Today, we'll continue with Part 2 of a Year-Round Calendar for Travellers.

Last week, in Durban Events & Adventures: A Year-Round Calendar for Travelers (Part 1), we covered events and adventures from January to March.

This week, we'll move on to: April to June - Endurance Icons & Autumn Escapes.

So let's dive right into the action.

Events - April to June

February to March is normally the warmest time of year here in Durban.

During April, we normally have beautiful weather as we head into autumn. The weather starts cooling down, and to us locals, we welcome the cooler weather. By the time we arrive in June, we have our thick jackets out and think it's cold.

In our family, we have a standing joke; if you go to the beach, it's easy to see who the visitors from Johannesburg are... All the Durbanites (as we call ourselves) are walking on the beach with thick jackets on, while everybody from Johannesburg is in the water or catching a tan on the beach...lol.

But June is also a very important month on the Calendar of Events for Durban, and the cooler, drier weather makes it an excellent season for both sports and sightseeing. During this time, Durban hosts one of its most famous events, attracting athletes and spectators from around the world.

Comrades Marathon

The Comrades Marathon, known as the ultimate human race, normally takes place in June and is scheduled again for 14 June 2026, according to comrades.com. It is one of the most prestigious road-running events in the world.

The Comrades Marathon takes place between Durban and Pietermaritzburg over a distance of about 90 km. One year, they run up towards Pietermaritzburg from Durban, and the next year they run down from Pietermaritzburg to Durban.

It doesn't matter where you find yourself along the route during the race; the atmosphere is electrifying and full of fun.

Here are some photos I took during the last race.

I didn't get this guy's name, but he was a strong runner from Japan.

Here is Piet Wiersma from the Netherlands, who finished second in this year's down-run.

And here is our own Gerda Steyn from South Africa.

Including this year's race, she has already won the ladies' division of the Comrades Marathon four times. According to run247.com, she is only the second woman to have won it more than three times.

Durban International Film Festival

This festival is normally scheduled for late June - early July. If this is your scene and you just want to slow down a bit after the action of the Comrades, this might be ideal for you. Next year's event is scheduled for 16 - 26 July 2026

From what I understand, it is Africa’s longest-running film festival, showcasing global cinema alongside African storytelling.

You can get all the information you need here on their website.

Pairing Your Adventures with Your Events.

With the Comrades Marathon being the biggest event during this term, let's see what you can do to maximize your experience in the Durban area.

Umhlanga

Umhlanga is part of the Greater Durban area, known as the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality. It is a residential, commercial, and resort town, about 18 km north of Durban CBD.

Umhlanga is a beautiful area with many tourist attractions, which makes it an extremely popular destination for local holiday makers as well as international tourists.

It's the perfect place for a post-race recovery. Umhlanga has a beautiful and safe promenade for those fresh, early morning walks, mid-day walks, or a stroll in the late afternoon. Or if you are inspired by those professional athletes you saw in the Comrades Marathon, the promenade is popular among the runners, too.

Sunrise in Umhlanga.

Let's start with an early morning walk during sunrise.

Here is one of the well-known tourist attractions, the Whalebone Pier, during the blue hour, just before sunrise.

Admiring the sunrise from below the Whalebone Pier.

The Whalebone Pier is ideal for a relaxed stroll at any time of day.

Another well-known landmark in Umhlanga is the Umhlanga Lighthouse.

Here is the lighthouse just after sunrise...



And here it is as seen from the Whalebone Pier during broad daylight.

Admiring the arrival of a new day over the ocean from Umhlanga.

While on your stroll along the promenade, there are many areas where you can take a break to relax and enjoy the view over the ocean and the beach below you.

You can also stop for a nice cup of coffee...

...or even lunch if you feel hungry.

You can also support any of the vendors along the promenade and get some nice souvenirs to remind you of your visit to Umhlanga.

Or a nice donut...

If you want to enjoy the sun for a relaxing day on the beach, this beach is inviting you...

If you enjoy exploring the rocky areas on the beach, there are many of these too.

If deep-sea fishing makes you tick, there are charters on the beach where you can book your trip to go out for some deep-sea fishing.

Here is a private boat owner who just returned from a pleasure trip out on the ocean.

Tala Game Reserve.

The Tala Game Reserve is approximately an hour's drive inland from Durban CBD.

Enjoy the natural beauty of Africa. You can go on a guided game drive or do your own self-drive safari and spot some rhino, giraffe, zebra, and antelopes in their natural habitat.

During a recent day visit, we went on our own self-drive safari.

This is the kind of scenery with open spaces that you can expect along your drive.

We saw many zebras and antelopes.

We also had the privilege of seeing this huge Kudu...

This beautiful giraffe...

We were able to get close to this rhino. Sadly, he had to be de-horned due to the plague of rhino poaching for their horns.

Reflection

When you think about marathons, April to June is Durban’s prime season for sports history — whether you run the Comrades or cheer from the sidelines. It is also the perfect time to pair the adrenaline with quiet escapes into nature and culture, enjoying the beautiful weather of this season.

Next week, we'll move on to the third term of the year - July to September.

But for now...

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