South Africa

Someone through my husband's firm worked in South Africa temporarily couple of years ago. It was pretty violent, the company gave him a driver to and from work. It was a temp job.

Also, has anybody ever tried this South African dish, bobotie. I've come across it on a few sites and it's their national dish. Seems like a cross between a shepherd's pie and Greek moussaka.

Their beaches look nice.

Perhaps not the best time to go...

this guy demonstrates a South African accent apparently, or one version of it at least.

Make sure you fly Air Afrikaans OP.

Fuck you with a super-tall, super-wide cactus for invading the lands belonging to indigenous peoples, claiming it for yourselves, and then telling said peoples "Get off my land." You know who you are.

I miss the rains down in Africa.

I have zero interest in visiting SA. Violent, not all that beautiful, and about to blow up due to water shortages and the impending land expropriation.

Apparently the beaches in Cape Town are too cold to swim in. You’d have to head west towards the Indian Ocean to find warmer waters.

It's so strange how this city in Africa is full of white people. And there are no white people in other parts of Africa.

R11 - the Dutch first "settled" S Africa way back in the 1600's I think - hence the Afrikaans language. Then, the British came and took over some time after that. S Africa was part of the British Empire until early 20th century. I believe that both Kenya and Uganda were once British "colonies" as well - anywhere the land and it's natural resources could be raped and plundered. Ah, the British....

Apparently, South African beaches are rather infested with sharks!

Yes, my partner and I and our niece went about 8 years ago. We had the most awesome freaking time! Go, you will love it. It really was just amazing. I wish I could go back!

I made bobotie at home a few years back, though I believe I used ground beef as ground lamb is expensive and hard to find on the States.

Was it good, R15?

R12 the Dutch, French and Belgians all had *massive* African holdings, why the whining about the British?

I recall that the beef bobotie worked out pretty well. It's pretty much shepherds pie with a layer of custard.

If you are interested in South African food, I highly recommend the mystery novel "Recipes for Love and Murder" where the main character is both a really good cook and agony aunt for the local paper!

I lived in Cape Town for five years as a kid (during apartheid). I went back this past September and it was as magnificent and complex as it ever was. I absolutely recommend going! The landscape is so beautiful it's almost surreal. The people are lovely. Yes, you have to think about your safety but if you're smart about things, you'll be just fine. DO IT

The city is running out of water, and is not a place I'd want to visit right now, or anytime in the near future.

South Africa's policemen have a rough time of it when the local football club loses a match.

thanks, r18. Will check it out. Apparently South Africans also prepare a dish called chakalaka. Sounds like a surfing term to me, but looks good!

OP said South Africa, not specifically Cape Town.

There are many spectacular destinations in SA.

I went there a year ago. Spent most of the time in Kruger national park and then a few days in Johannesburg. I was pleasantly surprised at how much I like that city, I don't think it deserves its negative reputation.

I definitely plan on returning . Next visit would like to go to Cape Town as well as explore the Eastern Cape province, and perhaps Fish River Canyon in Namibia.

Speaking of Namibia, I think it's a hidden gem of Africa. Jaw-dropping scenery, safe, good infrastructure and relatively free of tourists (so far...).

It's Pam Ann or nothing for me.

[quote] Contemplating a trip to Cape Town

So go then

Pfft! It's all about Lesotho, bitches!!!!

Afrikaner studs.

What the hell language is that? I thought they spoke English in South Africa?

South African here to clarify a few misconceptions: firstly Cape Town has got a grip on the water crisis thanks to water conservation, heavy rains and new sources coming into the system. Just don't waste water and you'll be fine.

Secondly Cape Town has both warm Indian Ocean beaches - good for swimming and surfing, with shark watchers on hand, as well as cold Atlantic beaches - good for sundowners and hanging out. Maybe you've heard of the Two Oceans race?

Thanks, R30. Cape Town looks like a gorgeous city.

Re the violence: there are areas I wouldn't set foot in, mostly the "informal settlements" aka shanty towns and many parts of the Cape Flats where gang violence is rife. But you as a tourist are not going to be in these areas. Stick to the middle/upper middle class areas and take the precautions you would in LA or NY and you'll be fine.

Don't play Sun City.

Bobotie is like mac n cheese, Saffer comfort food. CT's food highlights would be the seafood and Cape Malay cuisine of which bobotie is an example. Kind of like more aromatic, milder Indian food. There are some Michelin starred restos like the Test Kitchen.

Sounds like South Africa has better food than the Dutch themselves.

I had a farm in Africa.

That's not a high bar R36.

Is R35 speaking English?

[quote] Do any DLers have any tips or suggestions?

Yes -- don't go!

Not that it would affect MY answer (which is "don't go"), but what race(s) do you resemble, OP?

Would someone who's not white have an easier/safer time there?

I would like to go to visit their wine country; ironic because I live in California. I am fond of quite a few of their wines.

“I would never go there!” say the DL queens who have never been anywhere.

R43, have you read the places DLers would never like to travel to thread? Seems more than a few DLers have terrible travel taste. Unusual, because DL usually has impeccable taste in all other matters!

Cape Town and the Wine Country nearby are wonderful, I went for work and came back thinking it was one of my favourite destinations (scenery, nice people, wine, etc). Never felt unsafe but you should be careful. Would love to fo back.

Scenery looks beautiful to me.

I’ve been several times both big cities and rural areas. Beautiful landscapes resorts huge beaches not expensive good food and wines friendly people. Just don’t travel in the dark without local you know well.

What's the gloryhole situation?

Are Durban and Pretoria worth checking out?

bump

Durban is now a crime- and drug-infested hellhole, despite the glorious beaches.

The Franschoek Valley is stunningly beautiful and the wines are getting better and better.

Capetown actually has a gay ghetto!

Yes, r39.

R35 said there are some Michelin-starred rest homes in SA, which is impressive.

We loved SA! We stayed at the V&A. Loved it and the location. We ate at Test Kitchen when it was less pretentious seeming than now, but it’s probably still worth a visit. We loved the food at Dash, V&A’s sister hotel. Check out the antique district if you like that kind of thing, especially Jewel Tree. We drove the Cape Peninsula ourselves and found great antiquing on some of the little bays. We rode Rovos Rail and finished off with a wonderful safari. Cape Town is a gorgeous city. The wine and food are incredible. We didn’t visit wineries but there is a lot of that available as well.

This time of year, Durban's beaches are more for surfing than swimming. The city itself is struggling but probably isn't quite as dangerous as its rep. Nice convention facility. World cup stadium. For wildlife, you'll do better in Botswana.

Durban = Florida, Cape Town = California.

[quote] Which tribe has the coming-of-age ceremony where boys tear apart a tied-down bull with their bare hands? I forgot.

R18 - a shout out to you!

I’m a mystery fan (in Australia). I’ve tried making babootie two or three times over the years cos it’s such a big deal in Sarth Efrica - and thought it sounded ok. But the the results - no matter which recipe I used! - we’re kinda ordinary. Just meh.

Then I gave it another try using that recipe the author gives in the back of the Recipes for Love and Murder book - and it was sensational! Made it several times now. There’s heaps more spices and it’s really tasty! Lamb is readily available here so it’s not really hard to come by or expensive. Really recommend! Been meaning to make some of her other dishes as well... have you tried any?

OP - like you I’d love to visit South Africa. Have some friends who’ve visited and they all thought the landscape was beautiful. And one of my friends who travels a lot - and has been to so many places for his corporate job - and then uses his frequent flier miles to go to lots of really obscure places - always says his favorite city in the world is Cape Town. He’s a middle aged, really thoughtful, smart British guy who worked for a big publishing house in the UK. And it seems like he’s been everywhere - even Timbuktu! So I pay attention when he says stuff like that... one day I’ll get there! Hope you do too!

That’s Afrikaans in the video, a dialect of Dutch. Charlize Theron speaks it, as do many in the south of Africa: South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Zambia, from the Dutch settlers before the Brithsh took over.

South Africa is a wonderful place to visit, lots of hot guys, gay bars and saunas. Like one poster said, don’t travel around at night without a trusted local to take you around, or traveling from city to city. The country and people are amazing. Have driven cross country on two occasions. Love it there, and it is very cheap for westerners. The rand, the local currency, is always in free fall.

What are South African cockslike? Do they taste like bobotie?

I loved South Africa! I went on a tour for 2 weeks in 2012 and spent a few days in Cape Town which was really beautiful. Definitely use a lot of caution and only take metered taxis. V & A Waterfront had a lot of great restaurants and was very safe. Karibu was very nice. Best place to get a taxi back to the hotel is the roundabout by the Table Bay Hotel. Maybe it was $10 including tip to get a taxi from there to my hotel in Bantry Bay, a 15-20 minute drive away. You could probably also get a taxi back from in front of the mall there... that's where they dropped off. Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden looks like the setting from the t.v. show "Lost". Breathtaking scenery. Also worth seeing the Cape of Good Hope and on the way there or back, stopping in Simon Town to see the penguin colony. A trip to wine country is also a must. Looks a lot like wine country in California and the town of Stellenbosch could have been in Germany. Would have loved to wander around there for a while. I wanted to do a tour to Robben Island, but they were sold out on the free days we had there. The cable car up to Table Mountain was out when I was there, so we went to the top of Signal Hill instead.

Great it worked out for you, R57! I listened to the audiobook, but will look at the print library copy for the recipes. We have a local South African cafe, but it's mostly baked goods like koeksisters(?).

Maze Runner 3 was filmed in South Africa, so it must be a new Hollywood movie destination.

You could really tell that the film was shot somewhere unfamiliar, because the scenery and landscape was so different from your average Hollywood production.

The guy in R28's video is spectacularly hot!

The language, on the other hand, is a different story.

It sounds like kkjlkjekljwwik ewkjrwekljoiut werlkejeuou.

The wine country looks beautiful. I take it they have a Mediterranean climate?

For some reason, I did not know that Kruger National Park was in South Africa.

R65 But did you think it was on Elm Street?

Looks pretty cool.

Some good trekking to be done there.

These south african doughnuts look appetizing.

The oldest rocks in the world are located in South Africa.

The hardest cocks in the world are located in South Africa, too.

Can anyone here translate the Brendan Peyper song?

I've got it stuck in my head!

I visited Cape Town for work and stayed near the convention center. Even walking a handful of blocks to a restaurant for dinner--the suggestion was to go by car. We walked. I was there for a week and was cautious and never experienced any issues at all. Obviously with work, I stuck around the town center. After the conference ended, my workmates and I hired a guide for a day trip out to Cape of Good Hope. I didn't have time for a wild animal trip. There are some nearby that you can do in a day but I heard they're not quite as good as the ones further away. Basically, the animals are caged or tamed so it's not quite the wild beasts in their natural habitat experience.

I loved the Babotie I had at a Malay Quarter restaurant. I've made it a few times since the trip but have yet to perfect it. I'll check out the recipe from the above-mentioned book. I think of it as meatloaf rather than Shepherd's Pie. The other tasty item is jerky called biltong which can be made from beef to game meats. Enjoy it while you're there as the US will confiscate it if you try to bring it back. I thought about hiding a pack but it's not cheap and I didn't want to risk losing it so I had my fill while in SA. My co-worker brought a couple of packs back and he was made to chuck them by US Customs.

The culinary oddity that struck me was the popularity of sushi. And popular in a peculiar way. There were dedicated Japanese and sushi restaurants but also many other types of restaurants that would serve sushi in addition to the menu. So you would go to a restaurant serving seafood in the western style and there would a "sushi chef" if you decided to plump for Japanese instead. Or an Italian restaurant...and there would sushi offering on the menu. Or Portuguese, etc. Having lived in Japan, I avoid sushi at non-Japanese or sushi-dedicated restaurants.

R74, I take it SA must have an abundance of good, fresh seafood?

From memory, yes. There's a very hearty white fish that appeared on my menus but I can't remember the name.

In South Africa all seems to breathe freedom and peace and to make one forget the world and its sad turmoils.

R77, what planet are you on?

I thought South Africa is where all the white people are being slaughtered.

[quote]What are South African cockslike? Do they taste like bobotie?

The black ones taste like boerwors.

Cute Boer guys on this documentary. Yummy. Hope they move here!

Ellen condemned for her poverty porn visit to Africa.

Is this a good recipe for bobotie?

R84, the chef is English for starters. He also commented that this is a variation of bobotie. If you're looking for an authentic recipe, you may want to look elsewhere. He adds cheese to the dish--which I do not remember being an ingredient for bobotie. He also doesn't serve it with the traditional accompaniment of yellow rice.

He also uses bay leaves--IIRC, kaffir or lime leaves are the traditional leaves used.

The whites are uncut and the blacks are cut. No idea why.

When is the best time of the year to visit for wine tasting and possibly beaches?

One thing: stay away from Johannesburg.

Stay in Cape Town. Use Uber Lux or get a driver from your five-star hotel. Don't even risk four-star hotels.

GGreat cheap wine.

CRIME

I really want to visit. It looks incredible!

Had the best three way at a Cape Town bath house sex club. Clean with a hot clientele. You can also jump off to landlocked Lesotho if you want a more exotic locale. Go visit.

Sounds hot, R94.

[quote]One thing: stay away from Johannesburg

Pfft, it's fine. There's lots to do in and around Gauteng.