Durban Is Hiding Something Most South Africans Never Notice

0:00 The hidden ground beneath Durban 3:14 The Berea and the Bluff are ancient dunes 4:24 Warm currents and the sardine run 6:49 Whaling, Huberta and the loneliest plant 11:20 Indian heritage and Durban’s cultural history 16:36 Transport, sport and famous landmarks 21:12 How Durban’s beaches are kept wide 22:30 A city built on moving sand I uncover the strange facts hiding beneath Durban’s beaches, ridges and harbour. From the Berea and the Bluff being ancient dunes to the sandbar that once kept large ships out, this city has a far more unusual foundation than its postcard image suggests. I explore Durban’s history, geography, wildlife, culture and landmarks, including the Agulhas Current, the sardine run, shark nets, Huberta the hippo, the Wood’s cycad, Gandhi’s Phoenix Settlement, Mandela’s first vote, the Durban July and the Comrades Marathon. Finally, I follow the moving sand that links Durban’s old harbour problems to the artificial nourishment of its modern beaches—and explain why the city is, in a very real sense, built on moving sand.