On arrival, we checked-in at the Southern Sun Elangeni and Maharani Hotel overlooking the Indian Ocean. The hotel features two towers – Elangeni and Maharani, and is 3.4 km from uShaka Marine World Aquarium and Water Park, as well as 1.2 km from Suncoast Casino.
Straightforward rooms with ocean views offer free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, tea and coffee making facilities. Some rooms have mini-fridges. Suites feature separate living spaces, and some have kitchens.
Dining options include restaurants and bars such as Grill Jichana, Daruma Japanese, Tall Ships pub, Lingela, Panorama Bar, Ocean Breeze, Vigour & Verve, and more. The hotel also features three pools, two exercise rooms and 15 meeting rooms. In total, the hotel has over 730 guest rooms.
Mangwanani Boutique Spa is also on the facility. To provide a unique rejuvenating experience which sanctifies the body and soul, the Spa blends traditional African practices and hospitality with western massage techniques. It is the perfect holiday retreat and the escape from a stressful demanding lifestyle.
We were fortunate to be allocated a room that faces the ocean as well as the Golden Mile. Durban’s Golden Mile is the name given to the popular stretch of beachfront. It is one of the main tourist attractions in the Durban area, and the wide stretch of golden sands serves as an excellent destination for beach goers who make their way there to enjoy the sunshine and warm waters of the Indian Ocean. The majority of these beaches are protected throughout the year by lifeguards and shark nets.
The Golden Mile is also renowned as a surfer’s paradise. The properties found along the beachfront display a blend of residential apartments and tourist hotels, most of which sprouted in the 1970s. Also situated amongst these hotels and apartments, one will also find a variety of popular restaurants and nightclubs, which contribute to the upbeat nightlife of the area.
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