Traditional South African food

Enjoy the tantalizing flavors of South African food

The wide array of cuisine available is overwhelming. From the deliciously diverse flavors of South Africa’s indigenous and multi-cultural rainbow cuisine to culinary specialties from all over the world.

All over South Africa, you can find strips of what looks like dark old leather that is eaten as a snack – this is the famous biltong. Biltong is a thinly sliced, tough and salty air-dried meat, most often beef or game like springbok, rather like beef jerky. You will also find droewors, air-dried sausages. Indigenous African peoples use to preserve meat by curing it with salt and drying in the air.

Bunny chow, this is South African fast food – and it has nothing to do with rabbits.

It’s a quarter or a half a loaf of white bread, hollowed out and filled with a hot and spicy meat or vegetable curry (or anything else that takes your fancy). Bunny chow originated in the city of Durban, some say when migrant Indian laborers working in sugarcane plantations had to take their food into the fields.

Potjiekos or ‘little pot food’ is an Afrikaans term to describe food cooked in layers in a traditional three-legged cast iron pot (a potjie) but essentially it’s a slow cooked meat and vegetable stew. Potjiekos can be served with pap (maize porridge), umngqusho (samp and beans), morogo (wild spinach), amadombolo (dumplings) and pot-baked bread (potbrood) or steamed bread (ujeqe).

As with meat, the “braai” (barbecue) is a favorite way of cooking fish.

The people at South Africa’s west coast, known for their fondness of “snoek” and crayfish, are particularly adept at grilling seafood over an open fire. In coastal areas fresh line-fish (catch of the day) is always a good menu option if you are a fish lover.

Come and enjoy some good South African food!

https://www.expatica.com/za/about/Top-10-foods-in-South-Africa-and-recipes_504435.html

https://www.south-africa-tours-and-travel.com/food-in-south-africa.html

You Only Live Once

South Africa is just one of the most beautiful jewels. From the north to the south, put on your adventure shoes, sleep over at breathtaking places and make each adventure a memorable one.

When taking an African Safari South Africa tourism has a secret weapon, and it’s the Kruger National Park with its intricate network of private game reserves or just make time and take the beautiful Mother City by its horns. (Cape Town)

Some interesting stuff to put on your to-do list:

WINE TASTING IN A “CAVE” AT KLEIN ROOSBOOM BOUTIQUE WINERY

Take a scenic Sunday drive along the Tygerberg Valley Road to Klein Roosboom and opt to have your tasting in one of the “caves”. Apart from the fact that the wines really are magnificent, you’ll get to experience them in a truly unique way.

ZIP AROUND CHAPMAN’S PEAK IN A CLASSIC (OPEN-TOP) SPORTS CAR

It’s the stuff that memories (and killer Instagram opportunities) are made of. Nothing beats the feeling of the wind through your hair and the sun on your face as you cruise along the road in a cool car with breathtaking views along the way.

YOGA ON A TIDAL POOL WITH SUP YOGA

The outdoor setting, gently lapping water, and endless ocean views enhance the overall experience. Plus, you get to go for a refreshing swim while you’re at it (several, in fact, depending on how often you lose balance).

RIDE A STEAM TRAIN TO CERES

The old beauty passes through the picturesque Witzenberg and Michell’s Passes en route to Demeter Station in Ceres, allowing passengers to enjoy the sights from the comfort of the spacious Lounge Cars, which were restored and refurbished in preparation for the 70-year-old train’s return to the rails in 2015.

HOP ABOARD THE FRANSCHHOEK WINE TRAM

You’ll get a glimpse into 300 years’ worth of rich history, while you sip in the views (and vino, naturally!)

All of Africa’s iconic safari species makes Kruger one of the world’s greatest wildlife-watching destinations.

Bush Walks:  Nothing can possibly beat the heart-stopping excitement of tracking rhino, elephant, and lion on foot through the heat of the bush.

Bird watching:  Bird lovers can look forward to seeing more than 400 bird species in their natural habitat.

Bush drives and nature walks:  Guided bush drives and nature walks get you up close and personal with the majesty that is the Kruger National Park.

Hot Air Ballooning and Helicopter Flights:  For the adventurous at heart looking for a unique way to experience South Africa’s most beautiful countryside, you can enjoy the majesty of the Kruger National Park through hot air ballooning and helicopter flights.

These are only a few of the many exciting activities that will keep you thoroughly entertained during your stay at the Kruger National Park.

Enjoy life and live the journey!

Sources:

https://insideguide.co.za/cape-town/unusual-things-to-do-in-cape-town/

https://lukimbi.com/2015/05/14/kruger-national-park-game-reserves/

Why South Africa is the most beautiful country in the world

It is full of beauty, both natural and man-made. Cape Town as a whole encompasses both of these, with the amazing oceans and views as well as the gorgeous architecture and culture.

Our coastal drives are above the rest. Chapman’s Peak and the Garden Route are a sight to behold, one that every South African need to see at least once in their lifetime.

Our diverse ecosystems and wildlife. Much of our wildlife can be seen in our national parks, which protect them and aid in maintaining their ecosystems. Not only is South Africa home to the Big Five and number of endangered animals. Such as the African Wild Dog and the Pangolin, but we also have a superb variety of marine life as well. Where else in the world could you view a whale from the shore and an elephant grazing with its herd?

Our diverse floral kingdom. Even though there is a number of alien plant species in South Africa, there are also numerous indigenous plant species. Our plant kingdom is diverse and home to incredible flowers, such as the King Protea.

Our unique mountains and what they hold. Our most famous mountain is Table Mountain, named as one of the new 7 wonders of nature, but there’s more. The Drakensberg holds its own beauty, such as the Amphitheatre, and the Swartberg displays technicolored sandstone cliffs and houses the Kango Caves, one of the most astonishing cave systems in the world. Our country is full of history and a lot of it has come from the earth, where we have found fossils and minerals that expand our knowledge.

We are one of the world’s most colorful countries. In Spring, there are thousands of different types of flowers that bloom, transforming the harshest environments, such as Namaqualand into beautiful, natural gardens.

Our sunsets are truly spectacular. No matter where you are in South Africa, our skies share the same beautiful hues and colors of sunset, reminding us that we are in Africa and that our country is beautiful.

 

What types of food are served on safari?

Food served on safari

Meals are international in flavor with soups, salads, cold meats, pasta dishes, meat and fish dishes, bread and other starch.

We prefer to use good, wholesome home-style cooking at elegantly set dining tables. Sometimes under the stars, guests can discuss and debate the day’s events with their fellow guests.

‘The more remote the lodge: the simpler the menu, the more central the lodge: the more sophisticated the menu.’

Wherever you are, you can count on tasty, wholesome food. Made by skilled hands and serve with Africa’s quintessential warm hospitality.

The fact that Africa is not considered a foodie destination is something of a tragedy, for those of us in the know. Not only is this continent home to a mouthwatering culinary offering inspired rich cultural heritage.

Boasts some of the most spectacular settings on earth for you to feast on breakfast, lunch, and supper.

http://www.go2africa.com/africa-travel-blog/30671

 

The definition of Responsible Tourism

Define: Responsible tourism

Sustainable tourism development guidelines and management practices are applicable to all forms of tourism in all types of destinations, including mass tourism and the various niche tourism segments. Sustainability principles refer to the environmental, economic, and socio-cultural aspects of tourism development, and a suitable balance must be established between these three dimensions to guarantee its long-term sustainability

World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) -2004 definition

Responsible tourism, or sustainable tourism

Sustainable? the overused term? we use it very loosely and largely. Still often perceived, wrongly, as a system of constraints while it is primarily the expression of common sense, at the scale of the human community, organization or individual.

Responsible tourism, therefore, means to realize tourism activity as a provider or traveler, paying attention to the circumstances of the activity and the consequences of its implementation.

  1. Make optimal use of environmental resources that constitute a key element in tourism development, maintaining essential ecological processes and helping to conserve natural heritage and biodiversity.
  2. Respect the socio-cultural authenticity of host communities, conserve their built and living cultural heritage and traditional values, and contribute to inter-cultural understanding and tolerance.
  3. Ensure viable, long-term economic operations, providing socio-economic benefits to all stakeholders that are fairly distributed, including stable employment and income-earning opportunities and social services to host communities, and contributing to poverty alleviation.

“One’s destination is never a place but a new way of experiencing life”

The whole object of travel is not to set foot on foreign land; it is, at last, to set foot on one’s own country as a foreign land. G. K. Chesterton

Life is a journey that must be travelled no matter how bad the roads and accommodations. Oliver Goldsmith

The use of traveling is to regulate imagination by reality, and instead of thinking how things may be, to see them as they are. Samuel Johnson

For further official definitions, including the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism, GCET, please visit the UNWTO’s website.

http://hopineo.org/en/hopsolutions-resources/responsible-tourism/

http://www.ranker.com/list/notable-and-famous-travel-and-tourism-quotes/reference

 

 

Fascinating Reptiles

Ever since the time when Adam bit into the infamous apple, reptiles have caused a shiver down people’s spine and our inborn reaction is to scream and run, or on occasion, worse for the reptile, pick up a blunt object and beat it into oblivion. Reptiles however play a vital role in the environment and if one takes the time to study them, they are generally shy but fascinating creatures.

Southern Africa has a incredible diversity of reptile fauna with a minimum of 517 species that have so far been described. These include 151 snakes, 338 lizards, 27 tortoises and one crocodile. Many more species are still awaiting description in the scientific literature. Sadly, many of these reptiles have largely been ignored in conservation management plans and require special attention in the future.

The Puff Adder is one of the most wide-spread snakes in South Africa and can attain an adult length of just under one meter. It is a slow moving snake that relies on its camouflage to avoid detection and ambush prey.

The Puff Adder is responsible for more cases of serious snakebites in South Africa than any other. The venom is cytotoxic, causing extreme pain. Handlers use plastic tubing and a snake stick to carefully capture and handle Puff Adders.

The male Southern Tree Agama is brightly colored to both attract females and warn other males of their dominance status. They form family groups that are centered around clusters of trees. They avoid danger by moving rapidly around the tree trunk and fleeing into the upper branches.

Southern Tree Agamas are unusual in that they feed almost entirely on ants and termites.

The Leopard Tortoise is the largest species to be found in southern Africa and may weigh as much as 12kgs. Their home ranges may exceed 80 hectares

During the breeding season between September and April, male Angulate Tortoises use their enlarged gular shields in intensive battle with other males and try and use the gular shields as levers to overturn and ram their rivals.

The Robertsons Dwarf Chameleon is one of 15 currently described species of Dwarf Chameleon and adults are small  ranging between 4,5 and 10cm in length. Dwarf Chameleons are heliothermic using the suns rays to raise their body temperature and climb into exposed positions in the mornings to bask.

Chameleons eyes can scan almost 180 degrees and can be moved in different directions simultaneously. Their vision is more acute that that of humans.

 

GETTING TO KNOW THE NORTHERN CAPE

Home to the ancient San people, the Northern Cape is about wide-open spaces, an utterly beautiful coastline and a number of unique national parks offering the tourist a very different experience of the South African landscape. This province boasts a colorful history and a variety of cultural tourist attractions and is particularly well known for its incredible annual floral display that takes place in Namaqualand.

Overview The Northern Cape lies to the south of the mighty Orange River and comprises mostly desert and semi-desert. The landscape is characterized by vast arid plains with outcroppings of haphazard rock piles. The cold Atlantic Ocean forms the western boundary. This region covers the largest area of all the provinces in South Africa yet has the smallest population. The last remaining true San (Bushman) people live in the Kalahari area of the Northern Cape. The whole area, especially along the Orange and Vaal rivers, is rich in San rock engravings. The province is also rich in fossils.

The first people of the Northern Cape were the San, who were gradually pushed out of the area by the arrival of Europeans, and other African tribes.  The Dutch came to the area to mine for copper under the famous Cape governor Simon van der Stel.  Mining has always defined the history in this part of the world and, when diamonds were discovered in Kimberley, unprecedented growth took place in the province under the leadership of men such as Barney Barnato and Cecil John Rhodes.  In 1899, the Northern province was the scene of the Anglo-Boer War, where Kimberley was one of the first towns to be besieged by the Boers.

Climate Apart from a narrow strip of winter-rainfall area along the coast, the Northern Cape is a semi-arid region with little rainfall in summer. The weather conditions are extreme cold and frosty in winter, and extremely high temperatures in summer. Sutherland, in the Hantam Karoo, is one of the coldest towns in southern Africa with an average winter minimum is -6º Celsius.  In winter, snow often blankets its surrounding mountains.

Major attractions in the area:

  • Richtersveld National Park
  • Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
  • Augrabies Falls National Park
  • Flowers, Flowers Everywhere During August and September, the area of Namaqualand is transformed into a brilliant carpet of wild flowers.
  • Rock Art
  • Diamond Digging Country Kimberley boasts an excellent museum called the Kimberley Mine Museum.
  • The Big Hole at Kimberley
  • Trains and Trams
  • Moffat Mission Station Missionaries, Robert Moffat and his wife Mary arrived in the Kuruman area in 1820.
  • Wonderwerk Cave Not too far from Kuruman, lies the Wonderwerk Cave.
  • The Kalahari Desert
  • Small-town delights The Northern Province is littered with small towns that are fast growing in popularity with the arty set. Places such as Nieuwoudtville, Calvinia, Poffadder and Springbok are definitely worth a visit, especially for their warm-hearted local hospitality.
  • Orange River Adventures
  • Pella Mission Pella Mission is truly in the middle of nowhere. Approximately 150km from Springbok, Pella boasts a striking yellow cathedral that was built by French missionaries in the late 1880’s.

 

Information courtesy of South African Tourism (www.southafrica.net)

An authentically educational experience

Teenage Volunteering

Teenage volunteering is fantastic way to make new friends, see the world, and participate in unique and incredible community service initiatives. Join GoEco on fantastic programs around the globe, all organized to accommodate teenagers. All volunteers will receive certificates of completion. These projects are amazing resume-builders, great for college and job applications. Teenage volunteering abroad is also a great way to cultivate the foreign language you are studying in school, meet incredible people, and of course do your part to give back to less-fortunate communities abroad.

Teach Children and Surf in Cape Town

Volunteer at a surf and adventure club for children from disadvantaged areas in Cape Town. Be part of an opportunity for children to learn life lessons and stay off the streets. Volunteers receive surfing lessons during the school day and help teach the kids after school.

Cape Town Orphan Care

 

Travel to the exciting tourist destination of Cape Town, South Africa, and give back to the orphaned children in extremely under-served communities. Teach, mentor, and play with these children who desperately seek attention and care.

Cape Town Physical Education and Sports

Spread your passion for sports to children who have had few opportunities to learn and develop their skills in a structured yet fun environment. Inspire children to set goals and stay active, both on and off the sports field.

Orphanage and Teaching in Victoria Falls

 

Volunteer in the majestic and beautiful Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe! Make an impact in the lives of at-risk children by showing them that you care! Have fun, meet new people, and learn about Africa and its incredible culture.

Under 18 Community Involvement

This is the ultimate teen volunteer adventure experience! Enjoy the culture and beautiful beaches while you help with construction and renovation projects at local schools.

Cape Town Community Projects

 

Make an impact on communities living in Cape Town settlements through education, skills development and community improvement projects.

  • Africa: South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Ghana

South African cultural experiences

Hanging with South Africans

But nothing beats actually meeting people. South Africa’s many cultural villages offer a close-up insight into the country’s traditional cultures. In the major centers, township tours – conducted with sensitivity and pride – will put you in touch with real South Africans and their history. In the rural areas, community tours will help you get to know the country through the eyes of those who live here. You can discover ancient Setswana astronomy through the lens of a grandmother with an intimate knowledge of the ancient traditions. Or how about being taught to cook line fish the traditional way by the fishing community in Kalk Bay?

Cradle of Humankind

And remember, no matter where you’re from, this is where your roots are. It’s pretty much accepted that human life started in Africa. Most people look at the world differently after a tour of the Cradle of Humankind near Johannesburg – one of the richest hominid fossil sites in the world. Fossilized footprints near Cape Town, and the wealth of rock paintings and surviving shelters in KwaZulu-Natal’s Drakensberg mountains and elsewhere in the country, all testify to humanity’s origins on this ancient continent.

Wars, apartheid, reconciliation

More recently, South Africa’s history has been one of conflict and confrontation, but also of reconciliation and restitution. You can explore the battlegrounds where the bloody events that shaped the country took place.From Isandlwana or Talana in KwaZulu-Natal to Soweto in Johannesburg or Langa in Cape Town, our land tells a story – but one that can be difficult to interpret, so it’s worth doing a guided tour. We show the wounds of our past – visit the Women’s Monument in Bloemfontein, or the Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg. But we also announce our new-found unity. A trip to Robben Island will show just how powerful that attitude can be. We’ve taken a place of oppression, isolation and despair and turned it into a symbol of forgiveness and hope. That’s what South Africans are doing with the whole country.

SA info reporter and South African Tourism

BENEFITS OF SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

 

  1. Positive Workplace Environment

When corporations exhibit philanthropic behaviour, they are more likely to provide employees with a positive workplace. Consequently, employees feel engaged and productive when they walk into work each day.

Instilling a strong culture of corporate social responsibility within every employee from the top down will help to create a positive and productive environment where employees can thrive.

Corporations that care about the lives of people outside the walls of their businesses are more likely to create a positive environment.

  1. Increase in Creativity

Employees who know that their employer is committed to bettering the local and global communities feel a stronger connection to the company. Because of this close relationship that employees share with their company, workers feel more inclined to be productive and creative.

Employers have identified creativity as one of the most important leadership qualities that an employee can possess. Creative employees enjoy working for companies that they can believe in and stand behind.

  1. Encourages Professional & Personal Growth

When companies have a culture of corporate social responsibility, they can easily promote volunteerism to their employees and encourage them to donate to non-profits.

When employees contribute their time and money to worthy causes, they develop professionally and personally.

By helping those in need and volunteering as teams, employees learn to work better together on important projects. Employees also experience a sense of pride when they know that they work for a company that cares about the community and encourages them to be passionate about worthy causes.

  1. Promotes Individual Philanthropy

When employees notice that the company they work for is involved in charitable endeavours, they play follow the leader and begin to engage in their own philanthropic activities.

If a company encourages group volunteerism and matches donations to non-profits with a matching gift program, an employee is more likely to take advantage of those programs and become more individually philanthropically minded.