With between 400 000 and 600 000 Muslim visitors arriving in South Africa annually (4-6% of total arrivals), and a resultant capital injection of between R3.75bn and R4.5bn (€234m - €281m), Halal tourism is a market with huge growth potential for SA.
Tourism Update looks at select, Muslim friendly locations around South Africa.
Khalid Vawda, CEO of Islamic Travel and Tours, says, “Mzanzi Rock Guest House based in Emmarentia is a great location. They are Muslim owned and we often partner with them for halal tours. Another popular location is 10 2nd Avenue in Houghton. These locations are fully halal, so there is no alcohol served on site, all meat is halal certified and no pork is served in the kitchens.”
He adds that Fordsburg is also a great location for culinary experiences and that a large portion of the outlets are halal certified.
The Lion Park, based in Gauteng, caters to halal requirements, offering prayer rooms as well as a halal kitchen. While Akwaaba Lodge, in Rustenburg, is a Muslim owned establishment that specialises in breeding wild cats and pays heed to halal practises. The Cape Point Ostrich Farm also serves guests halal ostrich meat.
Vawda adds, “Halal travellers enjoy the opportunity to meet local, Muslim families. We put them in contact with families who host them for an evening or two, preparing halal food or taking them out to halal certified establishments. This is an increasingly popular option with halal travellers that want to experience South Africa like a local.”
He says that South Africa’s larger malls, such as Sandton City, The V&A Waterfront, or uShaka Marine World all offer a number of halal establishments.
“Halal food certification is done by three main organisations; the Muslim Judicial Council of South Africa, the SA National Halal Society, and the National Independent Halal Trust. It is important to look out for these names when assessing the halal reputability of an establishment.”
Halaltrip.com shares that the following are just a few of the many popular halal restaurants in Cape Town: Mezbaan, Alhambra Restaurant and Coffee Shop, Atlantic Express Cake and Coffee Train, Bokaap Kombuis, Eastern Food Bazaar, Food Inn India, Kaprinos, The Lounge on Kromboom, Pepperazzi and Zaika.
Other South African Halal establishments include (but are not limited to): Protea Hotel by Marriott Johannesburg Wanderers, Radisson Blu Gautrain Hotel Sandton Johannesburg, Davinci Hotel And Suites On Nelson Mandela Square, Knysna Chalets, Teniqua Treetops, Cuningham's Island Guest House, The Westin Cape Town, African Pride 15 On Orange Hotel, ONOMO Hotel Cape Town – Inn on the Square, The Stellenbosch Hotel, Ryneveld Country Lodge, and Dolphin Beach Hotel.
Luxury halal safari offers include (but are not limited to): Kwantu Private Game Reserve, in the Eastern Cape; the 4-Star Idube Game Lodge in the Sabi Sands Game Reserve; the 5-star Sabi Sabi Lodges, also in the Sabi Sands, the 5-star Lukimbi Safari Lodge in the Kruger National Park, Naledi Game Lodge in the Balule Game Reserve and Etali Safari Lodge in the Madikwe Game Reserve.
If you know of additional options, please add them to the comments below.
