If you’re looking for a serene place to take a date on a picnic in Durban, or just a good place to have a braii, there are several great places to do so.
The obvious choice for many might be on the beach, but sometimes it can be a bit busy and you won’t have much privacy.
However, if you don’t mind a bunch of other people in the area, Durban’s Golden Mile makes a nice choice to people watch while relaxing.
To take the beach picnic up a notch, you can add on a horseback ride at sunset. Horseback Beach Adventures offers a package that includes a bouquet of flowers, a picnic for two, and a CD of photos from your ride. To book, contact Amelia or Terence: 084 467 0752 or horsebeachrides@gmail.com
For something a little more secluded, check out the Paradise Valley Nature Reserve; the area is full of coastal forests and remnant grasslands with the Umbilo River crossing through it.
To get there, from the M13, take the Rockdale-Jan Hofmeyr Road turn-off, take a left over the bridge, then continue along Jan Hofmeyr Road for about 1.5 kilometers. Just before the Westville hotel, turn onto David McLean drive on the right. The reserve entrance is at the bottom of the road.
If you want to get out in nature a bit more, try the Palmiet Nature Reserve. This reserve is abundant with birdlife as well as a lush riverine forest along the Palmiet River.
To get there from Durban on the N3 take the turn-off to Sarnia, turn left immediately, and then follow the road to the end. The address is Eden road, Pinetown.
Finally, if lounging on the ground with a picnic basket isn’t your thing, you can take a flight in a helicopter with Sky Adventures. The River Run Picnic Flight takes you on a scenic tour of Durban before stopping on a hill to enjoy a picnic.
