Durban Cultural Exploration: Engaging Walking Tour with a Local Expert

Johnny is a true Durbanite and knows the city and it’s people like no other. Therefore, a city tour with Johnny shows the unique sides of Durban that you will never forget. The tour will take you through town to the markets and the beach by using the famous combi’s to get from one place to another. Fun and adventure guaranteed!

Duration: 6 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Victoria Street Market - Following an introduction to Durban’s rich history, participants will use local transport to explore the city’s vibrant markets. The morning will be spent visiting the early morning market, the bridge market, the Indian markets, the African medicine (Muti) market, the African market, and the Victoria Street Market….
What's Included
  • Personal guide
  • Transportation via local minibus combi for the tour’s duration
  • Lunch included
What's Not Included
  • No drinks included
  • Personal expenses
  • Pick-up from hotel
Location
169 Ninth Ave
Ninth Avenue
Meet at Tekweni Backpackers on 9th Avenue just off Florida Road in Morningside.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(130 Ratings)
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Jonathan_d
Jan 21, 2026
Good fun day out using... - Good fun day out using public transport getting to see the south African life through the markets and the traditional remedy market is not for everyone but authentic and finishing with bunny chow is great
Review provided by Viator
Kieran0207
Jan 14, 2026
Durban through a different lens - An excellent tour, expertly led by the vastly experienced, passionate and knowledgable Johnny. You will be taken on a journey through downtown Durban that few outsiders get to or choose to experience, using local transport, visiting local markets, trying local food and meeting local people. Johnny is the ideal host - engaging, open to conversation on various topics and offered a fascinating insight into Durban’s past and present. A great way to spend the afternoon and experience a more authentic side of the city
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Keele_j
Dec 22, 2025
Durban City Tour - My husband and I learned so much about the past and current future of Durban, SA. Such a wonderful and authentic experience. Durban is not inlay a beautiful city but also has resilient people. Johnny our guide is not only knowledgeable but passionate about his love for Durban.
Review provided by Viator
Dennis_m
Dec 10, 2025
Authentic and Unfiltered: A Tour That Sparks Thought but Needs More Conversation - Johnny is a local and experienced tour guide who has been in the industry for a very long time and presents his perspective on Durban in a non-pretentious, matter-of-fact way, without much fluff. If you're looking for a light-hearted, fun, yet incredibly authentic and gritty experience, this is for you. In fact, it was even more authentic than I imagined it to be, and at certain stages not for the faint-hearted, but in a good way. I’d even say that the description of Johnny’s tour does not do justice to the richness that his experience provides. It’s a glimpse into Durban from the perspective of a straight man with a distinct cultural heritage. Johnny has his views on life, history, and politics, and he does not hold back from sharing them. I personally did not always agree with what he said, but that’s cool. What I would have wished for, however, is more engaging storytelling. I think the experience could be deeper and more meaningful if he asked his guests questions or involved them in a way that creates dialogue, where different viewpoints and perspectives can be discussed. I would also have wished for at least a mention of the legacy of slavery, as it played a significant role in the history of indentured Indian labourers in South Africa. He also said that South Africa has the largest Indian population outside of India, which is incorrect. It’s not a tour for history geeks and certainly not for travellers who feel easily offended by politically incorrect remarks or commentary which, by the way, did not bother me at all, except for not getting the opportunity to respond or engage. I did feel like there wasn’t much room for asking difficult questions or having a debate. I tried to get a word in at the beginning to respond to certain subjective viewpoints, but was shut down quite quickly by one of the participants who did not appreciate me interrupting the guide. However, I only interrupted because I had been trying to raise my hand consistently and was ignored. I eventually surrendered to the fact that this was a monologue, a one-way presentation, and I got the sense that other opinions or perspectives were not really valued, or there simply was no interest. I personally think a more interactive approach, where tour guides allow room for dialogue, is where the magic happens, because we are all continuously learning from each other. The moment we think we know it all and our own perspective is the only one that matters, it becomes uninteresting to me. I’d book this experience again and give him 5 stars, because he deserves it, especially because we need more authentic experiences in tourism like Johnny’s. But I recommend a bit more depth, including the mention of Gandhi, the legacy of slavery, and a bit less of the “good old days” narrative.
Review provided by Viator
W6387rffranziskam
Dec 4, 2025
It was just perfect ❤️ - Jonny has made it a unique day, individual, informative and above all breathtaking impressions in the markets
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Stefan_b
Nov 28, 2025
Let Johnny take you on a wonderful stroll in Durban - If you want to get submerged in every day life of the Durbanites, let Johnny take you on a stroll. You’ll in depth info on the city and its history, experience the Bus-Combi community taxis, walk through a few local markets and end 5-6 hours, after “take-off”, at the beach for a lovely lunch. We couldn’t have picked a better guide
Review provided by Viator
Breda_r
Nov 23, 2025
A day in Durban through a local lens - Johnny is a local from Durban, with extensive historical and cultural knowledge. He provided us with a fun tour of the city and several local markets, using the mini bus system as well as walking. He showed us the real vibe of the city and ensured we had a great lunch at the end of the tour all inclusive. A must do if you have a free day in Durban
Review provided by Viator
435cadenb
Oct 30, 2025
great local authentic experience - Johnny is great! A truly enriching experience. I highly recommend this over the other city tours - you'll get very in-depth local tour through more parts of the city than just touristy areas. As a solo traveler he also gave me so much helpful info to help get acquainted with the city and explore more outside of the central district. Definitely recommend.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Wander59211685456
Oct 5, 2025
Top rate local guide. - Johnny was first-rate as a guide, taking us round the local markets ( reflecting the cultural heritage of the area ) and also educating us about the history of South Africa and in particular Durban. We were lucky enough to be the only people on the tour. This was a long tour but made use of local buses so more of a talking than a walking tour. We ended up at the oceanfront eating Bunny Chow, a local curry and an experience itself. We’d thoroughly recommend it.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kilroy_mariner
Dec 1, 2025
Heritage Walk - Walk incl Golden Mile Stretch, O.R.Tambo Parade, Addington Hosp, Florida Street, Moses Madiba Stadium, U Shaka Marine, Durban Port, TransNet train track.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
From $68
up to 10 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).