Situated on the southeast coast of South Africa, Cape Town – sometimes known as The Mother City – is famous for its adorable penguins, turbulent history and scenic hiking routes. The city is buzzing with life and you only need to spend 24 hours in the centre to realise that the locals care a great deal about sustainability. As the cape suffers from extreme heat, it’s prone to wildfires and drought – meaning everyone is extra careful to save water and do their bit to help. With a population of just under 4 million, it unsurprising that the vegan scene in the Rainbow Nation is growing, and more people are moving towards an ethical way of living. In fact, The Vegan SA Directory (vegansa.com) revels that Cape Town is home to more than 60 vegan and vegetarianfriendly restaurants. Although there is no specific data describing the rise of the vegan lifestyle in South Africa, Research Agency Mintel (mintel.com) states that the country saw four per cent of global vegan product launches during 2016 – putting it in the top 10 counties, ahead of Italy and Spain.
Depending on what region you visit, it can sometimes be tricky to find a place which has vegan-friendly options or a meal that can be veganised. This is typically because the country’s traditional meat-based culture includes staple dishes such as boerewors – a beef sausage mixed with pork or lamb, Cape Malay curry – made with a chicken and a variety of spices, and bobotie – a dish made with minced meat topped a combination of egg and milk. There is also a high number of fish restaurants, especially if you visit the VA waterfront. Because of this, it’s best to research the area you intend on visiting, so you’re not let wandering the streets hungry. There are however a growing number of eateries which offer extensive vegan menus, including Mary Ann’s Emporium and Eatery, Nourish’d, Orchard on Long and Scheckter’s Raw.