Living in Australia for the last (almost) 14 years (and the UK for 10 years before this!) has been an incredible adventure so far, but every now and then, I get hit with a niggle of nostalgia for South Africa.
There are little things, and sometimes big things, that make me smile, sigh, or even crave a flight home. Yes, there are countless reasons why many of us chose to leave in the first place, but that doesn’t mean we have to forget everything that we loved about our homeland either.
I’ve put together the 10 things I miss the most about South Africa. What would you add to this list?
10 Things I Miss The Most About South Africa
Ocean Basket
Ah, the Ocean Basket. There’s nothing quite like their fried calamari with that perfectly fluffy yellow rice, and a side of their Famous Village Salad that somehow makes the simplest meal feel like a treat.
I can still taste that dish whenever I think about it and have been begging Ocean Basket to open up in Australia. No matter how many seafood restaurants I try in Australia, nothing comes close to the way it tastes at Ocean Basket.
Proper Storms
South African storms are something else altogether. Durban and Johannesburg, in particular, know how to put on a show when it comes to thunder and lightning. The kind where the sky darkens, lightning streaks across the clouds, and the rain lashes down in sheets, and then the next minute, it’s gone – poof.
There’s a dramatic, almost cinematic quality to them that makes you feel alive, and maybe a little tiny bit nervous if you’re stuck in traffic, about to shower, or on the phone! Perth storms are impressive but rare, and I really miss watching storms at night from my bedroom window.
The Smell of the Rain
Speaking of rain, it’s not just the storms I miss, but that unmistakable smell afterwards. That earthy, sweet scent that drifts through the air and makes you want to step outside and just breathe it all in.
Some smells instantly transport you back to home, and the smell of rain in South Africa is one that I can recall fondly.
Funny TV Ads
I never thought I’d miss ads, but South African TV ads have a unique charm. They are quirky, cheeky, sometimes completely over-the-top, and always memorable. From hilarious jingles to strange product pitches, they were always a part of life that could make me laugh in an instant.
When I moved to England, I thought the UK TV ads were awful compared to the South African ones. But when I moved to Australia, I found a new low when it comes to TV ads. Shouty, cringy, and old-fashioned are just some words that spring to mind when I think about Aussie TV ads. And don’t even get me started on how many there are! It takes about 3 hours to get through a 90-minute movie on TV here due to the frequency of the ads. Netflix is almost essential if you want to actually enjoy watching TV here!
The Wildlife
Now I know that we didn’t always get the chance to see wildlife while living in South Africa, but it was part of the fabric of daily life, and there was something comforting in the fact that we had so many species of incredible animals in the country.
Now, I absolutely love seeing kangaroos, bobtails, snakes and emus where my horses live, and that one random dingo wandered down my street a few years ago here in Perth (true story – not even kidding!), but it doesn’t really compare to the big 5 or those cheeky monkeys that would come into our house in KZN and steal food out the kitchen before we were brave enough to chase them away.
Table Mountain
Table Mountain is iconic for a reason. Whether it’s the view from the top, the sunsets over Cape Town, or just glimpsing it on the horizon from the city streets, it’s impossible not to feel proud. I used to go to school in Cape Town right near the base of Table Mountain and can remember day dreaming out of the window during French at the stunning mountain and the cable car making its regular journeys up and down all day.
No skyline here quite matches the combination of mountain, ocean, and city that makes Cape Town so special. Hobart comes close with their beautiful harbour and Mount Wellington but it’s not quite in the same league as Cape Town.
Woolworths
Oh, Woolworths… the store that makes grocery shopping feel like a treat. Because it really was a treat and hellish expensive to many of us!
The fresh produce, the bakery aisles, and those little gourmet salads, meals and treats that make you feel like you’re living in the lap of luxury, even if you’re just picking up milk and eggs. It’s little things like this that you really notice when you’re overseas and suddenly realise there really is no like for like equivalent.
Yes yes I know Marks & Spencers is “the same”, but hand on heart, if you’re being honest, you know it’s really really not the same at all.
Huge Backyards
Living in Australia comes with its own space perks, but I do miss the sheer scale of South African backyards—the wide-open lawns, the braai areas, the space to run and play, jump in the pool (if you were lucky enough to have one, or have a friend who did!) or just sit and sip a cool drink under the sun. There’s a kind of freedom to them that you can’t quite replicate in most of the suburbs here.
And with block sizes getting smaller and smaller with urban areas expanding here in Perth, it’s just getting harder to be able to afford housing with backyards bigger than postage stamps.
Bottomless Coffee At Mugg & Bean
As a varsity student, I LIVED off Mugg & Bean’s bottomless coffee. No need to worry about how much it cost, which as a student was pretty much our main focus when it came to going out. I’d spend a good few hours catching up with friends and drinking coffee after coffee until I was caffeinated up to my eyeballs. If I was feeling very flush, I’d treat myself to a piece of lemon meringue pie – another thing I can taste if I close my eyes.
PS if you’re looking for a LMP to match the Mugg & Bean ones, the Kalahari Wanneroo one is pretty much spot on – thanks to Adele for recreating this little treat for me in Perth, and making it sure it stayed on the menu when the new owners took over!
Ubuntu
Last, but definitely not least, I miss the spirit of ubuntu. The warmth, the connection, the “I am because we are” philosophy that permeates everyday life in South Africa, no matter who you are, where you come from, or where you are headed.
It’s in the friendly greetings, the kind way neighbours help one another, the friendliness of complete strangers (shout out to the lovely airport security lady who hugged my son and welcomed us home when we visited in 2018).
Ubuntu not just a word; it’s a way of living in South Africa that leaves a lasting impression on anyone who experiences it.
I cannot complain about my journey and life overseas in the UK and now Australia, but there’s a piece of my heart that will always belong to South Africa. The smells, the flavours, the quirks, the animals, and the people—you can take the person out of South Africa, but you can’t take South Africa out of the person.
If you’re planning a move overseas and want some practical tools to help make the transition easier, check out the Proudly South African In Perth shop for digital products like the emigration budget planner and the ultimate emigration checklist. They’re designed to make your move smoother and keep a little bit of home close by along the way.
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