Take a food journey through Africa
AFRICA boasts some of the world’s most gorgeous landscapes, the friendliest people and eco-friendly wildlife experiences. The food scene is equally impressive.
Here are some meals you have to try when you visit these African countries:
South Africa
The country is famed for its multicultural food experiences. Sink your teeth into a bunny chow, hollowed-out bread filled with a curry of your choice, or a shisanyama with braai meat and sides. In Bo-kaap, enjoy a Cape Malay curry. For dessert, enjoy malva pudding and milk tart. South Africa has a rich wine culture, with wine estates scattered across the Western Cape. There are also a few in Kwazulu-natal. Botswana
When in Botswana, try the national dish called seswaa. The pounded meat dish is a popular meal for locals, so is matemekwane, a dumpling stuffed with meat and vegetables.
Namibia
Namibia has many South African food influences with braais and bobotie on most menus. Travellers can also enjoy oshifima – a Namibian stiff porridge made from pearl millet flour. Mozambique
A trip to Mozambique will heighten your culinary senses. Sink your teeth into peri-peri chicken, or tuck into a fresh seafood dish. Try matapa, a meal prepared with cassava leaves. Eswatini
Eswatini has strong South African and Portuguese influences. Try umbidvo wetintsanga, a meal made with boiled pumpkin leaves and nuts, or enjoy an afternoon braai.
Kenya
The staple meal in Kenya is ugali, made from either maize, sorghum or millet. Pair it with nyama choma, a speciality of grilled goat meat. Uganda
Dining in Uganda is a treat. Feast on matooke, a type of plantain, or try the luwombo, a traditional Ugandan dish cooked in a banana leaf. End a meal with mandazi, which is similar to doughnuts. Madagascar
Madagascar is renowned for romazava, the country’s national dish.
Lasary, a meat stew with leafy green vegetables, is also a winning dish for guests.
Zanzibar
Like its picturesque sights, Zanzibar’s foodie scene rivals many destinations on the continent. Expect dishes with loads of spices. Try the Zanzibar pizza, which isn’t your traditional style pizza, breyani (also famous in India) and urojo soup. Egypt
Koshari, Egypt’s national dish, consists of spiced lentils, rice, tomato sauce, pasta and chickpeas. Other popular dishes include molokhia soup and ta’ameya.
Ethiopia
Ethiopians have a strong coffee culture. In fact, coffee drinking is a ritual for locals that can take up to an hour. Their food is equally impressive. Most meals are served on injera, a sourdough-risen flatbread made with teff flour. People use the injera to scoop up whatever is served, whether curry or meat dishes.
The dabo kolo, a snack prepared with roasted barley, chickpeas and peanuts, is available at street vendors and kiosks.
Tanzania
Tanzania’s style of food packs a punch. Tuck into local barbecue, chipsi mayai (chips and egg), nyama choma and ugali (see Kenya).
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe’s foodie scene is among the most loved on the continent. Eat sadza (also known as ugali) and mopane worms. Or try chimodho, a wood oven baked maize bread. Wash it down with locally brewed beer called usthwala or the non-alcoholic option of maheu. Mauritius
Mauritius has Indian, French, English, Creole and Chinese cuisine influences. Sample the dhall puri, the country’s national dish, or a beautifully spiced rich tomato stew with sausages. Breyani, vindaye and an upside-down bowl called bol renverse also feature in many menus. Morocco
Moroccan food is loved all over the world. Couscous, the national dish of Morocco, and tagine are some of the many dishes to enjoy during your trip. Other meals include zalouk, harira and b’ssara.
Wash it down with mint tea.