5 Traditional Namibian foods you must try in Namibia

This snack of salted and spiced air-dried beef strips is popular across southern Africa, but in Namibia you’ll find an array of wild game on offer too, from ostrich to kudu.

Adventurous eaters should try this staple protein from the mopane forests of northern Namibia. These large caterpillars are collected from the trees during the rainy season, then boiled and fried. Often eaten as a daytime snack, or served in a stew.

Often on the menu at a traditional braai (barbecue), this hearty stew is slow-cooked in a cast-iron three-legged pot over the coals. Lamb neck is a popular choice, along with wild game such as springbok.

The cold waters of Walvis Bay are ideal for cultivating oysters, and marine safari trips out in the bay usually end with a platter of shucked oysters on ice. Throw the shell over your shoulder after each shlurp.

In northern Namibia this freshwater fish is likely to be the catch of the day on any restaurant menu. Best when simply grilled over the coals, the delicate flavour goes well with simple maize meal porridge and steamed spinach.