I must check that out when back on a clear. blue winter’s day.
Being the founder of World Bunnychow Day I plan time to eat the humble curry served in a hollowed-out loaf, that originates from Durban. On this trip we walked from the hotel and ate at two restaurants. I must point out that we did this on two separate days. Firstly it was Happy Chappy where I tried a mutton shank bunnychow and have to say that it was seriously good with the most tender meat falling from the bone. Secondly it was House of Flavours where I opted for the mutton bunnychow and again it was excellent. I added to my order a salt lassie, which made me smile, as it was served in an old-fashioned dimpled English pint beer mug.
I may not be in Durban for this year’s travel Indaba and assume my invite was lost in the post or more likely the vast ethernet of the modern-day internet. But I will be back and for now I just hope that all the visitors enjoy the warmest place to be, and it goes without saying a bunnychow. I will be celebrating the humble bunnychow, with its roots firmly in Durban, on World Bunnychow Day, June 26th and thinking all things Durban, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa.
