Southern Sun Elangeni & Maharani

You stay at Southern Sun Elangeni & Maharani on Durban’s Golden Mile, facing the Indian Ocean. The hotel has seven hundred and thirty-four rooms, most with sea views, and three pools — one on the rooftop, another by the spa, and a third beside the Panorama Bar. Families often choose the family rooms with two double beds, while couples or solo travellers take the standard rooms with en-suite bathrooms and ocean views.

The hotel sits on the beachfront promenade, so you can walk to the sand from the door. Inside, there is a spa for treatments and a fitness centre with treadmills, weights, and yoga mats. The rooftop pool looks over the bay, and the pool deck by the Panorama Bar is where many guests spend afternoons with a drink in hand.

The kitchen serves seafood buffets, steaks, and pizzas across five dining venues. Breakfast is a buffet with views over the bay, and room service runs until late. The hotel also has conference facilities and a business centre with workstations and printers.

The Golden Mile promenade runs past the hotel, linking it to Durban’s beachfront attractions — uShaka Marine World is a short walk away, and Moses Mabhida Stadium is a few minutes by car. Parking is available on-site, though spaces are limited in high season. The hotel has backup power for load shedding.