Roasted Termites in South Africa 2025-2026
Close your eyes and you'll think you're eating pretzels or popcorn
Best time: November–January
Termites are a true seasonal delicacy for locals; kids love them for the taste and adults appreciate them for their protein and low cost. Harvesting is free and easy—all you have to do is find a termite mound and tempt them out with a blade of grass, a bait that is known to always work. Cooking them is just as simple: wash and fry them until their heads turn red to brownish.
Tourists may find fried termites as a popular street food at the beginning of the rainy season, from November to January. This is the termite swarming season, so they are in abundance.
