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The Ultimate Guide to a Perfect South African Picnic

Imagine this: a gentle breeze whispers through your hair and the sun warms your skin, as you share a delicious spread with loved ones. That’s the magic of a South African picnic, and it’s easier than you think to orchestrate your own culinary masterpiece!

What Makes a South African Picnic Unique?

A South African picnic offers a delightful blend of local flavors, scenic views, and a relaxed atmosphere.

Essential Foods for Your South African Picnic

Cheese: Ditch the boring cheddar and get adventurous with your South African picnic! Brie’s creamy whisper, Camembert’s earthy tango, Mozzarella’s playful bounce, and Cheddar’s sharp bite – let your taste buds do a cheese quartet!

Sandwich Spread: Classics never get old! Whip up some ham and mustard or egg and mayo  – these are South African picnic staples.

Chicken Drumsticks: Crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, chicken drumsticks and thighs will have everyone humming with joy and are a staple for a South African picnic.

Fresh & Crunchy: Nature’s symphony on a platter! Crisp salads, vibrant crudités with creamy dips, and a rainbow of fruit – South Africans cleanse their palate with these beauties.

Sweet Treats: Cupcakes end your South African picnic on a high note. Think light and fluffy, bursting with flavour – the perfect encore!

Must-Have Picnic Essentials

Cool Conductors: Beat the heat with chilled cooldrinks and juice, while screw-top wine adds a touch of sophistication.

Utensils: Paper or plastic plates and cups (wine glasses for the fancy!), cutlery, and a cutting board.

Extras: South African picnic blanket, sun protection, and maybe an umbrella  – set the stage for a perfect performance.

Other: Cushions, fold-up chairs, and maybe even a frisbee – embrace the great outdoors.

Top South African Picnic spots:

Cape Town

Beaches: Clifton, Camps Bay, Noordhoek, Hout Bay, Gordon’s Bay, Seapoint, Milnerton, Boulder’s Beach

Cape Point, Tokai Forest, Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, Table Mountain, Silvermine, Oudekraal, Lion’s Head, Signal Hill, Wynberg Park, Wine Farms in Stellenbosch, Constantia and Franschoek

Learn more about Cape Town here.

Picnic

Cape Town tours:

  • Tour Length 43 days
    Group Size Max 16
    Starts & Ends Starts: Nairobi Ends: Cape Town
    Countries Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa
    Overview This Kenya to Cape Town Comfort Tour offers you fantastic insights into some of East Africa and Southern Africa’s greatest attractions and cultures. We visit the Masai Mara, the flat plains of the Serengeti, the Ngorongoro Crater before relaxing on the sun-kissed beaches on the exotic island of Zanzibar. Prepare to get a bit wet when viewing the mighty Victoria Falls, enjoy a boat cruise down the Chobe River and the Okavango Delta before ending your tour in the beautiful city of Cape Town.
    • Price Beat Guaranteed
    • 10% early bird discount (6 months or more)

    Price from

    R189,480

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    43 Day Kenya to Cape Town Tour (Accommodated)

    Tour start → end dates Price Enquire
    01 Dec 2024 → 12 Jan 2025

    From

    R189480
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    29 Dec 2024 → 09 Feb 2025

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    12 Jan 2025 → 23 Feb 2025

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    26 Jan 2025 → 09 Mar 2025

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    05 Oct 2025 → 16 Nov 2025

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    28 Dec 2025 → 08 Feb 2026

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  • Tour Length 42 days
    Group Size Max 20
    Starts & Ends Starts: Nairobi Ends: Cape Town
    Countries South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania, Kenya
    Overview Chobe National Park, Okavango Delta, the Namib Desert, Etosha National Park, Ngorongoro Crater. This isn’t a list of destinations for the next ‘Planet Earth’. This is your African overland adventure. This Nairobi to Cape Town expedition takes intrepid travelers through the continent’s most celebrated wildlife countries - Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Malawi and Namibia - before ending in Cape Town, South Africa.

    Price from

    Original price was: R178,350.Current price is: R130,760.

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    42 Day Nairobi to Cape Town Overland Tour (Accommodated)

    Tour start → end dates Price Enquire
    24 Nov 2024 → 04 Jan 2025

    From

    R163450 R130760

    20% off!

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    19 Jan 2025 → 01 Mar 2025

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    R178350
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    16 Feb 2025 → 29 Mar 2025

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    13 Apr 2025 → 24 May 2025

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    26 Oct 2025 → 06 Dec 2025

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    23 Nov 2025 → 03 Jan 2026

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  • Tour Length 41 days
    Group Size Max 20
    Starts & Ends Starts: Cape Town Ends: Cape Town
    Countries South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Lesotho, Zimbabwe, Eswatini (Formerly Swaziland)
    Overview This is an action-packed route to travel on. It travels from Cape Town to Victoria Falls and then back down along South Africa's coastline ending back in Cape Town.  Experience them all by a range of exhilarating adventure activities that will pump you full of African adrenaline. Come and experience the most popular overland route (Cape To Vic Falls) and then add on the South Africa route with all its highlights (Kruger, the Coastline, and amazing wildlife).

    Price from

    R105,200

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    41 Day Cape To Cape Southern Explorer Overland (Camping)

    Tour start → end dates Price Enquire
    21 Dec 2024 → 30 Jan 2025

    From

    R105200
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    01 Feb 2025 → 13 Mar 2025

    From

    R129250
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    10 May 2025 → 19 Jun 2025

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    07 Jun 2025 → 17 Jul 2025

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    02 Aug 2025 → 11 Sep 2025

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    13 Sep 2025 → 23 Oct 2025

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    11 Oct 2025 → 20 Nov 2025

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    06 Dec 2025 → 15 Jan 2026

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Johannesburg

Sandton Field & Study Centre, Rietvlei Nature Reserve, Fountains Valley Nature Reserve, Walter Sisulu (Witwatersrand) National Botanical Garden, Johannesburg Botanical Gardens, Emmarentia Dam, Delta Park and Environmental centre

Kwa-zulu Natal

Beaches: Southport (Anerley), Banana Beach, Bazley Beach, Beach Terminus, Big Tree Beach, Clansthal, Glenmore Beach, Margate Beach and Marina Beach

Botanical Gardens, Kenneth Stainbank Nature Reserve, Paradise Valley Nature Reserve, Jamieson Park, New Germany Nature Reserve, Krantzkloof Nature Reserve, Nkutu Nature Reserve, Memorial Park, Springside Nature Reserve, Tala Game Reserve

Port Elizabeth

Beaches: Beachview, Bluewater Bay, Hobie Beach, Humewood Beach, King’s Beach, Sardinia Bay, Schoenmakerskop Beach, Van Stadens Beach, Wells Estate Beach

Addo Elephant Park, Bushbuck Hiking Trail, Happy Valley, Seaview Game & Lion Park, St George’s Park, Wells Estate

Remember, the perfect picnic is less about the food than the feeling. So grab your basket, gather your loved ones, and let the South African sun conduct your own culinary masterpiece.

About Bronwyn Paxton

Article by: Bronwyn Paxton
on June 27, 2024
Filed under  South Africa 
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