Mossel Bay, South Africa. This town is often called the “ugly duckling” of the Garden Route. At that time, a large refinery was built here to produce gasoline from natural gas. The resulting industrialization disfigured the cityscape, and Mossel Bay became increasingly unpopular. However, the town recovered from this crisis. During the summer months, Mossel Bay is one of the most popular holiday destinations in all of South Africa. So don’t let the oil refineries and industries put you off.

During our tour through South Africa, we also stopped in this coastal town. Mossel Bay has quiet beaches, wonderful cafes, good conditions for beginner surfers, delicious food in the restaurants, and numerous accommodation options. The small town center is also ideal for strolling and browsing. We personally really liked the “ugly duckling of the Garden Route”! Today we’ll share our best tips and highlights in Mossel Bay with you.

• 1. General information about the town
• 2. Accommodation in Mossel Bay
• 3. Overnight stay on the Santos Express Train
• 4. Great hiking trails from Mossel Bay
• 5. Whale watching and safari
• 6. Surfing, diving and beaches
• 7. The Blue Shed Coffee Roastery
• 8. Restaurants and shops in Mossel Bay

1. General information about the town

Mossel Bay is located in the Western Cape province and has around 60,000 inhabitants. It’s about a four-hour drive from Cape Town, and about 1.5 hours from Oudtshoorn. The Portuguese explorer Bartholomeu Diaz was the first European to set foot on South African soil in 1488. This also marked the beginning of European settlement. Dutch sailors and mariners discovered that Mossel Bay was home to a great number of mussels. This is where the name “Mossel Bay” came from, meaning “Mussel Bay.” And as mentioned at the beginning, many refineries were built in Mossel Bay at that time to produce gasoline from natural gas. Over time, more and more industries settled here, which is why the charm of the coastal town was lost.

Mossel Bay is located directly on the coast and is a popular holiday destination in South Africa. And did you know that it has the second-best climate in the world after Hawaii? The climate is pleasant year-round, so you can practically stop here any time of year. Mossel Bay is located between Port Elizabeth and Cape Town – pretty much in the middle. It’s also not far from here to De Hoop Nature Reserve, which you definitely shouldn’t miss.

2. Accommodation in Mossel Bay

Before we show you the city’s highlights, you should first find somewhere to stay. There are many hotels and hostels in Mossel Bay. We stayed at “The Backpack Shack Hostel” for the first few days. It wasn’t easy to find, as this hostel is integrated into the 3* Portao Diaz Hotel. A rear section of the hotel was converted into a backpacker’s area with 3 private rooms and a 4-bed dorm. All rooms have a bathroom and a TV.

The good thing is that you can enjoy the amenities of a 3* hotel. This includes a beautiful lobby with very good and stable Wi-Fi, an outdoor pool, and a BBQ area. The kitchen is well-equipped, and there’s also a smaller common area with a TV, games, and books. The whole area has a really cool design, and the rooms are also impressive.

Of course, the real “hostel feeling” and “charm” are still missing here, but if that’s exactly what you’re looking for and you prefer more peace and quiet, this is the place for you. We paid an incredibly reasonable €6 per person per night. As so often on our trip, we were alone in this shared room the entire time.

The Mossel Bay Backpackers Hostel

We then moved into the Mossel Bay Backpackers. This hostel is located right in the center and is spacious. Here you’ll find shared rooms, private rooms, a bar with billiards, a huge kitchen, and an outdoor pool. We paid only €9 per person per night for a four-person room, in which we were alone again this time. I guess those are the advantages of the off-season.

Mossel Bay surprised us, and we would have loved to stay longer. Here, you can relax and enjoy life and simply have a good time. On a trip through South Africa, you should at least stop by and have a coffee, walk on the beach, and visit the lighthouse.

Other accommodations in Mossel Bay

• Mile Crunchers Backpackers
• The Urban Guesthouse
• Shark Shack Backpackers
• Diaz Strand Hotel
• Avenues Guesthouse
• Mossel Bay Guest House

3. Overnight stay on the Santos Express Train

We had already heard about the Santos Express Train* in Mossel Bay before our arrival. Since we didn’t want to book much in advance, we asked on-site about overnight accommodations. Of course, the converted train was fully booked for the next few days. But it wasn’t a big deal – we did get a cool tour of the facility. Next time, we’ll book in advance and secure one of the cabins.

The rooms are simple and straightforward. In the small compartment, you have either two small single beds or a double bed with a window and a small bedside table. That’s about it. But you have the sea right in front of you and a beautiful view. It’s truly something extraordinary. Who has ever slept on a train? A real one with a restaurant, sea view, and beds? We think the facility is really, really cool!

The converted train with a view of the sea

A large carriage of the train consists of a multi-bed room with many bunk beds. This is, so to speak, the low-budget version of the facility. But even here, nothing is lacking: electricity, space, beds, toilets, showers, and a sea view. The highlight of the Santos Express Train, however, is at the very back. There are the Royal Suites. As soon as you enter the rooms, you feel like you’re in an English film from the 1920s. Everything is so “royal” and so “English.” A large bed, a desk, a bathtub and shower, a terrace with a wonderful view, and plenty of space for luggage and other items await you.

At the front of the complex is a restaurant and reception. Directly in front is Santos Beach, with its gently sloping beach and the relatively calm sea in the bay. It’s truly a pleasant place to be, and the fun isn’t all that expensive. Double compartments can be had for €20-25 a night, and a shared room costs just under €10. A night in the Royal Suite currently costs around €65. So it’s not as expensive as you might initially think.

4. Great Hiking Trails from Mossel Bay

From the Cape St. Blaize Lighthouse you have a magnificent view of the ocean. If you’re lucky, you might even spot whales on the way up (and we were!). The path up promises unique scenery and wonderful photo opportunities. Once you reach the top, you can climb the lighthouse for an even better view (entrance fee: €1). The St. Blaize Hiking Trail also starts at the lighthouse. It’s approximately 14 kilometers long and takes you from Mossel Bay to Dana Bay. Of course, you don’t have to walk the entire route.

From here, you can also take other wonderful hikes. The Oystercatcher Trail is 47 kilometers long and takes you past caves, cliffs, untouched nature, and secluded beaches. Plan around four days for this. Keep an eye out at the ocean every now and then. Whales, seals, and dolphins can often be spotted here. You can find more information about this trek here: Oystercatchertrail.co.za.

5. Whale Watching and Safari

From May to October, you have a good chance of spotting whales in Mossel Bay. You don’t even have to go out to sea; you can watch them from land (if you’re lucky). Also keep an eye out for the whale plume. If you spot it, it means whales have been spotted. You can of course also take a whale watching tour by boat. Romonza Boat Trips offers various tours, such as whale watching, sunset tours, or seal tours. The whale tour costs around €44.

Not far from Mossel Bay is the Botlierskop Private Game Reserve. This game park is located on the Garden Route. Here you can go on safari tours, observe animals, and even stay overnight. A 3-hour game drive costs only around €28. There are also safari tours with meals or overnight stays. You can find all tour prices here: Activities Prices.

6. Surfing, Diving, and Beaches

Of course, you can also laze on the beach in Mossel Bay, sunbathe, or do water sports. The most popular surf spots are close together – the Inner Pool and the Outer Pool. In the Inner Pool, you can surf the smaller wave. This breaks regularly and is mainly surfed by locals.

The Outer Pool is larger and breaks to the right. Both spots are best suited for southwesterly winds. However, these spots are not recommended for beginners, as the rocky areas further ahead are very rocky. However, there are other surf spots in the area: Mystery Reef, Ding Dang, Diaz Beach, Bayview, Hartenbos, and Dana Bay. It’s best to check out “Learn to Surf*.” A surfing lesson starts at €21.

You can also enjoy fascinating diving here. The underwater world, with its old shipwrecks, is truly spectacular. Snorkeling trips are also offered in Mossel Bay. You have the chance to see turtles, sharks, and even whales. Simply amazing!

There are several providers in Mossel Bay, such as Electrodive* or Dive Report*. Shark cage diving tours are also offered in Mossel Bay. Not in the mood for adrenaline and action? Santos Beach, right in front of the Santos Express Train, is popular. Here you can let the sun shine on your stomach and relax.

7. The Blue Shed Coffee Roastery

Coffee and cake lovers should definitely remember this name. This café is almost impossible to miss, as the exterior facade alone draws everyone’s attention. The location is simply an eye-catcher. Everything seems to be arranged in a colorful way, yet it all fits together wonderfully. The element of wood combined with bright colors and many “discarded” objects create a certain charm. They also serve truly delicious cakes. Be sure to try the chocolate brownies, they taste simply delicious. And we don’t even need to mention the coffee – it’s heavenly.

8. Restaurants and Shops in Mossel Bay

The town isn’t particularly large, but you’ll still find plenty of restaurants and shops here. We always enjoyed eating at STARS. This location is right next to the “Superspar” supermarket. You can get almost anything here, and it tastes delicious, too. We especially recommend falafel and pizza. Right next door is “Curry in a Hurry” and the pizza delivery service “Debonairs Pizza.”

The Kaai 4 Restaurant is located at the harbor. Here, you can enjoy South African specialties such as potbrood, braai, and vetkoek in a pleasant atmosphere. The restaurant is open 7 days a week. Café Gannet is also popular. They serve great seafood dishes, salads, delicious meat, pizza, and much more. It’s best to reserve your table in advance! Route 57 also serves really good food. Baruch’s Roastery and Coffee Shop serves delicious coffee and cake. You’ll also find some cool shops in Mossel Bay. We discovered some really cool secondhand shops here and there during our stroll through town. You’ll also find the Mossel Bay Shopping Mall and the Langeberg Mall on Louis Fourie Road. Here you’ll find everything your heart desires. Stop by the Bizarre Bazaar or Made with Luv. You can also buy some cool things at The Blue Shed Roastery (coffee, postcards, shells, and more).

Book a cool tour of Mossel Bay here or take excursions in the Cape Town area. You’ll find a wide variety of offers at Get Your Guide.

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