CONVERGENCE NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2016

Travel
TOUR THE TOWN
Do your research and go for a guided
tour around town. These tours are a great
way to learn about the history of Cape
Town and South Africa and many tour
companies have agreements with the
townships, so the locals can show you
around while the tour companies help
look after the people and their community.
BOAT TRIPS FROM THE
WATERFRONT
Several companies offer boat trips out
to sea to look for dolphins and other
LET’S EAT
animals. Remember to go when the sea
is calm as choppy waters means you will
not be seeing anything. The boats are
open so it can also be quite cold and it
is advised to bring along warm clothes
or a coat.
COME RAIN OR SHINE
Hot and sunny weather dominates the
city’s skyline throughout the months of
November and December despite the
occasional afternoon thunderstorms.
The coldest days are between the
months of July and August.
From the meat-stuffed dishes to the more conventional but highly customised South
African food, they will all give you memories to cherish for a lifetime!
USEFUL
AFRIKAANS PHRASES
The country has 11 official languages
and this includes English, Afrikaans
and Xhosa. The three languages
mentioned are also the most
commonly used and spoken with
Afrikaans being the most widely
spoken language.
Here are a few Afrikaans words and
phrases that may be helpful when
travelling to the country.
• Hello – Hallo
• Goodbye – Totsiens (tot-see-us)
• My name is … – My naam is ...
• Thank you – Dankie (danki)
• Do you speak English? – Praat jy
Engels? (praat-yay-engels)
• Sorry – Jammer (yamer)
CURRENCY AND
EXCHANGE RATE
The country’s currency is South
African Rand: ZAR
100 ZAR is approximately:
• USD6.96 • £5.72 • €6.33
As at October 2016
Bunny Chow
Do not worry as no rabbits are harmed
in the making of this dish. Often referred
to as a bunny, this South African dish
consists of a hollowed out loaf of bread
filled with curry. It can be made with
lamb, beef, chicken or vegetables.
Bobotie
Considered the country’s national dish,
cumin, coriander and cloves are added
to minced lamb or beef before it is
baked with an egg-based topping.
Mealie Pap
A maize-based porridge that can be
served hot or cold with milk and sugar
as breakfast or with meat and tomato
stew for a complete meal.
Bokkoms
South Africa’s version of anchovies.
Bokkoms is a dried and salted Southern
Mullet fish known locally as ‘harders’.
Droëwors
A dried, spiced sausage that may look
unappetising if you eat with your eyes
but sure does pack a punch when you
put it in your mouth.
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