Rabia Mayet | rabiamayet@radioislam.co.za

17 November 2025

3-minute read

Known for its rich cultural heritage and diverse ecological land and seascapes, the exotic country of Malaysia in South-East Asia boasts unmatchable hospitality extended by its friendly people and year-round almost perfect weather. Despite its distance from South Africa, Malaysia promises to weave a tapestry of experiences for its visitors.

With many years of experience in the travel industry, Muhammed Bhigjee from Harvey World Travel, Melrose Arch, says that Malaysia is the ideal destination for South African passport holders as there is no visa required. Unfortunately, there are no direct flights and visitors will have to make a stopover in another country when travelling to Malaysia, with flights prices ranging from between R9000 to R15 000 per person.

With an abundance of sightseeing, activities and touring to do, Muhammed mentions that “Malaysia is one of the easiest, most affordable family-friendly destinations to visit in South-East Asia.” The vibrant capital city of Kuala Lumpur boasts the iconic Petronas Towers, the KLCC park and playground, Batu Caves, Berjaya Times Square theme park, and the cable car and skybridge giving visitors breathtaking views of the rainforests.

Malaysia is surrounded by a number of stunning islands, each offering beautiful beach escapes and allowing tourists boat tours and island-hopping experiences. Langkawi Island is surrounded by calm, safe waters and pristine white sand where children especially will be fascinated by the Langkawi Aquarium with its penguins and sharks, and adventure seekers will have the thrill of banana boat rides, jet-skis and kayaking in the Langkawi Geo-Forest Park. Penang Island, known for its rich cuisine, with a mixture of heritage and fun has on offer the Penang Hill and Funicular Train, Georgetown, the escape theme park, and the Penang Butterfly Park, an educational outing for younger kids. The lesser known Redang Island has crystal-clear waters, making it a paradise for snorkelling and diving.

In Malaysia, there are many land activities for those who don’t have their sea legs, like quad biking, mountain climbing, hiking, and ziplining. Foe the more adventurous souls, there is the option of doing an overnight cultural jungle stay in Borneo with one of the many indigenous tribes.

Muhammed suggests looking for family-friendly accommodation near good locations with easy access to restaurants, shops and public transport when booking a trip to Malaysia. Family rooms are better as they provide more space for kids, and resorts have onsite facilities and activities for younger kids.

It’s quite easy to get around from one area to another within the country as Malaysia has one of the best transport systems in the region, with modern highways, an inexpensive Uber-type app called Grab, and reliable trains. The best way to reach the nearby islands is to take a low-cost flight.

Muhammed says that while Malaysian food does not generally suit the South African palate, there are certain dishes like Malaysia’s national dish, the Nasi Lamu, are delicious. Consisting of coconut rice, sambals, fish, boiled eggs and cucumber, and served with fried chicken, beef or squid, it is a must-try. Satays consisting of grilled beef or chicken skewers served with a peanut sauce is a winner, as is Me-Goreng, the famous spicy fried noodles available everywhere. A coconut ice-cream in Penang served in a coconut shell is the tastiest thing ever, and Muhammed laughingly says that he would return to Malaysia repeatedly just for that ice-cream!

Listen to the full interview with Ml Muhammad Kara, Ml Ibrahim Daya and Muhammed Bhigjee.