Cuisine to tickle your
tastebuds The Great
Wildebeest Migration Self-Drive
your own adventure
Meat lovers can’t go wrong with a
Boerewors sausage. Also known as
the farmer’s sausage, this grunty
concoction has a guaranteed 90%
meat and a medley of spices,
including toasted coriander seeds,
black pepper, nutmeg and cloves. The Great Wildebeest Migration is
actually a year round occurrence
as the wildebeest are always on the
move; motivated by an instinct to
seek fresh grazing and water. Your
experience will depend entirely on
what month you visit. Fortunately for us, if you’re
planning on self-driving South
Africa and Namibia, you won’t need
to switch sides because like NZ,
they are left-hand drive. And due to
fantastic infrastructure, the roads
are smooth, well signposted and a
pleasure to cruise along.
You might want to throw a few
on your Braai, a South African
barbecue. Using only wood or
briquettes (charcoal), the flavours
are rustic and extremely delicious.
Other outdoor dining experiences
include post-safari sundowners
followed by a boma dinner in the
bush. Enjoy fine wine, gourmet food
and a starlit sky. From calving seasons and key
months when the great herds of
wildebeest cross the Mara River,
to vast treks across the plains of
the Serengeti, every occasion will
bring a different perspective on one
of the Seven New Wonders of the
World. The masses begin their move
north from Tanzania to Kenya from
late June through to July, whereas
river crossings tend to take place
from July to November. And then,
driven by the rain, they head back
to Tanzania sometime in October.
Over two million animals migrate
between July and October, including
1.7 million wildebeest, as well as
zebra and antelope, so t here are
many moments for that once-in-a-
lifetime experience.
If crisp linen and crystal glass is
more your thing, Cape Town is
awash with fine dining restaurants
and impressive menus crafted by
top rated chefs. For days when the
budget won’t stretch, head to an
African food hall. The food is still
exquisite, but at a fraction of the
price you’d pay elsewhere.
You’ll need a full New Zealand
Drivers Licence to hire a car, with
most rental companies boasting
high quality vehicles and options
to suit everyone. If you’re keen to
explore independently, you can still
drive to a lodge, park up and check
in for the night. The following day,
sit back and let naturalist guides
take you on off-road game drives in
custom-built vehicles provided by
the lodge.
With so many amazing sights to see,
self-drive is the perfect idea if you’re
looking for freedom in your Africa
adventure, and you don’t want to go
as part of a larger group.
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