Sometimes it’s a thing to figure out which is which, because when it comes to food, the instinct is to eat first and only later figure out the names of the dishes. Even so, it is exactly what true foodies do - try, taste, and carry those unforgettable South African food memories back home.
Where to Eat Exotic Meat in South Africa
Not for the faint-hearted. Those who cannot take the slightest smell of wild
meats, or even looking at them, its best to skip exotic meat in South Africa.
The smell can be overwhelming, as the game meat may be cooked to medium-rare
texture, and the smell continue lingering.
In fact, the smell can overpower common meats like chicken, lamb, pork, and beef, which are included as part of the dining experience. But for meat lovers, especially adventurous game meat foodies, it is a feast. Dining in exotic meat restaurants may require advance booking, as availability depends on what is fresh or in season (CAPE TOWN THINGS TO DO).
Exotic meat restaurants in South Africa can be in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Cape Town, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, and Limpopo, near safari lodges and game reserves. Choices of meat can range from common game meats to more exotic meats.
Common Game Meats in South Africa
Ostrich - Lean, tender, tastes a bit like beef.
Kudu - Sweet, tender antelope meat.
Impala - Soft and delicate.
Springbok - Sweet and succulent, South Africa’s national animal.
Wildebeest - Earthy flavor, lean meat.
Buffalo - Strong, beefy taste.
Exotic Game Meats in South Africa
Crocodile - White meat, mild flavor, tastes like chicken or fish.
Zebra - Lean, slightly sweet, mildly gamey.
Giraffe - Rare, rich flavor.
Eland - Large antelope, mild taste.
Springhare - Small, lean, slightly gamey.
Bushbuck - Tender and delicate.
Nyala - Mild and sweet antelope meat.
Exotic Meat Dining in South Africa
Buffet Style
Buffets serve a variety of game meats, prepared and served hot. Salads, sauces,
soups, and sides are included. Buffet-style dining allows tasting of varieties
of meats in one meal.
Menu Style
Menu dining is offered at some restaurants, with selections listed either à la
carte or as set meals.
Interactive Dining
Staff come around with meat on skewers, and sliced directly onto plates. This
style is common in Johannesburg, Pretoria, and Cape Town.
Game Meats Cooked in South Africa range from:
Grilled/Barbecue - The most common and traditional style.
Roasted/Oven-Cooked - Often found in fine dining.
Stewed/Slow-Cooked - Used in traditional dishes.
Skewered/Sosaties - Marinated cubes of meat grilled on skewers.
Exotic or game meat eating in South Africa can be pricey due to:
Game meats like kudu, ostrich, springbok, and crocodile are rare.
Preparation and table service add to the cost.
Tourist-focused venues, especially near safari lodges, charge higher prices.
Specialty sauces and sides add extra value.
Traditional South African Food
It is not merely the traditional and classic food in South African. In fact, its
about dining in the traditional South African ambiance. Walking into the
village-style restaurant in nature, opting between where to dine. From the
traditional South African house-style dining area where the buffet food is
served, or sitting outside at the wooden benches and tables. In fact, dining
can even be under the trees or literally where dining in comfort is.
Live music and South African dance, along
with local ladies coming around for face painting, make it truly meaningful.
This type of village-style restaurant draws tourists who are part of tours,
mostly Westerners arriving by bus loads. Yet, due to the restaurant is in wide open
area, moving around without feeling
cramped.
Food is bountiful and plentiful. Ranging
from soups, salads, main dishes, and desserts. The traditional, authentic, and
classic South African food features top and popular South African dishes,
including the must-try desserts in South Africa.
Top Food in South Africa
Pap
Staple maize porridge, often served with
stews or grilled meats.
Boerewors
Traditional South African sausage, usually
grilled over a braai (barbecue).
Bobotie
Spiced minced meat baked with an egg
topping, served with yellow rice and chutney.
Sosaties
Marinated meat skewers, often grilled over
an open flame.
Chakalaka
Spicy vegetable relish, commonly paired
with bread, pap, or meats.
Vetkoek
Fried bread, sometimes stuffed with savory
fillings like curried mince.
Samp & Beans
Boiled crushed maize kernels mixed with
beans, a hearty side or main.
Umngqusho
Xhosa dish of maize and beans,
occasionally flavored with butter or meat.
Braai Meats
Various grilled meats including lamb
chops, beef steaks, chicken, and game meats.
Potjiekos
Slow-cooked stew made in a clay or
cast-iron pot, often with meat, vegetables, and beans.
Top Desserts in South Africa
Milk Tart (Melktert)
Sweet custard tart with a hint of
cinnamon.
Koeksisters
Syrup-soaked twisted dough, crispy
outside, soft inside.
Malva Pudding
Sweet, spongy cake served with warm
custard or cream.
Peppermint Crisp Tart
Layered dessert with caramel, biscuits,
and mint chocolate.
Biscuit Tart
Simple layered biscuit and custard
dessert.
Amarula Cheesecake
Creamy cheesecake flavored with South
African Amarula liqueur.
Milk Pudding (Pap & Milk)
Sweetened maize porridge dessert.
Milk Loaf Pudding
Baked sweet milk-based bread pudding.
Koekemakrout
Crumbly sweet pastry from Cape Dutch
cuisine.
Sugar Cake (Suikerkoek)
Sweet, spiced cake, sometimes flavored
with cinnamon or nutmeg.
Hotel Buffets in South Africa
Five-star and four-star hotels are part of what to eat in South Africa. Buffet
breakfasts offer a wide range of choices. Typical South African breakfast food,
South African fusion dishes, and classic Western items. Food is well organised in
different stations, between opting for salads, appetizers, grilled meats, egg
dishes, desserts and the list goes on. Local touches include freshly baked
breads, pastries like vetkoek, and seasonal fruits sourced from nearby farms.
Chefs can be seen behind the food counters in presenting the dishes, while also providing best service. The variety, presentation, and use of local ingredients make the hotel buffet more than just a meal. It is a South African way to tucking into a range of different tastes of food in one place.
Modern Food in South Africa
Modern food restaurants and cafes are located throughout South Africa. Small,
cozy, and quiet, with contemporary setting or as though walking into a South
African home. These cafes may not be crowded as customers come in at different
times - late breakfast, lunch, tea time, or early dinner. Live bands or music can
be part of the what they offer, beer is a common drink throughout the day.
Menus feature à la carte dishes, and for
better value, there are also set meals. Choices between fish, chicken, beef, or
lamb, accompanied by salad, soup, and dessert. These meals can be South African
Western-style cooking or South African fusion food, while traditional South
African dishes are rare, as they cater primarily cater for people who prefer modern
or Western food.
Cooking styles in such cafes range from grilled, baked, pan-fried, to deep-fried dishes such as fish and chips, roast chicken or grilled lamb. Portions are often hearty, and meals can be shared between two people if allowed.
