Durban is poised to pull off the most spectacular millennium celebrations ever staged on African soil, as a foundation on which to develop an annual carnival to rival others worldwide.
The ambitious project has the financial backing of the SA Millennium Trust, Durban Metro and KwaZulu-Natal Tourism.
The R16-million that will be spent will not only provide a party playground for anything up to 50 000 people, it will bring the province's many treasures into the homes of billions of people in 167 countries via live television feeds.
Project co-ordinator Seshnee Naidoo said: "Although this event is staged as part of the Durban millennium celebrations, the intention is to have this concept grow in size over the years to parallel international carnival standards and become a world event."
Andrzej Kiepiela, co-ordinator of Durban's millennium celebrations, said the most exciting thing about the event was the capacity for Durban to market itself through live television feeds where Durban stood a chance to capture up to 16 minutes of the 40-minute crossing to South Africa.
"The magnitude of it all is unbelievable, with linkages to the BBC and CNN - and because it is live we only have one chance and it is an ideal one to show the world what Durban has to offer," he said.
Durban's programme is one of three top official millennium events, including ones on Robben Island and at the Union Buildings in Pretoria, which have been geared to be as inclusive as possible and will appeal to all tastes and budgets.
The Port of Durban 2000 Carnival will cover a vast fenced and secured area stretching from Festival Island near the Bat Centre to T Jetty and will have 17 stages operating from sunset on December 31 to sunrise, 300 roving carnival characters, buskers and plenty of food and beverage stalls.
Companies are being asked to donate materials for the building of about 20 floats, some depicting the splendour of the Zulu nation and the province's mozaic past.
The float procession will move through the city streets and split up, with half going to the carnival precinct and others finishing at other entertainment nodes.
Festival Island, a once tatty sandbar between the Yacht Mole and the Bat Centre, will be transformed into a palm-fringed fantasy island for dignitaries, while a corporate marquee area similar to "tent town" at the July Handicap will be where the city's businesses host their guests.
The yachting fraternity will also not miss out on an opportunity and will anchor their festivities on to the adjacent carnival by way of a floating stage and bar area and a flotilla of yachts from around the world.
A lavish Millennium Ball for 2 000 guests at the ICC will include the premier screening of Anand Singh's The Durban Experience and a sumptuous six-course meal to the accompaniment of the Natal Philharmonic Orchestra and live bands.
The R700 per person function will also include breakfast.
Entry to the carnival costs R100 for adults and R65 for children under seven and pensioners, and are available through Ticketweb.
For more details check out www.durban2000.co.zaor www.kzn2000.co.za.