Quick answer
South Africa is meat-heavy, but Indian travellers manage well. The country has one of the largest Indian-origin communities outside Asia, centred in Durban, so Indian restaurants are found in every major city. Cape Malay curries, chakalaka and pap are good vegetarian picks, and safari lodges cook vegetarian meals if told in advance.
How easy is it to eat well?
Vegetarian & Jain friendliness
5 = easy everywhere, 1 = plan every meal
Indian food availability
5 = Indian restaurants everywhere, 1 = rare
What to order (and what to ask about)
Bunny chow
A hollowed-out quarter loaf filled with curry, from Durban's Indian community. Order the bean or vegetable version; the classic is mutton or chicken.
Durban vegetable curry and roti
Hotter and redder than Cape curries; bean, potato and dal curries are standard at Indian restaurants.
Cape Malay vegetable curry
Mild and fragrant with cinnamon, cardamom and a touch of sweetness, served with rice and sambals.
Chakalaka
A spicy relish of beans, peppers, carrots and onion, served with pap or bread at barbecues.
Pap
Maize porridge, like Kenya's ugali, served stiff or crumbly with chakalaka or tomato-onion sauce.
Braaibroodjie
A cheese, tomato and onion sandwich toasted on the braai, the vegetarian's best friend at a barbecue.
Vetkoek
Fried dough bread with jam, cheese or curry fillings; the traditional filling is mince, so ask.
Koeksister
Plaited fried dough soaked in syrup; the Cape Malay version is spiced and rolled in coconut.
Melktert (milk tart)
A creamy custard tart dusted with cinnamon; contains egg.
Rooibos tea
Caffeine-free red bush tea native to the Western Cape, drunk with milk or plain.
Bobotie
Spiced minced meat baked under an egg custard, the best-known Cape Malay dish.
Biltong and boerewors
Air-dried meat and coiled sausage, sold everywhere from petrol stations to braais.
Phrases that help
| Say | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Ek eet nie vleis nie | I don't eat meat (Afrikaans) |
| Sonder vleis, asseblief | Without meat, please (Afrikaans) |
| Braai | Barbecue, the national social meal |
| Lekker | Good or tasty |
| Now now | Soon, in a little while |
| Robot | Traffic light, useful for directions |
Is South Africa good for vegetarian travellers?
South African food culture centres on the braai, or barbecue, and meat is part of most traditional dishes. Even so, Indian travellers eat well, because South Africa has one of the largest Indian-origin communities outside Asia. Most are in and around Durban, descendants of indentured workers and traders who arrived from the 1860s onwards, and their food is part of the national diet.
Menus in cities mark vegetarian dishes, and supermarkets such as Woolworths, Pick n Pay and Checkers stock ready meals, paneer, rotis and Indian spices.
Where to find Indian food
- Cape Town: Indian restaurants in the City Bowl, Sea Point and the southern suburbs, plus Cape Malay curries in Bo-Kaap.
- Johannesburg: Fordsburg and Mayfair have long-running Indian eateries, sweet shops and grocers.
- Durban: the widest choice, from bunny chow counters to vegetarian restaurants; the Hare Krishna temple in Chatsworth runs a vegetarian restaurant.
Safari lodges
Private game lodges around Kruger are used to dietary requests and will cook vegetarian, vegan or no-egg meals with notice. Boma dinners are meat-heavy, so remind the chef on arrival. Kruger's public rest-camp restaurants have limited vegetarian choice; self-catering chalets with kitchens are a good fallback.
Jain travellers
Indian restaurants in Johannesburg and Durban can usually cook without onion, garlic and root vegetables. Elsewhere it is harder, so carry ready-to-eat meals for the Kruger and Panorama Route days and use supermarket fruit, bread and dairy.
Tap water is safe to drink in Cape Town, Johannesburg and other major cities. Lodges and remote areas usually provide filtered or bottled water.
Plan the rest of your trip
See things to do in South Africa, where to stay in Cape Town, the South Africa trip cost and the best time to visit. Entry rules are on the South Africa visa guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is South Africa good for vegetarians?
Where can I find Indian food in Cape Town and Johannesburg?
Can safari lodges in South Africa cater to vegetarian and Jain diets?
How we checked this page
Last reviewed
Written and fact-checked by the Elitech Travels editorial desk in New Delhi, drawing on our consultants' day-to-day booking work and the official sources below. Rules, fares and fees change — always confirm anything critical with the issuing authority before you travel. Our editorial policy.
