5 Best Restaurants in Mpumalanga and Kruger National Park, South Africa

An institution on the Panorama Route, Harrie's Pancakes has included all manner of fillings in their trademark thick, fluffy pancake rolls since 1986. There's classic lemon and cinnamon or far more decadent sweet stuffings such as the iconic South African peppermint crisp crumble with caramel sauce and milk tart custard. For savory palates, the tangy bobotie with chutney vinaigrette is unforgettable.

Perch on the porch along the main drag in Sabie and sip your way through the history of this area while sampling a chakalaka vetkoek. The Sabie Brewing Company is home to pet chickens, affordable eats, and homemade hops. Each beer is named after a character from local folklore, such as the Shangaan Stout, which shares the tale of how the Sabie River got its name.

Dozens of varieties of crepes—both savory (stir-fried chicken) and sweet (fried nuts and cinnamon with chocolate sauce)—are the draw at this restaurant. Also on the menu are sandwiches and salads. Meals can be eaten outside on the pleasant wide veranda. There's also an interesting little arts-and-crafts gallery, which, like the café, is open daily from 8 to 6.

In a former trading store dating from 1910, the Vine uses antique sideboards, sepia photos, and country-style wooden furniture to recapture that heady 1800s gold rush–era feeling. The food is straightforward and hearty, like traditional South African bobotie (curried ground beef topped with egg), potjiekos (lamb stew), digger's stew (beef and veggies) served in a digger's gold-prospecting pan, or samp (corn porridge). The pub is a good place to sit outside and watch the world go by.

This excellent, casual eatery, in the shade of a wild fig tree, is open daily for breakfast, light lunches, and dinner. Although the emphasis is on local specialties ranging from biltong pâté to impala kebabs and springbok carpaccio, try the local trout dishes or a housemade burger. Eat on the patio in summer or by the warmth of a cozy log fire in winter. Tourist information and internet services are available as well as a licensed bar and lounge area. After your meal, pop into the adjoining Wild Fig Tree shops to buy arts, crafts, jewelry, and handmade clothing.