Richards Bay to Durban by ferry
Durban lies 154 km (96 mi) south-west of Richards Bay, in the same time zone. What the numbers say about getting there.
The sea distance is about 154 km (96 mi); at typical ferry speeds a direct crossing would take around 4 h 41 min. Whether one runs, and how often, is in the operator’s timetable.
| Richards Bay | Durban | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | South Africa | South Africa |
| Population | 252,968 | 3.3 million |
| Elevation | 9 m (30 ft) | 21 m (69 ft) |
| Time now | UTC+2 (Africa/Johannesburg) | UTC+2 (Africa/Johannesburg) |
| Port | Richards Bay Coal Terminal | Port of Durban |
| Postal codes | 3900–3904 | 3611–4362 |
Where to book ferries from Richards Bay to Durban
We take no bookings for these providers and hold no reservation with them. The provider you choose handles payment, confirmation, changes and refunds. How that works.
Staying in Durban
Our booking partner lists 1,285+ places to stay in Durban (statistics below are from the first 1,000). Of the 667 with a star rating, the largest group is 4-star (404), and 18 are five-star. Across 563 properties with at least 50 reviews, the average guest score is 8.2 out of 10. Guests have left 320,890 reviews in total.
Book a hotel in Durban
Live rooms and prices from our booking partner, booked and paid for here. Free cancellation is marked where it applies.
Common questions
How far is Durban from Richards Bay?
154 km (96 mi) in a straight line, south-west of Richards Bay; by road roughly 188 km (117 mi).
How long does it take to get from Richards Bay to Durban by ferry?
About 4 h 41 min, estimated from distance and typical speeds. Timetables and traffic decide the real figure.
Is there a time difference between Richards Bay and Durban?
No, both are on Africa/Johannesburg at the moment.
Where can I stay in Durban?
Our booking partner lists 1,285+ places to stay in Durban, bookable on this site.
Where these facts come from
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, elevation, time zone, postal codes
- Wikidata (CC0): area, sister cities, visitor numbers, heritage listings, stations and ports
- OurAirports (public domain): airports, runways
- Natural Earth (public domain): map outlines
Data compiled 14 September 2026. Hotel and hostel figures are from our booking partner’s catalogue on that date. Journey times on this page are estimates from distance, not timetables; check the operator before you rely on one.