#Expats Stories: Nicolaas & Martina Uys
We spoke with Nicolaas Uys who turned a craving for authentic biltong into a thriving business in the Czech Republic. From navigating bureaucracy and mastering Czech to building a strong expat community and introducing locals to South African flavors, his journey is full of challenges, cultural insights, and heart. Discover what it takes to bring a taste of home to a new country—and build something meaningful along the way.
What inspired you to move to the Czech Republic, and how did you decide it was the right place to start your business?
I got the opportunity to come to the Czech Republic to play rugby on a professional contract for three years. I immediately knew this was a country where I’d like to live for a while, and when I met my girlfriend, it became clear I would stay here.
My business idea started during Covid, when I was at home and missing real biltong. All I could find in shops here was jerky or very dry biltong that tasted more like jerky than the real thing. Thanks to the lockdown, I had time to start making it myself. When my friends tasted it, they wanted more—and that’s when I realized there was a real gap in the Czech market for dried meat. People here are familiar with jerky but not our South African style of dried meat (biltong, droëwors). I saw a chance to introduce a high-quality product and build a solid business around it.
Can you tell us a bit more about your business, and what the process was like starting it in the Czech Republic?
Starting a dried meat production company in the Czech Republic was far from easy. Compared to South Africa, the difference is huge—especially when it comes to administrative work, endless application forms, and strict EU regulations. It was a lot of work, but I understand the importance of food safety. Still, as a South African, I experienced a very different system than I was used to. Honestly, if I had known everything that was waiting for me, I might have chosen a different business!
We started by focusing only on dried meat (mainly biltong and droëwors), with just an e-shop. Now we’ve grown into a South African bistro with traditional food and a walk-in shop offering many SA products—including spices, wines, and, of course, fresh-cut biltong. People can experience a real South African biltong shop, where they choose a piece and have it sliced for them. That’s the authentic way to enjoy biltong—straight from a brown paper bag!
What are some of the biggest advantages of living and working in the Czech Republic compared to South Africa?
Every country has its pros and cons, but some of the biggest advantages in the Czech Republic are the healthcare, social, and educational systems—for example, three years of maternity leave, good public education, and accessible public healthcare. It’s also a great location for travel—you’re right in the center of Europe. But above all, the most important advantage is safety. I don’t have to worry if my wife goes somewhere alone, which wouldn’t be possible in many parts of South Africa.
Have you faced any unique challenges as a foreign entrepreneur here? How did you overcome them?
There have definitely been challenges, but I wouldn’t say they were completely unique. The most common one was the language barrier. If you want to handle anything related to business—banks, services, insurance, suppliers—you’ll need Czech in 90% of cases. I quickly realized I had to improve my Czech so I wouldn’t have to rely on my wife all the time. Now I’m proud to say I can speak Czech and manage many tasks on my own. That said, I still leave the more official things to her!
How easy (or difficult) was it to navigate things like visas, business registration, and taxes as a foreigner?
In this regard, I’ve been very lucky. My wife is incredibly supportive and capable of handling all of those things, which allowed me to focus solely on the production side of the business. Thanks to her, our business is running smoothly, and everything stays in order.
What’s your experience with the local business culture and Czech clients or partners? Are there any cultural differences that surprised you?
I haven’t encountered many major cultural differences so far. One thing we do notice is that Czechs can be a bit conservative about trying new things. At local markets, we often hear things like, “No thank you, I don’t want to taste the dry meat—I like my teeth and don’t want to lose them.” So we explain that biltong isn’t the same as jerky, and once they try it, they’re usually pleasantly surprised. On the positive side, Czech customers are very honest—they’ll tell you straight if they don’t like something.
How have you found the expat community here? Has it played a role in your personal or professional life?
In my first year here, I was mostly surrounded by the rugby community and my wife’s friends. But after a while, I really started to miss South Africans, speaking Afrikaans, having a braai, and just our culture in general. I looked for expat groups on social media and found one for South Africans in the Czech Republic, but it was inactive. I got in touch with a few people, and we decided to restart the group and bring more “saffas” together.
It grew quickly—we organized a few small events and suddenly I realized I wasn’t alone. Now we have over 400 members and have hosted many braai events and rugby match viewings. These events helped a lot of people connect, and we’ve built a great little community where we can keep a piece of Africa alive in our hearts. I’ve made many expat friends—not just South Africans—and they all enjoy coming to my bistro to have a beer, chat, and meet others.
Do you speak Czech? If not, how do you manage day-to-day life and business dealings?
Yes, I do speak Czech. My grammar isn’t perfect, but I can talk about almost any topic. I still rely on my wife for more complex or official matters, but at the bistro, I can fully interact with our customers—and they really appreciate it. I’ve been here for eight years, and without Czech, I wouldn’t have been able to move the business forward. It’s essential, especially if your target audience includes more than just expats.
What’s your favorite part of everyday life in the Czech Republic—from local traditions to lifestyle perks?
I really appreciate how active people are here. I enjoy going for runs or bike rides on paths where cars aren’t allowed—something that’s not common in South Africa. I also love the Czech tradition of celebrating name days. And with my name, I get to celebrate twice—once on Nikolas and again on Mikuláš!
What advice would you give to other expat couples considering starting a business and settling in the Czech Republic?
First of all—good luck! It’s hard work and definitely a challenge, but it’s worth it in the end. If a couple plans to go into business together, I think the most important thing is to set clear boundaries between business and personal life. You also need patience, because expectations and reality are two very different things. Believe in your goals and dreams—and support each other. I’m lucky to have a wife who’s been by my side through everything, and we’re still working toward fulfilling our dreams together.
You can find the SAFFA shop located at Sokolovska 146/150a, Praha 8 (close to the metro stop Invalidovna or Palmovka)
Eshop: www.saffamaso.com
IG: Saffa Maso | Biltong | Bistro | Obchod 🍔🌭🍷🥩 🇿🇦 🇨🇿 (@saffamaso) • Instagram photos and videos
