Culinary adventures in South Africa

The South Africans embrace food as a way of life: something to savour and to spend hours revelling in alongside good company, late into the evening. South African food is so much more than biltong, beer and barbecue (though those are great, too).

A cooking holiday in South Africa will reveal to you the complexity of South African flavours and the balance of each individual dish – all whilst helping you understand South African culture and how is reflected in their food.

A South African cooking holiday teaches you all about South African flavour combinations and allows your creativity to flourish, as you understand the complexity of local ingredients and are daring and bold with them. Most importantly, you’ll share stories and a cold beer with other passionate cooks over a meal you’ve prepared together.

And with fourth-generation cooks and local artisans showing you the way around the kitchen, you’ll return with new skills and satisfied tastebuds.

Where to experience cooking holidays in South Africa

Cape Town is one of the most iconic cities in the world, and is fortunate enough to lie on a patch of incredibly rich, fertile coast. Seafood can be found all along the shore, shoals of fish swell the ocean, and in the hills the combination of fertile soil and sea air produces stunning vineyards.

It’s also one of South Africa’s most culturally diverse cities, so the cuisine there draws on a variety of influences from around the world, making it an excellent destination for a cooking holiday.

Whatever your tastes, you can find a cookery holiday to indulge your inner chef and a group of like-minded people to experience it with. Never settle for an ordinary South African holiday again.

Who are our South African cooking holiday guests?

You’ll meet people of all ages and nationalities on South African cookery courses, from solo travellers to couples to friends. Some love local, seasonal food, others are simply looking for a getaway that mixes relaxation with life-enhancing activities (and excellent meals).

All that’s required is a passion for food, a love of learning and a refusal to be boxed in.

Is this you? It looks like you.

Thousands of people have already discovered that our bespoke mix of cooking holidays in South Africa are as diverse as the people who go on them. Come and join them.

Why choose Not In The Guidebooks?

We’re passionate about helping people find the most amazing experiences on their travels, through meeting local people, exploring new places, and discovering alternative activities that make holidays special. We do this by carefully selecting partners in countries around the world who are experts in their local area, sourcing interesting people who can guide you through immersive experiences.

Our local partners in South Africa have an all-encompassing knowledge of their country, from the beautiful Cape Town to the peaks of the Drakensburg Mountains. Choosing a Not In The Guidebooks holiday in South Africa means you don’t have to choose between a beach holiday or an activity-filled break, you can get the best of both worlds with a unique trip.