15 Food Experiences in South Africa to Build a Day Around

1.Full-Day Winelands Tour with Wine Tastings & Food

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 1,288 reviews · 9 hours · from $121Our pick

You’ll visit four varied wineries in Paarl, Franschhoek, and Stellenbosch with a small group of up to 11. Guides such as Basil, Bruce, Donovan, Jose, and Nick lead tastings of bubbly, whites, reds, ports, and dessert wines, with cheese, chocolate, and a la carte lunch included.

“A day full of delicious wine, laughter, and learning about South Africa's history, winemaking, and culture.”

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2.2-Hour Dam Cruise with South African Food

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 621 reviews · 2 hours · from $40

Spend two hours on Hartbeespoort Dam with views of the Magaliesberg Range, a welcome drink, South African finger foods, music, and a cash bar. Cruises leave at 10:00 AM, 1:00 PM, and 4:00 PM from Kommando Nek Nature Reserve. Captain Rasta is a favorite on board, and photographer Rene can help capture the day.

“The boatride was really good, with friendly Captain & staff. The food was more than enough for everyone in the boat.”

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3.The Cape Town Essentials Food Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 385 reviews · from $113Top rated

Walk from Bo-Kaap through Bree Street and De Waterkant, tasting Cape Malay dishes, South African classics, drinks, snacks, coffee, and tea. Your local guide, often Olivia, adds stories about Cape Town’s food, culture, and past. The route covers about 2 kilometers and ends away from the starting point.

“This was a wonderful way to learn about South African cuisine and walk around town a little. The walking was not strenuous and all the food was delicious! Olivia, “The Queen”, was the sweetest tour guide and always made sure we were together and kept the conversations going.”

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4.Local Food Tasting Guided Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 192 reviews · 3 hours · from $77

Spend about three hours tasting at least four African dishes, walking through Maboneng or Yeoville, and learning about Johannesburg’s food, art, and neighborhoods. Guides such as Nkosi, Joe, Rambo, Lebo, and Romeo bring local stories and humor. Pickup, drop-off, food, water, and an English or French-speaking guide are included.

“Romeo was an awesome guide. We were able to get a nice history of the area. Please be warned, this is a walking tour but it was enjoyable. I would most definitely do this again.”

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5.The 10 Tastings of Cape Town With Locals: Private Food Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 169 reviews · from $103

Spend about three hours walking central Cape Town with a private foodie guide and sampling 10 local foods and drinks. The route can be shaped around your tastes and dietary needs, with stops near Greenmarket Square, Company’s Garden, City Hall, and local food spots. Guides such as Daryl, Christopher, Zuzy, and Parinita have led past tours.

“Zuzy shared both historical and gastronomical stories with us. The food was delicious, the portions were huge, and the experience was enlightening. Zuzy was a delightful guide! We highly recommend this tour.”

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6.Taste of Africa Food tasting Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 138 reviews · from $54

Explore Johannesburg’s Maboneng or Yeoville with a local host, stopping at small African restaurants for at least four dishes from countries such as South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, Cameroon, or Congo. Expect street art, city history, walking on uneven pavement, and pickup options. Guides may include Romeo, Murnendeni, Nsoki, or Angela.

“Had a fantastic experience, not only did I try some delicious food, but also saw amazing street art and had a great insight into the South African culture. I also felt I was off the beaten track with few, if any other tourists getting to experience the incredibly vibrant local area”

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7.Hartbeespoort Dam: The Luxury Alba Boat Cruise with Food

★★★★★★★★★★3.9 · 81 reviews · 2 hours · from $52

Spend two hours aboard the Alba, a luxury glass-walled boat on Hartbeespoort Dam. Start with sparkling wine and canapes on the lawn, then enjoy hot and cold finger foods at your table, mountain views, music, and a cash bar. The cruise passes waterfront homes, the old Meerhof Railway Bridge, yacht club, zoo, and the dam wall archway.

“Good day you need to improve food because you offers pork but what about people who don't eat it, atleast mutton. sandwiches there to dry.”

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8.African Food and Storytelling Tour Cape Town City Centre

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 61 reviews · from $92

Walk through Cape Town’s city centre with guides such as Dennis, Tawanda, or Sifiso, stopping for Somali and West African meals, Cape Malay snacks, tea, and local stories. The small group visits Church Square, Grand Parade, the flower market, Greenmarket Square, and community businesses while examining history, entrepreneurship, and gentrification.

“I was looking for a food tour and this one stood out to me because it was different than all the other ones and explored a part of Cape Town that I probably wouldn't have explored on my own. We walked through some of the oldest public spacRead more”

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9.Essential Food and Drink Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 56 reviews · 4 hours · from $134

Start at Bo-Kaap Deli with an English-speaking guide such as Justin or Olivia, then walk about two miles through Bo-Kaap, De Waterkant, Green Point, and the Waterfront. Expect coffee, bobotie, beer pairings, fynbos ice cream, and Inverroche gin, plus stories about Cape Town’s food, architecture, slavery, and apartheid.

“I loved the variety of locations and the food was excellent.”

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10.Taste of Cape Town – food and city tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 46 reviews · from $126

Join a local chef or foodie guide, possibly Rupesh or Craig, for a 4.5-hour walk through Cape Town. Taste up to 15 South African foods and drinks, including alcohol, while visiting Company’s Gardens, Bo-Kaap, Greenmarket Square, and historic city streets. Groups are limited to 10.

“Rupesh and Craig were amazing! This is one of the best city tours ever. They walk you around at a comfortable pace, and not too far a distance, with the food stops carefully planned and in a logical order, explaining the city history thru it's foodRead more”

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11.Soweto Food & Beer Bike Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 40 reviews · 4 hours · from $49

Start opposite the Hector Pieterson Museum with a local English-speaking guide, then cycle through Vilakazi Street and Orlando East and West. You’ll taste amagwinya, eat a Kota, stop for local beer, visit taverns and markets, and hear personal Soweto stories from guides such as Wandi, Lwazi and Mpumi.

“HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!! This was something special. Rather than a "Tourist event" it was more like a local - passionate for his neighborhood - showing us around. We felt like being part of it. The guide (which is the owner of the business) seems to know anyone and was not only extremely knowledgeable and tells you a ton of background stories about Soweto but you could also have interesting side-talks about politics etc... The most striking part was the visit of the slums (sorry forgot the right wording) of Orlando East - it blows my mind that things like these still exist. Note: During the tour there is a handover to…”

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12.Culinary Walking Tour with Food Tastings

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 32 reviews · 4 hours · from $155

Walk from Atlas Trading Company through Bo-Kaap and the City Bowl with an English-speaking guide such as Brad or Lindy. Sample Cape Malay, African, and Afrikaans foods, plus rooibos, rusks, chocolate, and other local specialties. Groups are capped at eight, with food and water included.

“If you’re looking for a unique cultural tour that highlights the richness of Cape Town’s multicultural heritage, this is the perfect choice. Our tour began around 11 AM in the vibrant Bo-Kaap area, known for its colorful houses and deep-rooted history. We were part of a small group, which made the experience feel intimate and personal. Our guide, Lindy, was incredibly knowledgeable, warm, and accommodating, sharing insights about the city’s diverse cultures and histories. The food stops were a highlight—each restaurant was a local favorite, and we were welcomed not just as guests, but as friends. We sampled a wide variety of traditional dishes including samosas, braai, chocolate, curry, spic...”

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13.Cape Town Private Food Tour with a Local: 100% Personalized

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 11 reviews · from $25Best value

Spend about three hours with a private local host exploring Cape Town’s food scene. Your route may include Bo-Kaap, Bree Street, and the V&A Food Market, with 6 to 8 tastings at two or three eateries. The meeting time and place can be adjusted, and hosts such as Parinita and Tafa have led past tours.

“Tafa is an excellent guide. He took us to some wonderful restaurants to sample local food. Highly recommend Tafa and the tour.”

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14.Lesedi Cultural Village with lunch or dinner cultural food

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 9 reviews · 5 hours · from $143

Spend five hours at Lesedi Cultural Village learning about Zulu, Xhosa, Pedi, Basotho, and Ndebele traditions. Guides explain traditional homes, customs, crafts, ceremonies, and food, followed by singing, dancing, drumming, and lunch or dinner. Pickup is available from Johannesburg or Pretoria, with English, French, and Portuguese support.

“This tour was absolutely AMAZING!! Samuel was the best ever tour guide, constantly going out of his way to give us additional information and introduce us to new experiences all along the way. Samuel, you made our South African vacation so much more enjoyable! I would definitely recommend this tour to all my colleagues, the”

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15.Soweto Tuk-Tuk Food & Beer Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 9 reviews · 4 hours · from $49

Ride a tuk-tuk through Soweto with an English-speaking local guide, beginning near the Hector Pieterson Museum. Taste amagwinya, another township snack, and a classic Kota sandwich, with shared beers at local stops. You will hear personal stories about Soweto, visit food and beer spots, and return to Kumalo Street after four hours.

“This is a great tour, we tuk-tuk’d through the vibrant streets of Soweto, welcomed with warm smiles. We tasted tradition, sipped local beer, and listened—really listened—to stories of resilience, hardship, and hope. Progress is happening, but slowly. Te struggles are real, yet the spirit here is unbreakable. What stood out most? Humanity. Here, it’s not just a word—it’s a way of life. Grateful for every moment, every lesson, every connection.❤️🇿🇦 Thanks boys!”

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