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South Africa Part 2: The Garden Route An unforgettable Halal Family Adventure

By Naumaan Qamar

Part 2: A Guide to The Garden Route

The main purpose of our trip was to traverse the legendary Garden Route. While we chose to drive, it’s also possible to fly into George and begin your journey from there, though this would mean missing some of the earlier points of the wider route.

Our first stop on the route was Mossel Bay, approximately a four-hour drive from Cape Town. We broke up the journey with a masjid stop in Albertinia. While some visitors opt to stop at L’Agulhas, the southernmost tip of Africa, we decided to forgo this.

Mossel Bay makes for a pleasant overnight stop. The St. Blaize Hiking Trail is immense, offering fantastic ocean views. For a taste of local flavour, Curry King serves up the famous Durban dish, Bunny Chow – a hollowed-out bread filled with Indian curry. There’s also a masjid in Mossel Bay, alongside a small waterpark called Diaz Waterpark.

George is the next major city. While we didn’t stay there, it notably has a halal Nando’s (yes, drive-through Nando’s exist in South Africa – a game-changer!). The menu differs from the UK, and with the favourable exchange rate, it offers much better value.

View from our room
View from our room

We spent a few days in Wilderness, about 20 minutes from George, but entirely different in terms of scenery and nature. We stayed at The Pink Lodge on the Beach (45 Die Duin Wilderness, Wilderness, George, 6560), a beachfront property with an ocean view from our bedroom, a small patio, and steps leading directly to the beach. We witnessed breathtaking sunrises from our patio and a dazzling array of constellations at night.

Knysna

There’s a local Spar with halal meat available should you wish to cook in your accommodation (most South African supermarkets stock halal meats). However, we opted for a delicious home-cooked meal from Zainab’s Kitchen [+27836742287], where I met a wonderful brother named Shabbir. We had a great chat, and he offered invaluable advice on food options along our journey.

The next day, we visited Redberry Farm [Geelhoutboom Road, Blanco, George, 6530] with the kids, enjoying strawberry picking, electric go-karts, zorbing, and paddle boating. You pay for each activity, but nothing is excessively priced, and entry is free. They also have an on site shop where you can purchase fresh strawberries and products like jam for souvenirs.

The freshest strawberries
The freshest strawberries
Empty beaches
Empty beaches

From here, Oudtshoorn home to numerous ostrich farms, is an hour’s drive. Also close by was the Heart of Africa, the name explains itself!

The Heart of Africa
The Heart of Africa

Knysna is a truly great place to visit. We stopped for Jummah prayer at Knysna Masjid, which was undergoing construction and expansion. We then grabbed a quick bite at Sailor Sam’s [Knysna Central, Knysna, 6571] where the only menu item is fish and chips, and which we confirmed was halal with the owner. We drove up to The Heads at Knysna, where the view was simply breathtaking. Hiking trails are available, and we then continued our journey towards Plettenberg Bay.

The Heads at Knysna
The Heads at Knysna

Just outside, we stayed at Edenbrook Country Manor (Harkerville, Plettenberg Bay, 6604) for two nights. Along the road towards Plettenberg Bay, affectionately known as Plett, there are numerous family friendly activities such as wolf sanctuaries and elephant parks. Being outdoors enthusiasts, we visited Robberg Nature Reserve, embarking on a hiking trail that took a few hours. At the end, we were rewarded with the amazing sight of a seal colony. On our way back, we stopped at the Total Energy Station (Pharos Ave, Plettenberg Bay, 6600) – a tip from Shabbir at Zainab’s Kitchen – where they served incredible smash burgers and sell halal meat if you are self catering.

Robberg Nature Reserve
Robberg Nature Reserve
The Heads at Knysna
The Heads at Knysna

To continue our Garden Route adventure, we stopped at the Italian restaurant Enricos (296 Main St, Keurboomstrand, 6600, South Africa) right on the beach. A key tip for this part of the journey is to take the R102 after Kurland towards Nature’s Valley [then rejoin the R2]. The drive is simply stunning, and Nature’s Valley itself is a lovely place to spend the day on the beach.

As you continue, you’ll reach the famous Bloukrans Bridge– the spot for bungee jumping if you’re an adrenaline junkie, though not for me, thankfully! However, the zipline at Tsitsikamma [https://www.ziplinetour.co.za] is a fantastic adventure.

From here, our journey culminated at Kwantu Private Game Reserve (Kwantu Private Game Reserve, Sidbury, 6131), a fully halal game reserve. We opted for two nights and three days, squeezing in four game drives and witnessing an incredible array of animals, including lions, elephants, giraffes, hippos, rhinos, antelopes, zebras, and many more. The guides were brilliant, and the food was entirely halal and served buffet-style. We were treated to an amazing welcome platter, more than enough for lunch.

Our room at Elephant Ridge
Our room at Elephant Ridge
Communal areas for coffee, tea and snacks daily
Communal areas for coffee, tea and snacks daily
Rhinos!
Rhinos!
Lions- sleeping as usual
Lions- sleeping as usual
Zebras [or stripy horses!]
Zebras [or stripy horses!]
Majestic Elephants
Majestic Elephants
Giraffes - so regal
Giraffes - so regal

A huge plus was that the resort is alcohol free. Our room had a qibla marker, and there was an on site masjid, a kids’ play area, a swimming pool, and tennis courts. The drive from the main road to the reserve involved a lengthy gravel track for about 10-15 minutes, so again, a car with decent ground clearance and some power (think Kia Niro or Audi Q3 type) would be beneficial.

While Kwantu isn’t Kruger National Park (from what I recall, there are 6 to 8 lions compared to hundreds in Kruger), it’s much more compact, [for comparison Kruger is some 200 miles long] offering a very high possibility of viewing all animals, and its location is far more convenient.

Before catching our flight back, we had a few hours to spare. After a quick bite at Nando’s in Port Elizabeth, we went horse riding on Sardinia Beach (Heavenly Stables +27818907080 – Jackie). The horses were well-kept, and our family spent a couple of hours riding on the beach – a surreal and calming experience, and at R550 [£25 per person], an absolute steal!

Horse riding on the beach
Horse riding on the beach
A family adventure
A family adventure

In hindsight, I would have loved to spend more time on the Garden Route; there is so much to do. South Africa is a stunning country. Yes, concerns about security exist, but as anywhere, be vigilant, don’t leave valuables on display, and be courteous. We encountered no issues whatsoever and would gladly return to South Africa in a heartbeat.

Summary of Key Tips & Advice

  • Flights: For better value, fly into Johannesburg (JNB) and book a separate internal flight to Cape Town (CPT) with low-cost carriers – but do what works best for your itinerary.
  • Halal Food: Halal food is widely available, especially in major cities. Poultry and meat in South Africa are almost always halal, but always ask to ensure no cross contamination.
  • Safety: Exercise standard precautions: be vigilant, keep valuables out of sight, and remain courteous.
  • Packing: Pack a windbreaker, even in summer, as Cape Town can be very windy. Evenings can also get cold.

Best Things to Do

  • Explore Bo-Kaap: Immerse yourself in the colourful streets of Cape Town’s historic Muslim quarter. Visit Auwal Masjid, the first mosque in South Africa, and enjoy local cuisine
  • Drive Chapman’s Peak: Experience one of the world’s most scenic coastal drives, offering breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean.
  • Visit Boulders Beach: Get up close with the charming African penguin colony
  • Enjoy the outdoors: the choices are endless.
  • Experience a Safari: Stay at Kwantu Private Game Reserve for a fully halal, alcohol-free safari experience with highly probable  animal sightings
  • Go Horse Riding on the Beach
Naumaan Qamar, a UK-based civil engineer and avid traveller, enjoys exploring the world through the lens of halal-conscious and family-friendly travel.
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