When it comes to holidays involving lots of walking, South Africa is hard to beat. There is plenty to see and do during a walking holiday, but one of the things that you really shouldn’t miss is the excellent local food on offer. South African cuisine is varied and delicious, and if you are a real carnivore then you will love the meat dishes described below.

Boerewors

Boerewors is a type of spicy sausage that is cooked on the braai (a South African barbeque). It is well worth trying at any of the places that you stop at when you are walking. South Africa has a lot of traditional food from its Dutch heritage, and the Boerewors is another one to add to the list.

It is generally made from minced beef, although sometimes it is combined with other meats like pork, and lots of spices are then added. It is usually served up with pap (a South African traditional porridge). There are lots of varieties of boerewors, including garlic wors and spekwors which contain extra pork fat.

Biltong

More of a snack than a meal, Biltong is something uniquely South African. It consists of strips of dried meat in a number of different flavours and styles, and it can be made using lots of different kinds of meat, including beef, game meats and even ostrich.

The most similar thing that can be found to biltong, outside of South Africa is called jerky, although the two are quite different in terms of their different tastes and ingredients. It originally arrived with the Dutch in the 17th century. Because of its high energy content and ability to last a long time, it is a great snack to take with you when you are walking. South Africa has lots of tasty traditional foods, but for walkers this is sure to be one of the favourites.

Skop

Not one for the faint hearted, you may only want to try skop if you work up enough of an appetite whilst walking. South Africa has a few recipes that may not appeal quite so much to the western diet and skop is one of them. Skop essentially consists of the entire head of a cow, sheep or goat. The skin is removed with a razor and the ears and nose are cut off before it is then boiled. It is especially popular with South African men.

Potjiekos

Potjiekos is a stew consisting of meat and vegetables, and is the perfect energy-boosting food to eat whilst you are walking. South Africa boasts lots of traditional recipes, and this is a mainstay of the South African diet. Due to its slow-cooked nature (it can take between three and six hours to cook), it is often quite a sociable activity. Traditionally it is prepared outdoors on a pot heated by wood or charcoal. Added to the pot can be meat, vegetables, spices and sometimes fruit. It is usually accompanied by rice, potatoes or pasta.

Try them All

All of these dishes are found throughout South Africa, meaning you will get the opportunity to try many of them when you head there to go walking. South Africa is not just about big game and spectacular scenery – the cuisine is also very unique and you shouldn’t miss the opportunity to try some of these meals during your next trip.

Author Bio: Tony Maniscalco is the Sales and Marketing Manager for Ramblers Worldwide Holidays. Operating since 1946, they now offer over 250 guided group walking holidays in more than 90 different countries. Whilst walking South Africa with Ramblers Worldwide Holidays, you can walk the most scenic locations & landscapes at the best value prices.

Category: Travel
Keywords: walking South Africa