Though we can never walk in their shoes, we can certainly follow in the footsteps of the great men, such as Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. John Dube, who’ve walked the streets of Inanda and KwaMashu and helped shape the beautiful place Durban is today. With the guidance of Sthembiso Mbonambi, a beloved local boy who residents refer to as “The Mayor”, the next few hours in Durban’s inner-city and its surrounding townships will give us a memorable journey of the forever-summer city. “The Mayor’s” knowledge of the city and its diverse makeup of Indian, Muslim and Zulu communities is something that helps to better understand Durban as we know it today, but also gives a glimpse into Durban’s past and what the future holds for the city.

After a brief, but brilliant Zulu lesson for Sthembiso, we head off to The Elephant House located on Ridge Road in Berea. The building sits on the highest natural point of the Berea Ridge and has become somewhat of an institution because of the many histories it houses. To begin with The Elephant House was originally used by the Milner brothers, Henry, Philip and Thomas, as a weekend hunting lodge. It later became known to the people of Durban as the “Elephant House” after surviving numerous attacks from local elephant herds. The house is also the oldest house in Durban and is the perfect departure point to learn about the city’s colonial heritage. From Elephant House we head for Gecko Moon, a lookout over Durban, where we enjoy panoramic views of the city.

There’s no denying that the city looks even more magical from such a breathtaking height, but there is also no better way to explore the city than on the ground, along its sidewalks. We head down to the inner-city starting at Madressa Arcade and make our way through to the the markets of Warwick Markets. Both locations are a shopper’s dream come true. With wide array of things to choose from. From beadwork, traditional arts and crafts, traditional cuisine, fresh produce, music and entertainment merchandise, clothing, accessories and traditional medicine, the markets have everything for everyone. The walk through the space is an interactive experience where we stop and shop and chat to traders. But perhaps the most distinct feature of the market is the aroma of spices and incense that infuse the air and the sounds that fill the atmosphere.

Our visit to KwaMashu and Inanda begins at Mahatma Gandhi’s house, which has recently been restored to its original state. His time here would go on to influence Gandhi greatly and he would eventually become the powerful political leader and human rights activist we know today. From one icon to another: we soon head over to Ohlange Institute to learn about the origins of the school, its historical significance and its founders, who are little known to many South Africans. The Ohlange Institute was independently founded by Dr. John Dube in 1900 without the help of the then white minority government. Dr. Dube was also the founding president of the South African Native National Congress, which became the African National Congress in 1923. So there’s perhaps no other place more loaded with history and symbolically appropriate for the father of the nation, uTata Nelson Mandela to have cast his vote in the country’s first democratic elections in 1994 than at the school started by one of the founding fathers of the ANC.

It’s time to experience KwaMashu as it is today. For this we visit S’fiso’s Store, a local business owner after which we head over to Sbu’s Lounge for a taste of contemporary KwaMashu weekend vibes. We ease into the laid-back atmosphere at Sbu’s and quickly get stuck into a traditional Shisa Nyama (local version of a barbecue) lunch at the tavern and shoot the breeze with Sthembiso.

The last stop on our journey through Inanda and KwaMashu’s past and present concludes with a visit to Sthembiso’s place in K-Section, before we make our way back to Durban city centre.