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The ubiquitous South African dining experience is probably the braai, an open-air barbecue stand featuring grilled meat (including delicacies like peri-peri chicken and boerewors – spicy sausages) and vegetables. A braai under the stars, with lots of beer is a dining experience not to be missed in South Africa, and do not fret, there will be a braai even in most remote South African city or game park. The most preferred dining out experience among South Africans is probably in the American-style steak houses that have mushroomed in cities throughout the length and breadth of the country.
South Africa boasts some fantastic nightlife, with discos and nightclubs open until the early hours. More classical entertainment can be found at numerous ballet and opera performances throughout the country. The State Theatre in Pretoria, the Civic Theatre in Johannesburg, the Nico Malan in Cape Town, The Playhouse in Durban and a variety of smaller theatres offer contemporary theater and plays.
The Sun City resort in the Northwest province is a known hub of international events like the Miss World contests ad attracts international stars.
Johannesburg has a unique attraction - mine dancing, based on the homespun entertainment of Africans employed by turn-of-the-century gold mines. Also take the chance to hear some kwela, a form of South African jazz found in many inner city clubs especially in Johannesburg. Near Johannesburg, the Randburg Waterfront is home to 55 food outlets, pubs, live music venues, 10 cinemas, children’s entertainment area, a wide selection of watersports - and the largest musical fountain in the world.
The famed Victoria & Alfred Waterfront in Cape Town offers a range of entertainment options like casinos and restaurants by day and through the night. The corner of Bree and Waterkant Sts is very popular with local young crowd for the range of pubs and clubs there. Mariner’s Wharf, at Hout Bay in the Cape Town area, South Africa’s first harbour-front development, boasts seafood bistros, restaurants, fresh fish and lobster markets, and curio shops.
A computerised booking service called Computicket is a service with over 300 branches in South Africa, catering for more than 40,000 events countrywide - theatre and cinema reservations, tickets for dancing and skating championships, lotteries and bus tours.
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