Culture & food

South Africa has 11 official languages. English is widely spoken, along with Sepedi (also known as Sesotho sa Leboa), Sesotho, Setswana, siSwati, Tshivenda, Xitsonga, Afrikaans, isiNdebele, isiXhosa and isiZulu, and most South Africans speak at least two of these languages.

There is no single heritage or culture in South Africa, and it is very difficult to define South African people based on a set of distinct characteristics or identities. With influences from all over Africa, and the world, the cultures, languages and ethnic origins of South African people are exceptionally diverse and dynamic. This is what makes South Africa such an interesting and unique place to visit.

With so many languages spoken and so many historical influences from other parts of the world, South Africa is famously known as the ‘Rainbow Nation.’ Besides the different tribal groups like Zulu, Xhosa or Ndebele, there were the early Khoisan people, as well as Hindu, Muslim and Afrikaner people, influenced by Dutch and Malaysian people in the early days of colonialism in the country.

South Africa’s restaurant scene is as diverse as its people. South African cuisine is a unique fusion of different cultural influences. These include Dutch, French, Indian and Malaysian flavours and techniques, combined with traditional African methods and flavours. South Africa is home to a number of world-class restaurants, a few of which are recognised internationally as some of the best in the world. Along with the thriving winemaking industry in the country, South Africa’s restaurants make dining out a pleasure, especially in Cape Town and the winelands.

South Africa is home to a lot of different cultures, and as such has many traditional foods that the country is well-known for. Most famous is the braai, which is not a dish but a method of cooking food, usually meat,  over open flames or coals, and is celebrated all over the country by people of all cultural backgrounds. South Africans braai everything from steak, to chops, to chicken to boerewors, which is a kind of sausage. Sometimes accompanying a braai is pap, or mielie-meal, which is a traditional maize porridge that can be served in sweet or savoury settings, for breakfast, lunch or dinner. The most famous traditional snack is biltong, a form of dried, cured meat, which is enjoyed by South Africans from all walks of life.

Many of the wine farms in Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, Paarl and Hermanus have exceptional restaurants on site. The world-class wine is paired with world-class food, with some of these wineland restaurants attracting South Africa’s best chefs.

South African restaurants in major towns and cities serve food you would find almost anywhere in the world. Restaurants are mostly European-influenced, and serve typical dishes that most westerners would recognise and enjoy. There are some restaurants that specialise in South African cuisine, and there you might be served a dish like bobotie, which was popular in the Cape Malay community. In other parts of the country, like Durban, Indian dishes and flavours heavily influence the cuisine.