This area in Durban North has been transformed from a residential only road to a vibrant commercial and retail hub.
Over the past decade, this once residential-only road, which runs off the M4 freeway up to the T-junction at Kenneth Kaunda Road (Northway), has gradually become the top commercial and retail hub of Durban North. MacKeurtan Drive comes a close second, but ask anybody in the area, and they’ll tell you that Swapo Road leads the way.
When you come off the coastal freeway, the area is largely residential, but by the first traffic circle, it changes. All the banks are there, and so are a number of smaller shopping centres like Kensington Square and Union Square. At the point where Swapo Road crosses Adelaide Tambo Drive (Kensington Drive), the residential area ends, and there are retail outlets, beauty salons, jewellers, clothing stores and eateries offering cuisines such as Greek, Italian, Portuguese, Chinese and Indian, to name a few.
Further up the road towards Kenneth Kaunda Road (Northway), you’ll mainly find freestanding houses that have been converted into a range of businesses and professional services, from estate agents through to dentists.
The Broadway precinct is a popular, sought-after residential area. Off Swapo Road there are some of Durban North’s most prized streets, such as Chelsea Drive, Balmoral Drive, St Andrews Drive and Gleneagles Drive, can be found branching off Swapo Road. These are highly sought-after by families, because Durban North has a wide range of quality schools, many within easy walking distance of this stretch. In addition, proximity to the M4 means Umhlanga to the north and Durban to the south, are literally five to 10 minutes’ drive away.
With three children at different schools – primary, junior and high – we couldn’t live in a more convenient location within shouting distance of quality schools.
-Mandy Sloan, resident.
Top schools:
- Our Lady of Fatima Dominican Convent School
- Northwood High School
- Northlands Girls’ High School
- Chelsea Preparatory School
- St Martin’s Pre-Primary School
- Virginia Preparatory
Nature nearby:
- Beachwood Mangrove Nature Reserve lies at the mouth of the Umgeni River, and is accessible from Riverside Road.
- Virginia Bush Nature Reserve: this 38ha reserve has a little-known lower section between Kensington Drive and Margaret Maytom Avenue which recently had trails developed, especially to accommodate dog-walkers.
- The Durban Green Corridor project is a partnership between eThekwini Municipality and the Duzi uMngeni Conservation Trust, supported by private companies, special interest groups, and sporting clubs and association. There are guided tours and equipment hire for the extensive network of mountain biking, hiking, birding and canoeing trails.
Best in food:
- Union Square
- Lupa Osteria
- The Mad Italian
- Bombay Blu
- Panaji
- Atasca Portuguese
- Silverani’s
This article originally appeared in Neighbourhood, Sunday Times.
