Let's start with sensational restaurants in equally sensational locations, from South Africa to Zambia, and beyond. Personally test-driven by our intrepid duo, you can rest assured that the nosh on offer in the following is top class, as is the vibe and the overall dining experience! Sounds posh, eh? Read on!
Restaurants - South Africa
Indochine at Delaire Graff Estate in Stellenbosch:
Cape Malay meets Asia head-on at this gorgeous restaurant (pictured above) in the heart of the Cape Winelands. Head Chef Virgil Kahn has combined old family recipes with the best of the Far East, all served up with no small amount of flair and a touch of theatre! It's also good to know that the ingredients used are grown on the estate in a biodynamic greenhouse and are picked daily.
Grub & Vine, Cape Town:
This wonderfully relaxed contemporary restaurant in Bree Street, in the centre of Cape Town, offers up bistro-style fare with a seasonal menu that changes regularly, all complemented by a wine list featuring some of South Africa's most respected vintages. It's no-nonsense, tasty food, beautifully and honestly cooked. Try the Green Room for a fab date night with your significant other!
The Shortmarket Club, Dunkeld, Johannesburg:
An upmarket, European-style brasserie that serves absolutely delish modern food with a touch of Asian for good measure, this is "à la carte meets the best of bistro" with bells and whistles on the side. Japanese pancakes with yuzu dressing and burnt honey and soy glaze sit alongside BBQ pork belly with coconut and lemongrass, and a host of other wild dishes designed to tickle the most discerning tastebuds.
Emily Moon Restaurant, Plettenberg Bay:
A truly gorgeous little escape from the everyday, Emily's is a feast for the eyes and the tummy! From antique tables and collector's items to the freshest homegrown produce ever and hearty tucker like Karoo lamb rack, butter chicken samoosas and more veg than you can throw a stick at, Emily's is a real experience waiting to be had. Add a backyard-to-table approach to serving up freshness grown in the garden and you have a winner.
Restaurants - Southern Africa
Lilayi Lodge Restaurant, Lusaka, Zambia:
The trek to the other side of the Zambian capital is well worth it, with Lilayi set in a leafy, bushveld environment just off the Kafue Road that heads out towards Chirundu and Livingstone. The restaurant is first-class, with amazing contemporary Afro-fusion cuisine and a wine list to die for, with more than 120 vintages handpicked to enhance the dining experience. Tuck into tender venison from the Lilayi game farm next door and organic produce grown on the family farm.
Joe's Beerhouse, Windhoek, Namibia:
Joe's is an absolute blast. A top-notch venue where you get the best of Namibian cuisine with a German twist and, of course, lots of beer! Founder Joachim Gross was a German master chef who had travelled the world, pan in hand, when he fell in love with Namibia and opened a beer garden in 1991. It's popularity moved it to bigger premises and Joe retired, leaving it to current owners Thomas (another German master chef) and Carol-Jean Rechter, who have kept the slightly crazy atmosphere that makes Joe's so special. Go for the superlative steaks or a mega burger. They're awesome! As are the pizzas!
The Tug, Swakopmund, Namibia:
Across the other side of this fabulous desert nation sits The Tug, right on the beach with the waves of the chilly Atlantic washing the shore next to you. Far from fine dining, The Tug is all about authentic, home-cooked hearty fare dished up in a unique environment. Spectacular fresh seafood is top of the menu here, as well as fab meats and fresh veg and fruit grown hydroponically in the desert! Go figure! Food is grilled over charcoal made from mopane wood from the Kunene region. "Tug" into wild-caught John Dory, kingklip, west coast sole, monkfish, fresh kabeljou and deep-water hake, sustainably caught.
Safari lodges
And so, to salivatingly sexy safari lodges renowned for their amazing food. Here are some of Sian and Cara's top contenders for amazing destination dining...
Tswalu, South Africa:
In the heart of the Green Kalahari in South Africa's Northern Cape, this legendary desert lodge is home to an awesome restaurant - Klein Jan - founded by renowned South African chef Jan Hendrik van der Westhuizen. Klein Jan brings a taste of authentic local flavours and contemporary culinary artistry to the table in a stylish setting. Or you can just dine at The Motse and enjoy what Tswalu's amazingly talented chefs dish up. For exclusive experiences, get your own chef and a personalised menu at the exclusive Tarkuni, perfect for families and groups of friends travelling together.
Gibb's Farm, Tanzania:
On the outer slopes of the Ngorongoro Crater, this gorgeous lodge is famous for its "farm-to-table" dining experiences using fresh ingredients from its own organic farm. It's all wonderfully healthy stuff, prepared fresh each day by talented local chefs and loaded with the fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs that are freshly picked from the "back yard". Meat is sources from local, sustainable farms and fresh milk, cream and baked delicacies add extra yum to the breakfast, lunch and dinner menus.
Royal Chundu, Zambia:
With its collection of gorgeous lodges strung out along a private stretch of the Zambezi River, staying at Royal Chundu is a feast for the senses in its own right. Add to it incredible food prepared by talented hands and you also get one of Zambia's best destination dining experiences. Top of the list of awesomeness are Royal Chundu's island picnics, where guests are taken to a private island for a secluded al fresco nosh-up par excellence, complete with Persian carpets, hammocks, chilled Pimms served on arrival, a picnic table adorned with silverware and a roaring pizza oven to boot.
The Oberoi, Mauritius:
This uber-luxurious hotel on this gorgeous Indian Ocean island offers a superlative "On the Rocks" dining experience where guests can dine at a table perched on top of dark volcanic rocks that literally rise out of the crystal-clear waters of the ocean. Here you can enjoy amazing fresh seafood grilled to perfection, fresh salads, pasta, pizzas and even your own personal catch cooked to your preference, all while the waves lap at your toes. Sounds pretty mind-blowing to us!
Victoria Falls Hotel Livingstone Room, Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe:
Step back in time to the oh-so-elegant Edwardian era in this beautiful dining room that's only open for dinner, featuring à la carte and table d’hôte menus. Renowned for its cullinary excellence and opulent surroundings, you won't get away with slops and shorts here, as smart casual sleeved, collared shirts and closed shoes for men and decidedly snazzy for ladies is the dress code. Which is fine by us because there are some things you really need to dress up for, and dining in this wonderful place is one of them. And when you've finished the wonderful food, have a dance to the live band on the beautiful dancefloor.
