Mossel Bay

Description

Located on the picturesque Garden Route, in the Western Cape Province of South Africa is the small harbour town of Mossel Bay. The town is conveniently situated exactly half way between Cape Town and Port Elizabeth. It is an incredibly popular holiday destination and is definitely a must-visit when in South Africa. Mossel Bay is home to pristine beaches and numerous attractions, and definitely has something for everyone.  Muslim visitors should be aware that they will be able to locate some Muslim-friendly facilities in Mossel Bay.

A fantastic place to start sightseeing in Mossel Bay is at the Bartolomeu Dias Museum Complex; a large museum which is home to a variety of interesting attractions. This is where visitors will find the Ethno Botanical Garden & Braille Trail, of which the 500 year old Post office Tree, the life-size replica of Bartolommeo Dias’ Caravel, the Shell Museum & Aquarium and the Ethno-Botanical Garden, are highlights. While here, visitors must also check out the Munrohoek Cottages, the Malay Graves, and the Granary.

Kids will definitely enjoy a day out at The Shark Lab, which is an aquarium home to some fascinating and beautiful sea creatures. Visitors also learn more about the endangered species of sharks and also how to conserve Africa’s marine life. There are tours that visitors can take to experience the research conducted by the team at the facility.

Also a must-visit is The Point, a stunning beach that is home to several restaurants and an aquarium, as well as to two tidal pools, hiking trails the Khoi-San Cave and the St Blaize Lighthouse. The beach has a great atmosphere and is incredibly family-friendly and is also perfect for surfers. The beach also has a 15 kilometre long hiking trail - St Blaize, which leads to Dana Bay. With loads of family attractions surrounding the beach, The Point should be on every visitor’s itinerary. Also worthy of a visit is Santos Beach, which has Blue Flag status.

Mossel Bay is also the ideal destination for adrenaline junkies and for those looking to spend some time outdoors. There are opportunities for bungee jumping, skydiving, sandboarding, shark cage diving, rock climbing, abseiling, whale watching, quad biking, surfing, sailing, deep-sea fishing etc.

Nearby Airports

The nearest airport to Mossel Bay is George Airport, which is a domestic airport located about 45 kilometres from the center of the town. The closest major international airports to Mossel Bay are Cape Town International Airport and Port Elizabeth International Airport; both of which are located approximately 380 kilometres away.

Halal Restaurants

Mosslembay Halaal Take-Aways, is a fast food restaurant which is known to serve Halal food in Mossel Bay. Muslims visiting Mossel Bay can make inquiries at the local mosque regarding other Halal restaurants in Mossel Bay. Muslim visitors could also dine at local vegetarian and seafood restaurants after making sure the dishes served do not contain any non-Halal items.

Mosques

There is one known mosque in Mossel Bay, namely Masjid-us Saabiereen, which is located on Mossel Street. Muslim tourists can also ask the locals for other mosques located in areas nearby or, they are advised to pray in their hotel room before setting out on any excursion, if possible.

Things to Do and See in Mossel Bay

• Rheebok Beach
• The Point
• Bartholomeu Dias Maritime Museum
• St Blaize Hiking Trail
• Cape St. Blaize Lighthouse
• The Ethno Botanical Garden & Braille Trail
• Koumashoek Circuit
• The Shark Lab Aquarium and Research Facility
• Cape St. Blaize Cave
• Pinnacle Point Caves