The Shree Ambalavaanar Alayam Temple (the Second River Temple) in Cato Manor was the first Hindu temple in Africa. It is a national monument.
The Juma Musjid Mosque is the largest mosque in the Southern Hemisphere. Daily tours are available.
Annual events in and around the city include the popular Comrades Marathon between Durban and Pietermaritzburg, an international surfing competition, the Duzi canoe mara- thon, the Midmar Mile swimming event, the July Handicap horse-race and the Amashova- shova cycle tour, as well as the largest road race in the country, the Spar Mercury Ladies 10-km Challenge.
Umhlanga Rocks, just north of Durban, is notable for its ski-boating facilities and the Ski-Boat Festival held every April. The Natal Sharks Board offers shark dissections and interesting displays. Guided tours of the Hawaan Forest are also on offer. Hawaan is the last relic of coastal forest in the region and contains rare indigenous trees.
The Umgeni River Bird Park overlooks the Umgeni River and ranks among the world’s best bird sanctuaries. Many varieties of birds, indigenous and exotic, inhabit walk-in aviaries.
The Millennium Town at the end of the Bluff houses the maritime offices, which control the entry of ships into and out of the busiest port in Africa.