5 Crazy Things to Eat on Your South African Vacation

They say, if you set foot on African soil, you must not leave before you have tried these bizarrely delicious South African specialities. Strictly not for vegetarians! P.S: by “they” we mostly mean us.

Have the Stomach for an Ostrich Omelette?

Ostrich is the world’s largest and heaviest bird, and eggs are no less. Just for perspective, one ostrich egg is equal to 24 chicken eggs. Although it’s hard to believe that anyone other than a professional athlete could eat a whole egg for breakfast, in reality Ostrich Omelette is a traditional hangover dish in South Africa. If you have had a rough night with African booze, this is what you should start your morning with. The texture of the egg leaves a crepe like consistency, although the flavour is similar to chicken egg. This breakfast is served at most restaurants, and you will have no problem finding it in prime cities like Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban and Cape Town. In Johannesburg, try The Grill House, Butcher Shop and Grill, The Local Grill and Karoo Cattle and Land for delightful Ostrich specialities. In Cape Town, try Belthazar, Beluga, Da Vinci's on Kloof and The Hussar Grill.

Have You Ever Tried a ‘Walkie Talkie’?

Walkie Talkies are one of the most fanatical street foods in Africa, and not half as cute as they sound. As the name goes, these are grilled or deep fried chicken heads and feet—a township dish served with Pap Porridge! Some even call it runaways, 'Amanqina-Enkukhu' and 'Guateng-Maotwana'. Most street food vendors in South Africa offer this protein high snack served with a curried stew or simply grilled. Indeed a claggy delicacy, this is best eaten by hand.

Dig into ‘Burn the Meat’ Fare

If you are in South Africa, there is no way you can miss the authentic 'burn the meat' fare. This Braai or Shisa Nyama cuisine originated in Johannesburg, where butchers set up barbecues in front of their shops at weekends. They grill meat and sell it on the street. You can select from Beef, Chicken, Pork, Lamb and Sausages. Mind you, this is no regular meat grilling fest—music and drums in specific, play in the backdrop, which is believed to enhance the flavour of the meats. Fun, eh?

How About Munching on Bugs?

Adventure seekers, we dare you to try the Termite Popcorns, Mopane (large caterpillars with curry) and crunchy Stinkbugs. Even if you throw up, you’ll at least have something to write home about.

Go Wild with Game Meat

Try the exotic meat platter at Arnold's restaurant in Cape Town, which has warthog, crocodile ribs, ostrich and gemsbok. Warthog has a similar flavour to pork, and you can get perfectly cooked Warthog Loin with Tatties at Savoy Cabbage restaurant in Cape Town. They also have game meat on their menu and are known to have served zebra appetisers in the past. Moyo is your place for the best Croc pies, Karoo Lamb and bobotie. In Johannesburg, The Carnivore restaurant serves the best Bush (giraffe) meat. You can also get yourself zebra and crocodile steaks or sizzlers at the restaurants in Sun City. Anywhere else, you’d be jailed for this!

Irrespective of what you eat in South Africa, do finish your meal with 'Amarula Don Pedro'. It's a fantastic cocktail dessert with African Amarula cream liqueur, served on a bed of marula fruit and blended ice-cream. Bon appétit!

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