By air: King Shaka International Airport, 35 km north of Durban at La Mercy, handles all international and domestic flights to the region. Direct flights connect to Johannesburg, Cape Town, and internationally to London, Dubai, and other hubs. The airport opened in 2010 to replace the old Durban airport, and the location on the Dolphin Coast is convenient if you're heading north rather than to the city.
By road: The N2 national highway runs the length of the coast from the Eastern Cape border in the south to the Mozambique border at Kosi Bay in the north. From Johannesburg, the N3 descends through the Natal Midlands to Durban — a 580 km drive of around five hours on good road. The pass through Van Reenen and the descent toward Pietermaritzburg is scenically impressive.
By bus: Greyhound, Intercape, and Translux operate long-distance coaches between Durban and Johannesburg, Cape Town, and other major cities. Journey times are long (eight-plus hours to Johannesburg), but services are reliable and cheaper than flying.
By rail: The Premier Classe service runs between Johannesburg and Durban, a scenic 13-hour journey through the Drakensberg foothills. It's a comfortable but slow way to arrive.