Though braaing at home is always a treat, sometimes it is great to grab the cooler box and head out of the city to one of the many public braai spots that are just a short drive away. Here are just a few our favourites.
Van Stadens River Mouth Resort
Situated about 40 minutes from the Port Elizabeth city centre, the resort is the perfect day out for families. Van Stadens provides the best of both worlds for day visitors and those wishing to stay a bit longer. For anyone just popping in for the day, there are bricked braai areas, but visitors must bring their own grids and tongs. There is more than enough to keep everyone busy while lunch is being prepared, from children’s play areas with trampolines to pedalboats, sandboards and canoes for hire. For those who prefer something that requires less muscle, the resort is also perfect for fishing and bird-watching. Van Stadens is open between 7am and 6pm.
Entry is R30 per person per day out of season, and R50 per person in season. Children under 12 pay R50 and children under five are free.
Kragga Kamma Game Park
It doesn’t get more South African than a game drive followed by a lekker braai. And that is exactly what this game park offers. Visitors can enjoy either a self-drive game drive (R65 per adult and R30 per child) or a two-hour guided game drive (R185 per person) before lighting the fires.
What makes this braai spot special are those uninvited but most welcome guests: the wildlife all around, including inyala and warthog. The park is open between 8am and 7pm.
Falcon Rock
For weekenders who like some adventure with their braais, or who enjoy working up an appetite, Falcon Rock is a great braai spot. Boasting one of Nelson Mandela Bay’s most well-known natural landmarks, Lady Slipper, right in its back yard, this facility promises a safe, secure and tranquil environment in which to enjoy all nature has to offer. Enjoy the labyrinth, swimming pool and mountain bikes, or hike up Lady Slipper before having lunch at the shaded braai stands. Some of these activities are charged in addition to the entry fee, and booking is essential.
The braai facilities come with grids, tables and chairs, but bring your own if you’re in a big group. The entry fee is R30 per adult and R15 per child. Falcon Rock’s braai facility is open from 11am to 5pm, Wednesday to Friday, and from 9am to 5pm on weekends.
Van Stadens River Mouth Resort
041 776 1059
041 379 4195
Gary, 083 327 3456
Genie, 082 800 9279
Words: Karen van Rooyen
Images: Fredlin Adriaan
