12 Cooking Classes in South Africa Worth Booking

1.Malay Cooking Class and Lunch in Bo-Kaap

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 515 reviews · 2h 30m · from $49Our pick

Cook Cape Malay dishes in a Bo-Kaap home with Faldela, learn local traditions, and enjoy a generous lunch for $49.

“Mdm Faldela is not only an amazing cooking instructor but also a wonderfully warm and welcoming host. From the moment we arrived, her humour set the tone for a fun, relaxed, and truly memorable experience. We learned to cook some amazing Cape Malay dishes, and everything was so delicious. Loved how she also shared the health benefits of different spices. Bonus: we got to take the recipes home so we can recreate the magic ourselves! A must-do activity when visiting Cape Town. Come hungry and ready for great vibes, laughter, and amazing food.”

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2.Authentic African Cuisine Cooking Experience

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 236 reviews · from $57Top rated

Cook Sadza, chicken stew, chakalaka, and more with Caleb and Florence in a warm, hands-on Cape Town food experience.

“Great experience!! So friendly and amazing food - highly recommend for authentic South African culinary class.”

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3.Cape Malay Cooking Class in Bo-Kaap

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 120 reviews · 2 hours · from $52

Cook a three-course Cape Malay meal in a Bo-Kaap family home, learn local food traditions, and share lunch with your host for $52.

“We really enjoyed our cooking class! The food was very tasty and everyone was able to participate in different parts of the process. The host gave us lots of information about the history of the cuisine and was very friendly.”

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4.Bo-Kapp Walking Tour and Malay Cooking Class

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 105 reviews · 4 hours · from $68

Walk Bo-Kaap with a local guide, learn Cape Malay history, cook samosas and curry, and share a homemade meal in this four-hour Cape Town tour.

“What a fabulous time! We learned so much about the Bo-Kaap - it's history, people, and community spirit. Our guide shared her passion for the community and her food. The cooking class was wonderfully interactive, with very tasty food prepared and shared. This activity is a must.”

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5.Half-Day Small Group Cooking Experience in Franschhoek

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 74 reviews · from $116

Cook an eight-course South African feast with Nicola Spilsbury in Franschhoek, paired with local wine in a small, welcoming kitchen.

“Beautiful kitchen space and awesome evening learning about African cuisine, cooking a true feast and having a wonderful time! Would book again anytime”

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6.Authentic African Cuisine Cooking Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 31 reviews · 2h 30m · from $71

Learn to cook sadza, stews, chakalaka, and beans with Florence at Pahari African Restaurant in Cape Town, then share the meal communally.

“This is a must do when visiting Cape Town. The food (and overall experience) is incredible and everyone is just so welcoming and nice. We had a truly amazing night, thank you so much!”

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7.Private Cape Malay Cooking Class in Cape Town with a Local Family

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 24 reviews · from $100

Cook Cape Malay dishes with Lorette and Desmond in their Grassy Park home, then share roti, curry, bobotie, and malva pudding.

“Lorette provided a 10/10 experience with her cooking class. To cook within her beautiful home such a vibrant meal and eat with her and her husband was very special. I highly recommend. The dish selections were delicious, she provided the recipes so we could try to recreate at home. Very lovely family and I wish them all the best!”

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8.GQ: City Walking Tour & African Cuisine Cooking Class

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 11 reviews · 2 hours - 210 minutes · from $56

Walk Gqeberha with a local guide, then cook and share a traditional African meal in a small group for $56.

“Rawson was a very nice guide. We had a lot of fun and he showed us a lot of interessing spots of the city.”

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9.South African Cooking in Cape Town with Local Chef Richard

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 10 reviews · from $76

Share a private South African meal with chefs Richard and Gillian in their Cape Town home, with cooking, wine, braai, and local insight.

“Richard and Gillian are incredible cooks and hosts! They email you in advance to get a sense of likes and dislikes. Then they plan a menu just for you! You can do as much or as little as you like in the kitchen. My husband was outside with Richard on the grill while I helped GilliRead more”

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10.Pan-African Cooking & Dinning Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 6 reviews · 210 minutes - 4 hours · from $102

Cook South African and Pan-African dishes in a local home, shop for ingredients, share stories, and enjoy pickup from Sandton.

“Upon arrival, we were greeted with refreshing drinks-a delightful water infused with lemon and papaya, alongside a homemade hibiscus tea with ginger-that perfectly set the tone for the evening. The chef then treated us to a spectacular culinary journey, preparing several amazing dishes inside the kitchen, followed by three succulent meat dishes grilled outdoors. Each dish was a masterpiece, and I can confidently say it was the best meal I had during my entire stay in Johannesburg. We concluded the evening gathered around the kitchen table, illuminated by candlelight, savoring the scrumptious meal while enjoying delightful conversations. This experience is highly recommended for anyone lookin...”

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11.Private Authentic Cape Malay Cooking Class in Manenberg with Locals

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 5 reviews · from $92

Cook a three-course Cape Malay meal with Colleen and Ruth in a Manenberg home, then share samosas, tomato bredie, dessert, and drinks.

“Such a memorable day from start to finish. I was by myself and felt like I was with friends the entire time, Coleen and Ruth really make you feel at home. The food was amazingly flavorful and well explained. I’m so happy I booked this, easy Uber there and back, and had plenty Read more”

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12.Zulu Food Cooking & Dining Experience with a local Chef

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 5 reviews · from $85

Cook Zulu-inspired dishes with a local chef, explore Maboneng vendors, and share a generous Johannesburg lunch for $85.

“Nkululeko was a great hostess! We had great conversation and great food. Bongani also was a great addition. The chicken he bbq’d and sausage he grilled was phenomenal! We learned so much from the walk through the neighborhood to the history lesson Nkululeko gave us. We really enjoyed ourselves and I’m glad we had the Zulu and Xhosa cooking experience. I would definitely do it again!”

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