Tsakane Nxumalo is a sergeant in the Black Mambas, South Africa's first all-women anti-poaching team.
21.07.2023 - 07:38 / roughguides.com
You might think that South Africa, with at least 35 indigenous languages and a large immigrant population speaking many others, would have a wide range of cuisines. And you’d be right. Here’s our guide to the many amazing restaurants in South Africa.
The information in this article is inspired by The Rough Guide to South Africa , your essential guide for visiting South Africa .
The Dutch and Portuguese brought the first outside influences to South African cuisine, already richly varied from the range of local game, plants, nuts and berries on the veld. Later arrivals included the British, and Germans. From there then came the influence of Indonesia, Malaysia and other Asian countries who heavily influenced Cape Town dishes.
The coastline itself also serves as an influence — as seafood from the two surrounding oceans has also added to the variety for diners. And, of course, it would be remiss not to mention the 17th-century French Huguenots who helped lay the foundations of South Africa’s wine industry. It is worth exploring this rich tradition as you travel around South Africa’s many different provinces.
Western Cape — one of the best regions for visiting restaurants in South Africa
Serving coffee from their own roastery, this steampunk-style café on Buitenkant Street has been voted the world’s best. They are so passionate about the product, they encourage you not to add sugar and “Taste the Joy of the Extraordinary”.
Cape Town is also a wonderful place to travel with your kids thanks to its abundance of parks and beaches. You will find more inspirational destinations for a family holiday in our guide the best places to go with kids.
The “First People” welcome you to enjoy their food and hospitality in a striking setting some 70km north of Cape Town. As well as guesthouses and tented camps for visitors, San guides lead informative tours. The restaurant has dishes made from freshly prepared, locally sourced food.
Coastline in Western Cape
Famous chefs and many other celebrities have beaten a path in Gugulethu to visit this butcher’s shop, now a major social experience where dressed-up locals and visitors mingle freely. The meat is enjoyed with a bottle of beer, either outside at one of the open-air BBQs or in the restaurant, with lots of loud music.
Explore two famous South African cities — Cape Town and Johannesburg with our guide to South Africa's tale of two cities.
MUST-EAT: Potjiekos. Almost no liquid is added to this one-pot stew, as a careful layering of meat and veg lets the ingredients cook in their own juices. The secret is the traditional, three-legged, cast-iron pot.
The secret of one-pot stew is the traditional, three-legged, cast-iron pot
You’ll need to book well in advance for this
Tsakane Nxumalo is a sergeant in the Black Mambas, South Africa's first all-women anti-poaching team.
Thanks to tour deals and budget airlines, you don’t necessarily have to spend a small fortune to go on a South African safari anymore—but what if you could experience a bucket-list game drive from the comfort of your computer?
The parent and child relationship is a famously complicated one. It’s one of the few in life where the love is often so pure—and the bond so established—that both members expect to continually transition together through the different stages of life. But as children grow and develop their own identity, boundaries are redefined and the foundational rules drummed into us are questioned.
Kalmoesfontein Farm
For visitors to South Africa, wildlife encounters are often top of the list. Thornybush Game Lodge, located in the Limpopo Province of South Africa, is a dream destination for wildlife enthusiasts. Situated on a 34,000-acre private game reserve adjoining Kruger National Park, the luxury safari lodge offers its guests a chance to immerse themselves in the surrounding wilderness and get up close with the wildlife.
In southern South Africa, right along the coast, you’ll find an adult-only oasis called Nima Lodge. This hotel is a perfect destination for travelers looking to reconnect with nature and explore all the natural beauty of South Africa, whether it’s the nearby parks or enjoying the view from an on-site spa.
South Africa has diverse landscapes, from beautiful beaches to rugged mountains, making it a perfect destination for nature lovers. One of the unique accommodations in South Africa is the Stargazing Cube Misty Mountain Cube, located in the scenic Garden Route region.
When it comes to exceptional escapes, the South African province of Limpopo is ahead of the game. Just a few hours drive or a short flight north of Johannesburg, Limpopo offers visitors the unique opportunity of combining safari and first-rate golf. It's home to both one of the largest game parks in the world, the prestigious Kruger National Park, and a wealth of word class golf courses.
Get away from the crowds of the east coast and explore some truly remote and wild areas. These are some of the best beaches on the west coast of Australia :
Being an eco-friendly visitor is about more than avoiding plastic bottles (although that helps). It’s also about adding enjoyment to your holiday by learning more about your destination and giving something back, something that’s especially easy in South Africa’s Limpopo province. Here are our favourite sustainable tourism and conservation projects in this exciting region.
We recently invited community projects and travel businesses to tell us their stories. We especially wanted to hear from initiatives that do things differently to make a difference — projects like the inspirational Creseldah Education Foundation (CEF), based in the Mpumalanga province of eastern South Africa.
Subtropical heat, golden beaches, craft distilleries and spicy curries: Durban is an intriguing mix of urban South Africa and the Indian subcontinent, with a generous sprinkling of hipster culture thrown in. From surf to spirits, we reveal six reasons you should make time for this sunny city.