Malls Are Us

Mall shopping is our unofficial national sport. Hordes of people descend on our many cloned malls on Saturdays with families, distant great great aunts, pushchairs and shopping trolleys . So if you want to keep your sanity, avoid them over weekends. If that's your thing, good luck! In Cape Town, we generally have later weekday opening hours for the larger malls (the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront and Canal Walk). Most shops will be open till 21:00 and is a more genteel experience.

Most major cities will have shops that open 7 days a week come rain or shine. Some places will have half-day closing on Sundays and Public Holidays. The smaller cities/towns/villages will be less inclined to open out of regular hours - so be prepared.

We have beautiful weather in South Africa, yet many malls are indoors and themed. Some newer 'malls' have gone against tradition and embraced the open air and a 'community' experience- notably, Melrose Arch in Johannesburg, Clearwater Mall in Roodepoort, The Design Quarter in Fourways and Willowbridge Mall in Tyger Valley.

If you want to party, generally, alcohol is bought from 'bottle stores'. Most malls will have one. This is where you get 'hard' liquor, crates of beer or wines. Some places in Cape Town and Johannesburg sell alcohol on Sundays but generally this is not the norm - you need to stock up before closing on Saturday. Drinking alcohol in public spaces is legally a 'no-no' - so check the rules and regulations wherever you plan on picnicking or braaiing.