We purchase most animal protein from The Butchery in the Bush Centre in Marloth Park instead of the SaveMor here or Spar Market in Komatipoort. We find their meats to be fresher and superior in quality and pricing, although the selection may be limited since they don’t handle large roasts, which we enjoy from time to time.
We’ve been shopping at The Butchery since 2013, when we first visited Marloth Park during the three months we were here. We didn’t return to South Africa for four years, and when we did, we continued to shop there, never disappointed in our purchases.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t recall the individual prices on each item and hadn’t taken a receipt. These days, to save on clutter and needless paper use, we don’t ask for a receipt since we carefully watch the checkout process. We will provide a total for the meat purchases.
- 4 packages of ground beef (referred to as mince in Africa)
- 3 New York steaks
- 1 1.26 kg, 2.78 lb, beef tenderloin (filet mignonon) at ZAR 199,99 per kg, US $10.36 per pound!
- 2 packages of wild-caught hake (fish) with four large filets
- 3 packages Texas spiced seasoned pork skewers (sugar-free)
- 4 packages of chicken livers and chicken hearts
- 1 800-gram, 1.7-pound bag of peeled, cleaned, deveined prawns at ZAR 249.95, US $13.74
Enough meat for meals for the three of us for nine dinners (when Lisa arrives next week)
Total ZAR 1415.07, US $77.79, at a daily cost of ZAR 157.20, US $8.64, ZAR 50.79 US $2.79 per person per meal
Also, for the shown two large heads of cabbage and two heads of lettuce:
Total ZAR 104.61 US $5.75
There is no comparison to what we paid for similar items in the US over the past year in Minnesota, Ohio, and Nevada. Overall, I’d say the cost is 60% less than what we paid then.
Undoubtedly, living costs are considerably lower in many African countries, including South Africa. What a nice perk, along with the joys of life in the bush with the fantastic animals and the people.
Hmm…Life is good.
Be well.
Photo from ten years ago today, March 24, 2015:
