SOUTH AFRICA - FROM KL TO MAURITIUS

Assalamualaikum.

A Dream Fulfilled: Our Jewel of Africa Adventure

Visiting South Africa has long been a dream for my wife and me. Alhamdulillah, this dream finally became a reality in May 2026. What started as a plan to see South Africa transformed into an epic, multi-country expedition through the Jewel of Africa. From the vibrant streets of Johannesburg and the historic landmarks of Pretoria City, our journey took us deep into the heart of the continent's wild landscapes and breathtaking wonders.

Our itinerary was packed with unforgettable contrasts. We tracked wildlife in Pilanesberg National Park, immersed ourselves in local traditions at the Lesedi Cultural Village, and marvelled at the sheer scale of Victoria Falls from both Zambia and Zimbabwe. We even crossed borders into Botswana for an incredible boat safari in Chobe National Park.

But the grand finale belonged to Cape Town and its spectacular coastlines. We stood atop Table Mountain, walked among the colorful houses of Bo-Kaap, hung out with the penguins at Boulders Beach, and stood at the edge of the continent at the Cape of Good Hope. It was a journey of a lifetime, and I cannot wait to share the magic of each stop with you.

Unplanned Perfection: A Magical 16-Hour Transit in Mauritius

Our epic journey didn’t end in South Africa. Due to an overnight transit on our flight from Cape Town back home to Kuala Lumpur, my wife and I were blessed with an unexpected bonus adventure: a day tour of Mauritius. This stunning island nation welcomed us with open arms, and we managed to pack a lifetime of memories into a single, breathtaking scrapbook journey.

Finding the perfect holiday package to South Africa was no easy task for my wife and me. While a few Muslim travel agencies in Malaysia advertise South Africa tours, these trips are rarely guaranteed to depart due to a lack of interest, driven by high costs and the destination's lower popularity among Malaysian Muslims. Furthermore, most available packages only cover South Africa itself. My wife and I, however, wanted to maximize our journey by exploring neighboring countries too—especially since traveling to that part of the world is a rare, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for us. Fortunately, we eventually found a package that fit all our needs.

When we visited the MATTA Travel Fair at MITEC Kuala Lumpur in September 2025, my wife and I went with one clear goal: finding a holiday package to South Africa. Initially, it was quite disappointing, as none of the Muslim-friendly packages were ready or guaranteed for us to join. However, as we passed by the booth of Malaysian Harmony Tour & Travel (MHTT), a large advertisement for a South Africa tour caught our eye, and we decided to drop in out of curiosity.

We were incredibly fortunate to be assisted by Amanda, an MHTT staff member who possessed extensive knowledge about South Africa. Having served as a Tour Leader to the country multiple times, she answered our every question with ease and confidence. Amanda explained that even among experienced tour leaders, very few are willing to lead groups to South Africa. For her, however, it is a deeply special destination that she genuinely loves. She kindly shared many of her own captivating experiences with us, making us feel completely at ease.

When we inquired about the catering options for the MHTT tour, Amanda reassured us that the company easily handles special dietary requests, noting she had previously managed strictly vegetarian guests. Drawing from her experience, she suggested a balanced combination of seafood and vegetarian meals to keep our dining options diverse and interesting throughout the trip.

Our final dietary request was recorded with specific instructions: 'Vegetarian & Seafood Meal,' 'Eggs OK,' and 'No Pork/Alcohol.' We explicitly noted 'Eggs OK' because some strict vegetarians exclude them, and we re-emphasized 'No Pork' to ensure absolutely no cross-contamination or hidden ingredients like lard. Amanda was delighted to hear we eat eggs, excitingly revealing that the itinerary includes a unique ostrich egg dish! When she expressed slight concern about the vineyard visit on our itinerary, we quickly put her mind at ease, telling her, 'That’s perfectly fine, we will just enjoy the scenery.'

Due to rising tensions from the U.S.–Iran conflict, MHTT proactively rerouted our flights to South Africa from Emirates to Air Mauritius to ensure maximum passenger safety. This change turned out to be an absolute blessing in disguise. Not only did we secure a much safer flight path, but we also enjoyed complimentary hotel accommodations sponsored by Air Mauritius for our transits both to and from South Africa. Best of all, the airline provided a free one-day tour of Mauritius during our return journey to Kuala Lumpur. Alhamdulillah, what initially seemed like an inconvenience revealed a wonderful hidden blessing.

Our Air Mauritius flight to the beautiful island of Mauritius was scheduled to depart Kuala Lumpur at 12:50 PM. With a designated group assembly time of 9:50 AM at KLIA Terminal 1 (Counter M), my wife and I decided to stay overnight at the Tune Hotel KLIA2. This strategic choice saved us from a stressful, rushed morning commute and let us begin our dream vacation feeling completely refreshed.

Tune Hotel, KLIA2.

Checking-in.

We also stopped by the Roaming Man store at KLIA Terminal 1 to pick up our rented pocket Wi-Fi device. While Roaming Man provides great coverage across South Africa and Zambia, it doesn't cover Botswana or Zimbabwe. To bridge the gap, we planned ahead and decided to rely on Maxis' data roaming network for those legs of our trip. By pairing our pocket Wi-Fi with Maxis' daily data passes and standard pay-per-use roaming rates, we ensured we would stay seamlessly connected across all four African countries.

Since we didn't have to rush to KLIA Terminal 1 for our group assembly, we enjoyed a wonderfully relaxing breakfast at Tune Hotel KLIA2.

Checking-out and heading to KLIA1.

We took the KLIA Express train to KLIA1.

Traveling by Express Train (KLIA Ekspres or KLIA Transit) between KLIA2 and Terminal 1 takes just 3 minutes.

The entire tour group was scheduled to assemble at Counter M in KLIA Terminal 1 at 9:50 AM.

This was where we met our fantastic tour guide, Eddy, for the very first time. Eddy is incredibly professional and brings a wealth of experience to his role as a tour leader. He has successfully guided groups to Africa more than ten times. In fact, most of our fellow travelers were repeat clients who choose to explore the world with Eddy time and time again.

Our entire group consisted of 23 travelers, including our tour leader. Our fellow group members—all of Chinese descent and hailing from Kuala Lumpur, Johor, and Sarawak—welcomed us warmly. In addition to the two of us, another Muslim couple joined the tour; a wonderful mixed-heritage couple with a Malay husband and a Chinese wife. From day one, everyone was incredibly friendly and inclusive, ensuring we never felt alienated or left out for a single moment during our African adventure.

Checking-in.

Our flight information Air Mauritius MK 0647.

Our boarding gate was Gate C4, which meant taking the aerotrain to the satellite terminal. We felt a huge surge of excitement when we caught our first glimpse of the Air Mauritius plane, waiting on the tarmac to carry us away to the African continent.

We quickly double-checked the electronic flight board just to ensure there hadn't been a last-minute change to our boarding gate. Just one of the pre-flight airport routine. 

Heavy rain began to pour while we were waiting for the boarding call. Watching the downpour, a wave of anxiety hit us; severe weather almost always guarantees a bumpy, turbulent ride, and the vast majority of our flight path lay over the open waters of the Indian Ocean. Fortunately, our worries were cut short—Alhamdulillah, the heavy rain stopped completely just as our boarding group was called.

Boarding pass from KL to Mauritius.

Our Air Mauritius flight, MK 0647, taxied onto the runway and departed KLIA at 1:00 PM. We traveled in great comfort aboard a modern, wide-body Airbus A330-900.

Overall flight map from Kuala Lumpur to Mauritius.

Once the aircraft stabilized at cruising altitude, the Air Mauritius cabin crew distributed complimentary comfort kits to all passengers. True to standard long-haul service, the neatly packed amenity kits included essentials like cozy socks, an eye mask, and earplugs to ensure a restful journey across the ocean.

Lunch was served just as we were cruising over the Indian Ocean, right after crossing Sumatra Island, Indonesia. Although we had pre-ordered a special Muslim Meal (MOML) for this leg, we quickly learned it wasn't necessary; since all standard catering departing from Kuala Lumpur is strictly Halal by default, we were simply served the delicious standard onboard menu. It was a wonderful reassurance that made our dining experience completely worry-free.

Light snack served about an hour before we arrived in Mauritius. A focused snack service rather than a full meal tray. The main item is a savory pastry, such as a turnover or savory pie, which is consistent with typical hot snack offerings on carriers looking to provide convenient, portable food. Beverage options include coffee, serviced with a branded cream sachet, and a fruit juice, common for standardized beverage packs.

Looking out the aircraft window, we were treated to an absolutely breathtaking view—the most brilliant, endless expanse of deep ocean blue.

A wave of anticipation washed over us when the captain announced that we would be landing in Mauritius shortly. We immediately leaned toward the window, straining our necks to catch our very first glimpse of the landscape below. In truth, neither of us had any idea what Mauritius actually looked like from above, making the moment feel like a true voyage of discovery.

As our aircraft began its final descent, the view from the window transformed into something out of a postcard. The deep, royal blue of the Indian Ocean suddenly gave way to a spectacular coral reef system [Mauritius Island], creating a striking border of brilliant turquoise and emerald waters hugging the coastline. Below the wing, the island revealed its lush green patchwork of fields and winding coastal inlets, perfectly framed by fluffy white clouds scattered across a crystal-clear sky. Seeing Mauritius come into view like this completely erased our long-flight fatigue.

As our aircraft descended lower through a scattering of dramatic clouds, a completely different side of Mauritius unfolded beneath us. The shimmering, sunlit ocean on the horizon gave way to an impressive aerial view of the island’s inland geography. We looked down onto a dense grid of towns and settlements nestled right alongside a massive, deep green volcanic canyon splitting the earth. Winding highways and bridges sliced through the lush landscape, offering a fascinating glimpse of the island's vibrant infrastructure tucked between the mountains and the sea.

The mountain dominating the foreground of below image is the Trois Mamelles Mountain. It is a legendary geographic landmark in the southwest part of the island, recognizable by its sharply pointed, knife-edge peaks. Like the rest of the major ranges, its sharp spires are a spectacular monument to the sheer force of ancient volcanic collapses and millions of years of wind and rain.

As we descended even closer to the runway, Mauritius revealed its most jaw-dropping landscape yet—the iconic, jagged peaks of the Trois Mamelles Mountains rising sharply from the plains below. The view from the window was absolutely surreal; the steep, rocky ridges of the mountains were blanketed in vibrant green velvet, casting dramatic shadows over the surrounding countryside. Beyond the peaks, a patchwork of lush sugarcane fields stretched out toward the coastline, where the ocean met a moody, cloud-filled sky. Seeing these unique, ancient volcanic structures up close from the air was an unforgettable introduction to the island's raw natural beauty.

Just moments before touchdown, our window seat offered one last sweeping panoramic view of Mauritius’ diverse landscape. Looking past the aircraft wing, we could see the brilliant blue waters of Mare aux Vacoas reservoir nestled high up in the dense, green highlands. Below the rolling hills, a massive, geometric solar panel farm gleamed in the sunlight, showcasing the island's embrace of green energy. In the far distance, the distinct, solitary silhouette of Le Morne Brabant mountain stood proudly on the horizon against the sea. This incredible mix of wild nature, modern innovation, and historic landmarks made for a truly captivating descent.

Looking back at the aerial photos we snapped through the cabin window, we felt incredibly blessed. Airplane photography is always a gamble due to window glare, haze, or sudden turbulence. However, the weather that afternoon was completely on our side, allowing for crisp, clear shots. We never expected the lighting and atmospheric clarity to cooperate so perfectly! It’s amazing how a simple, spontaneous window-seat photo can turn into wonderful images, all due to a clear sky and a beautiful destination.

The landscapes were so epic with towering ancient summits, colossal ridges, plunging valleys and jagged terrain. And seeing them from high elevation was truly an amazing experience. Capturing images with the deep contrast of the volcanic ridges, the turquoise reef borders, and the dramatic sense of scale from the aircraft wing was definitely an unforgettable experience. And including the wing gave the frames a cinematic depth that captured the exact emotion of discovery. 

For casual travelers like us, armed only with a compact and mobile phone cameras, these images were huge bonuses.

Our plane landed safely in Mauritius at 3:40 PM local time (7:40 PM Malaysian time) at Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport. Alhamdulillah.

Our stopover in Mauritius was a 16-hour transit before we headed to Johannesburg, South Africa.

Passport control at the Mauritius airport was remarkably smooth. Malaysian citizens do not require a visa to enter Mauritius, which made the process even easier. The only requirement was an electronic Arrival Card, which MHTT had thankfully prepared and filled out for all of us in advance.

During our check-in back in Kuala Lumpur, we were given the option to either check our baggage all the way through to Johannesburg or collect it during our transit in Mauritius. Following MHTT's recommendation, we chose to collect our bags in Mauritius. This turned out to be much more convenient, as we needed access to our personal belongings for our overnight hotel stay on the island.

As transit passengers, we were provided with complimentary 4-star accommodation and dinner courtesy of Air Mauritius. We stayed at the Holiday Inn Mauritius Mon Trésor, located a mere 10 minutes from the airport terminal. Since our tour group was quite large and traveling with heavy luggage, the hotel's airport shuttle van had to make three separate trips to safely transport all of us and our bags to the property.

Rerouting from Emirates to Air Mauritius gave us complete peace of mind with a much safer flight path. To top it off, we enjoyed incredible bonus perks: a complimentary overnight stay at a 4-star hotel, free round-trip airport shuttle transfers, and both dinner and breakfast included entirely for free.

The hotel lobby.

Upon arrival at the lobby, we all handed our passports to our tour leader, Eddy, who seamlessly handled the group registration and check-in process. This thoughtful arrangement allowed us to head straight to the restaurant to enjoy our dinner without delay, after which we gathered back in the lobby to collect our room key cards.

As I mentioned earlier, our transit package with Air Mauritius included a complimentary dinner, which was served right at the hotel restaurant. The absolute best news was that the food provided was completely Halal. The hotel manager, who had warmly greeted us upon our arrival, personally reassured us of this.

However, he did provide a helpful heads-up: the breakfast buffet the following morning would still include bacon. He explained that as an international brand, the Holiday Inn must cater to a diverse global clientele. Nevertheless, he went out of his way to put our minds completely at ease, explicitly guaranteeing that all beef, chicken, and hot meat dishes were fully Halal and prepared separately. This level of transparency and attentiveness made our dining experience incredibly comfortable.

Among the selection of sweets we enjoyed during dinner were delicate macarons, a treat widely celebrated as a quintessential French dessert. Sampling them here felt incredibly fitting, as Mauritius is deeply influenced by French culture, language, and history. The island was a French colony for nearly a century (1715–1810) before the British took control, and today, this rich colonial past remains beautifully embedded in Mauritian daily life—especially in its diverse and sophisticated culinary scene.

Stepping into our room at the Holiday Inn Mauritius Mon Trésor, our first impression was one of modern comfort, impeccable cleanliness, and warm island hospitality. The room was wonderfully spacious, featuring a sleek contemporary design with warm wooden accents and a calming blue color palette that mirrored the ocean outside. Two perfectly made twin beds anchored the space, complemented by a dedicated work desk and a beautifully tiled, pristine bathroom equipped with a walk-in shower.

What truly touched our hearts, however, were the personalized welcoming details. Right on the desk sat a handwritten note from the Holiday Inn team wishing us a safe journey, paired with two delicious, freshly baked chocolate muffins wrapped in teal liners. Turning around, we were delighted to find the sleek flat-screen television displaying a personalized greeting: 'WELCOME AZILA' (a lovely tribute to my wife). It was an unexpected, high-class touch that made our short transit stop feel incredibly special and immediately at home.

Till the next coming entry, inshaAllah. Meanwhile do take care.

No photograph or videos may be reproduced, downloaded, copied, stored, manipulated, or used whole or in part of a derivative work, without written permission from Syed Amran. All rights reserved.