- Ordering a Cape Malay Dish (Cape Town): Typified by mild, sweet curries and stews, this cuisine is easy on the uninitiated palate. The most authentic restaurant is Biesmiellah, located in the Bo-Kaap in Cape Town, but many of the top restaurants in the Cape incorporate Cape Malay spicing in creative ways.
- Lunching in the Vineyards (Winelands): Set aside at least one afternoon to lunch in the Winelands overlooking vine-carpeted valleys. Recommended options include the lovely terrace at Constantia Uitsig (tel. 021/794-4480), on the Constantia Wine Route, and a window table at La Petite Ferme (tel. 021/876-3016), overlooking the lush Franschhoek Valley.
- High Tea at the Nellie (Cape Town): Regularly voted the top hotel in Africa, the Mount Nelson has been serving up the best high tea south of the equator for over a century. Luxuriate on sofas under chandeliers as plates piled high with cucumber sandwiches and cream puffs are served to the strains of the tinkling pianist. A graciously colonial experience, and a relative bargain at R100 ($15/#7.15) a head.
- Braaing Crayfish on the Beach (West Coast, Western Cape): The West Coast all-you-can-eat beach braais (barbecues) are legendary, giving you an opportunity to try a variety of local fish. Your best bet is Muisbosskerm, near Lamberts Bay, an ideal spot if you want to combine a trip to the Cederberg.
- Eating with Your Fingers: You'll find that the African staple pap (maize-meal prepared as a stiff porridge that resembles polenta) is best sampled by balling a bit in one hand and dipping the edge into a sauce or stew -- try umngqusho, a stew made from maize kernels, sugar beans, chiles, and potatoes, and said to be one of Nelson Mandela's favorites. You're most likely to sample pap on a township tour.
- Dining Under the Stars to the Sounds of the Bush (private game reserves throughout southern Africa): There's nothing like fresh air to work up an appetite, unless it's the smell of sizzling food cooked over an open fire. Happily, dinners at private game reserves combine both more often than not. Weather permitting, meals are served in a boma (a reeded enclosure), or in the bush in riverbeds or under large trees. Armed rangers and massive fires keep predators at bay.
- Chewing Biltong on a Road Trip: Biltong, strips of game, beef, or ostrich cured with spices and dried, is sold at farm stalls and butcher shops throughout the country. This popular local tradition that dates back to the Voortrekkers is something of an acquired taste, but it's almost addictive once you've started.
South Africa Travel Experiences
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Safaris
I went to South Africa duting the dry season, which is the Best time to go to see wildlife, due to the heat and lack of water in the Nati... Continue reading »
