Port Natal Maritime Museum- Travel Tips

What to See, How to Plan & Tours

The Port Natal Maritime Museum sits at the edge of Durban Harbour, chronicling South Africa's long-standing connection to the sea. Perched beside panoramic shipping channels, the museum preserves several historic vessels—like the 1927 coal-fired tug Ulundi, South Africa's oldest surviving harbour tug, alongside the diesel‑powered steam tug JR More, the naval minesweeper SAS Durban, and the yacht NCS Challenger, which completed an open‑boat circumnavigation in 1991. Indoor galleries showcase navigational tools, whaling artefacts—such as a harpoon gun from early 20th‑century Durban—and maritime paraphernalia dating back to the 1800s. This museum, established in the early 1980s, offers an immersive experience in Durban's maritime narrative, from colonial‑era shipping routes to the industrial revolution’s tug technology. Visitors can climb aboard the ships to examine living quarters, engine rooms, and galleys, gaining tangible insight into the daily realities of seafaring life. Its waterfront location not only provides sweeping views of Africa's busiest port but also highlights the museum's ongoing cultural role, with outdoor seating, guided tours, and a "Friends" group that supports conservation and community engagement.