Bo-kaap, Cape Town, Western Cape

Translating as ‘above the Cape’ in Afrikaans, the Bo-Kaap is a rich centre of Cape Malay heritage. This cluster of Cape Dutch and Cape Georgian houses hug the slopes of Signal Hill and are famous for being painted in rainbow pastel hues. The Bo-Kaap Museum provides a stirring and comprehensive account of the community and its history as a former slave quarter.

Don’t miss:

Atlas Trading Company is a family-owned spice shop that has been beloved by locals for over 50 years, and delicately perfumes almost the entire neighbourhood.

If you like this, try:

The gabled and thatched farmhouses in the Winelands are striking examples of Cape Dutch architecture.

Art

Zeitz MOCAA, Cape Town, Western Cape

The Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa, in the uber-chic Silo precinct of the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, has a spectacular cathedral-like atrium carved out of the original cellular concrete, a tribute to the building’s industrial heritage. The extensive collections are spread over nine floors with 100 gallery spaces all dedicated to Africa and its diaspora.

Don’t miss:

Catch OFF-THE-AIR, a photographic exhibition by Mouna Karray from Tunisia, until 1 April 2019.
If you like this, try: Whatiftheworld in Cape Town’s central business district — a contemporary art gallery that hosts regular exhibitions and installations by African artists.

History

Qunu, Eastern Cape

The birthplace of Nelson Mandela, Qunu is a picturesque pastoral community in the heart of the Eastern Cape. This small rural village has become a mecca for travellers wanting insight into the origins of one of the most significant titans of recent history. You can even enjoy a meal or homestay with a member of the Madiba clan that Mandela was the patriarch of.

Don’t miss:

The Nelson Mandela Museum is a modest but engrossing repository of information on the ‘Father of a Nation’.

If you like this try:

Matjiesfontein, on the edge of the Great Karoo, is a tiny colonial-style town founded in 1884. Take the train from Cape Town and overnight there.

Live music

Splashy Fen, Underberg, KwaZulu-Natal

Splashy Fen is South Africa’s longest running live music festival, taking place on a farm over the Easter weekend. It’s considered one of the best outdoor events of its type, presenting 400 musicians over one weekend. The 30th edition of Splashy Fen takes place from 18 to 22 April 2019 in the spectacular Drakensberg mountains (the line-up is announced in February 2019).

Don’t miss:

This celebration of art, people and music is held in a UNESCO World Heritage Site that also offers mountain biking, horse riding and trout fishing, as well as San rock art.

If you like this, try:

Hanks, in Cape Town’s Bree Street, for some excellent live jazz every Tuesday night.

Performance

National Arts Festival, Grahamstown (Makhanda), Eastern Cape

The largest performing arts festival in South Africa, the National Arts Festival sees the normally laid-back university town transformed into a dynamic arts and culture destination. Held every June/July, local and international artists present theatre shows, concerts, dance and installations.

Don’t miss:

The fringe is home to some of the brightest gems of South African theatre.

If you like this, try:

The one-of-a-kind Voorkamerfest, in Darling close to Cape Town, which ferries guests to the homes of locals to watch 30-minute performances of poetry recitals, comedy, dance, song and more.

Read the Meet Your South Africa magazine here

The photographer for the Meet Your South Africa campaign, Pete Goding, talks about how he captured this amazing shot of Blyde River Canyon

Where was the photo taken?
David, our guide at Blyde River Canyon, helped me find the location just before sunrise — his expert knowledge saved time when I didn’t have the luxury of being able to explore the area myself. I then just had to work fast to find my spot to capture the canyon in all its glory. I wanted to take a few images with and without a subject. I prefer introducing a person, animals or objects into the photo to provide scale and additional subtext. Which is where David came in handy.

How did you actually get the shot that morning?
The birds were beginning to wake up at 5am and the air was crisp and cool. My pulse began to race as I saw the warm sunlight flooding through the lens with the foamy clouds spilling into the picture as if a tap had been left on behind the mountain. At this point, I was frantically changing the shutter speeds to provide different exposures to give me the greatest choice in post-production. I was trying to create as much depth of field as possible, keeping the aperture at its smallest, to get as much of the landscape in focus as I could. It was chilly but I felt compelled to keep shooting. As the cloud enveloped the mountainside and beams of light appeared and disappeared along the line of cliffs, each frame I took had a different quality and warmth.

Any advice for someone taking a photo like this?
Take some time to enjoy the moment, then get your camera out. Try putting it on a tripod and, if you have a shutter priority setting, reduce the shutter speed down to a point when the aperture or ‘f’ reading is as high as possible — which indicates having the smallest aperture. This will enable you to get as much of the landscape in focus as possible. Then place the camera on timer so you’re not jogging the camera when you press the shutter release. Slow shutter speeds in low light will be blurred with any small movement. Then, vary the shutter speed to make the scene lighter and darker and choose the one that captures the best light. Or, you can try placing the camera in aperture priority mode or ‘manual, depending on your set up, and adapt the settings by opening up the depth of field and lowering the shutter speed. Keep the ISO low to limit the amount of grain.

What was your first trip to South Africa like?
I was blown away. There’s such a staggering diversity of subject matter, from extreme wildlife experiences to unique cultural traditions. Between myself and the film crew I travelled with, we had to pinch ourselves to make sure we were really there.

Tech specs

Camera:
Nikon D850
Lens:
24-70mm
ISO:
100
Aperture:
f3.5
Shutter speed:
1/125

Read the Meet Your South Africa magazine here

Lion

Fun fact
A male lion’s roar can be heard from as far as five miles away. It’s used to mark out territory.

What they eat
Most kinds of antelope will do, as well as zebra, giraffe and wild pigs. Buffalo really hit the spot.

Where to find them
The open savannah and river banks of the Greater Kruger National Park are favoured haunts.

Social life
Lions are all about family life. They often live together in large groups called ‘prides’.

Leopard

Fun fact
Leopards don’t roar like lions, but tend to purr — somewhat louder than house cats, though.

What they eat
Antelope, rodents and birds, but will have the occasional dung beetle when needing a snack.

Where to find them
Mala Mala Game Reserve has a remarkably high probability of sightings.

Social life
Notorious loners, adult leopards only hang out together during the mating season.

Buffalo

Fun fact
Despite looking like big cows, buffalo are very dangerous due to their hefty build and deadly horns.

What they eat
Voracious grazers, herds can mow down entire fields of grass as they move through.

Where to find them
They love wide savannahs where they can stick together and watch out for predators.

Social life
Buffalo are incredibly social animals, with herds ranging from a few dozen to many thousands.

Elephant

Fun fact
Elephants love to swim and even use their trunks as snorkels when they dive underwater.

What they eat
An elephant can eat about 300 pounds (the weight of 20 bowling balls) in vegetation daily.

Where to find them
Addo Elephant National Park in the Eastern Cape is home to over 600 African elephants.

Social life
Females form entrenched matriarchal herds, while males wander solo.

Rhino

Fun fact
Rhinos can reach speeds of up to 40mph at full pelt, but prefer to just wallow in mud pools.

What they eat
Rhinos will spend most of the day grazing on whatever shrubbery they can find.

Where to find them
Hluhluwe–Imfolozi Game Reserve in KwaZulu-Natal is home to both black and white rhino.

Social life
The rhino’s best friend is the oxpecker bird, which rides on its back, picking off ticks and parasites.

The Little Five

20

The speed in miles per hour that the elephant shrew can reach

75

The number of years a leopard tortoise can live

1,141

The number of times its own weight in dung a dung beetle can move — making it, relatively, the strongest animal in the world

25

The amount of days an antlion can live in its adult form

8

The average number of rooms the buffalo weaver is capable of making in its nests

The Marine Five

Penguin

1. They can stay underwater for up to 27 minutes
2. Jackass penguins are named for their braying, donkey-like call
3. The penguin can reach speeds of 22mph underwater
4. Couples mate for life and divide parental duties

Dolphin

1. Indo-Pacific bottlenose, common and humpbacked dolphins are the species most commonly seen in South Africa
2. Each dolphin has a unique whistle for identification
3. Dolphin communities can reach 1,000 members

Shark

1. Gansbaai has the densest population of great white sharks in the world, and is a major centre for the conservation of these animals
2. Great white sharks have around 300 teeth
3. Sharks can only swim forward due to their fin shape

Seal

1. A seal’s whiskers help it to detect prey in murky waters
2. Cape fur seals nibble on rocks to aid digestion
3. They’re curious and often play ‘tag’ with scuba divers
4. Adult males will gather a harem of up to 50 females

Whale

1. Humpback whales’ heads are covered in knobs called tubercles, which are actually vestigial hair follicles
2. Hermanus near Cape Town is a great spot for whale-watching
3. The closest living relative to whales and dolphins are hippos

Read the Meet Your South Africa magazine here

Kim Putter, Living the Dream Surf School

What makes Durban so great for surfing?
Known as South Africa’s ‘Surf City’, travellers come here either to learn to surf or to ride some of the famous waves they’ve seen in magazines.

What kind of prep is needed?
A reasonable amount of fitness helps, but you don’t have to be an Olympic athlete. It certainly helps if you are able to do a push up or six.

What will visitors’ most enduring memory be?
The natural high from riding your first wave all the way to the shore is surreal and, if we’ve done our job right, will leave you wanting to surf at every beach you visit throughout your life.
surflessonsdurban.co.za

Freediving in Western Cape

Daniela Daines, Cape Town Freediving

What will visitors’ most enduring memory be?
No dive is ever the same: you could find yourself among a group of playful seals, exploring wrecks, diving through the great Atlantic kelp forests, or even gliding along with whales or dolphins for company.

What kind of prep is needed?
Freediving really is for everyone who has a healthy pair of lungs, can swim and is in general good health.

What kind of equipment do you need?
We provide all gear during our courses. Freedive gear here in Cape Town would include a wetsuit, mask, snorkel, long fins and a weight belt.
capetownfreediving.com

Rock Climbing in North West

Rob Thomas, The School for Mountain Leadership

What’s the highlight of rock climbing in North West?
The wilderness. It’s not unusual to have a climbing area all to yourself, and to have baboons wandering past as well.

What makes the region so great for climbing?
North West’s Magaliesberg mountain range has excellent rock for climbing, and we’re blessed with great weather.

When is the best time of the year for climbing here?
We can climb all year, but winter (April to August) is drier with less rain. That said, summer offers us all the opportunity to swim in the streams during our lunch breaks!
sml.co.za

Three more to try

River-rafting in Free State

The Free State is is bordered by the Vaal and Orange Rivers, both offering thrilling river-rafting experiences. clarensxtreme.co.za 

Mountain biking in Eastern Cape

Explore the curves and slopes of the unspoilt Eastern Cape coastline on two wheels. Suitable for beginners and experts alike, with multiple trails that vary in length and ability. dirtyboots.co.za

Bungee jumping in Eastern Cape

Set under Bloukrans Bridge on the N2 highway, this bungee spot is a magnet for thrill-seekers keen to nosedive more than 700ft down into the crevasse below. An unforgettable experience worth trying at least once. faceadrenalin.com

Read the Meet Your South Africa magazine here

1. Koeksisters

Koeksisters are a wonderful example of food leaping across cultures. There are two versions: traditional Dutch/Afrikaans koeksisters are plaited twists of dough soaked in syrup with a crisp, golden crust; while the Cape Malay version has a lighter syrup, is sprinkled with coconut and spiced with cinnamon and cardamom.
Try it here: Wembley House in Cape Town does the Cape Malay version; Ouma Rooi Koeksisters serves up the old Dutch twist.

2. Bunny chow

Don’t worry: this dish doesn’t contain any actual bunnies. A bunny chow is a hollowed-chunk of bread filled with curry that’s become a popular fast food. The dish dates back to when migrant Indian workers worked in the cane fields in KwaZulu. At the time, a restaurant run by members of an Indian caste known as Banias (hence the name) served them to workers.
Try it here: With its large Indian population, Durban produces the best ‘bunnies’ in South Africa. Check out CaneCutters.

3. Potjiekos

This Dutch-inspired dish translates as ‘small-pot food’, and is slow-cooked over an open fire in the great outdoors. It started out as a ‘frontier stew’ with wild game and vegetables — and generous dollops of cheap and cheerful sherry. Oxtail potjies are a firm modern favourite. They become the focal point of any gathering, drawing rapturous ‘oohs’ whenever the lid is lifted for stirring — it’s not uncommon for devious guests to slip extra booze in while the chef is looking the other way.
Try it here: Moyo in Jo’burg’s Marble Arch does a oxtail potjie with all the trimmings.

4. Braai

The quintessential South African dining experience is a ‘braai’ (barbecue). Known in Zulu as shisa nyama (fire meat), a braai is almost always a social event presided over by the braaimaster. The meat is cooked over hot coals — gas barbecues are poor substitutes — then eaten with pap (a stiff maize meal porridge), spicy chakalaka relish and freeflowing ice-cold beers.
Try it here: A successful fast-food franchise, Chesa Nyama, provides quick fixes for those who want braai there and then.

5. Boerewors

Translating as ‘farm sausage’, boerewors is as South African as biltong and blue sky. Made from a coarsely minced combination of beef, pork or lamb, it’s generously spiced with coriander, pepper and allspice. The best recipes are hotly contested and a source of fierce pride. It’s best cooked over a braai, and served with pap and vegetables.
Try it here: Boerewors rolls or ‘boeries’ are like hot dogs but better, and available from street carts in most cities. Make sure to try it with grilled onions and chakalaka.

Quench your thirst

Wine

South Africa’s wines are rightly world-famous. The verdurous Winelands in the Western Cape are the perfect place to the country’s signature pinotage vintages.

Rooibos tea

The tea that conquered the world, rooibos has a wonderfully sweet, earthy flavour and is often enjoyed with lemon and honey.

Amarula

This famous South African liqueur is made from marula fruits and is very popular across the nation. It’s creamy and sweet, usually had as a dessert tipple — as well as an ingredient in delicious cocktails.

For the adventurous

Mopane worms

Mopane worms (actually caterpillars) are eaten dried as a crunchy snack, or cooked in a spicy sauce.
Try it here: Moyo Zoo Lake

Did you know?

Nelson Mandela’s favourite dessert was malva pudding, a spongy cake soaked in syrup and served hot with custard.

Read the Meet Your South Africa magazine here

Cape Town

Day

Start the day at Arnold’s on Kloof Street; Cape Town’s most famous breakfast spot. This is where the city’s most fabulous denizens shrug off the effects of the night before with all-day breakfasts and Bloody Marys in the shade of Table Mountain. If you’re feeling brave, try the crocodile tagine or marinated warthog ribs. 

Hop on a non-motorised, off-road ‘monster’ scooter for a novel way of exploring Table Mountain. These ‘scootours’ will have you freewheeling along the mountain’s dirt roads while taking in awesome views of the city below.

Night

For an evening of laughs, head out to The Pumphouse at the V&A Waterfront, home of the Cape Town Comedy Club — open Wednesdays to Sundays until late.

Try the Lion’s Head Full Moon Hike for something more energetic. The 2,200ft hike can take from 45 minutes to an hour, but allow extra time to marvel at Cape Town spread out below you in the moonlight.

If you’re in the mood for something that requires a little less endurance then the Galileo Open Air Cinema shows movies at a variety of rotating venues across the city.

Durban

Day

The Big Rush Big Swing at the Moses Mabhida World Cup Stadium is an exhilarating way to start the day. The Guinness Book of Records named it the tallest swing in 2011 but don’t let that scare you. It’s thrilling to swing from the arch above the stadium, which is shaped like the Y on the South African flag.

Not everyone fancies a 720ft jump before lunch. For those in search of the simpler pleasures get yourself a table with a sea view at Beach Bums. Located in an idyllic spot on Durban’s North Coast, the restaurant encourages you to take off your shoes and dig your toes into the sand. Best enjoyed with a jug or two of potent cocktails shared among friends.

Night

Florida Road in the city centre has long been the hub of nightlife in Durbz, with clubs galore offering live music every night. But there’s a new venue that’s got the youth vote. Founded by popular local rapper, Aewon Wolf, The Werehouse in South Beach showcases emerging young talent.

Head to the Chairman on Mahatma Gandhi Road for some smoking live jazz, great homegrown artwork and potent cocktails in a stunning, sophisticated venue. The spot is meticulously designed inside and out, and is emblematic of Durban’s pulsing energy and unique aesthetic.

Johannesburg

Day

Housed in a former parking lot, the Neighbourgoods Market becomes the beating heart of the city every Saturday. Locals and visitors alike flock here for amazing street food, pumping live music and unique designer clothes — and to just soak up the electric vibe. You could easily spend the entire day sampling food from around the world and browsing the wares

For foodies, the Taste of Yeoville is a pan-African food tour offering samples of delicious and authentic South African dishes, as well as tasty selections from local food markets. Come hungry.

Night

Head to the Keyes Art Mile in Rosebank, which is closed to cars on the first Thursday evening of each month and becomes a buzzing open-air market with food, drinks and street performances. Galleries showcasing contemporary artists are open late, and local artisans sell their work from street stalls.

For an aperitif, Sandton City is just a short drive away. Walk under the glittering chandeliers and past the designer stores to the San Deck rooftop where you can watch the sun set with a cocktail in hand. Then, dance the night away at Harem, a high-end super-club featuring some of the continent’s hottest DJs.

Read the Meet Your South Africa magazine here