Braai better.
Stay warm.
Keep it safe.
Straight-talking guides to braais, braai wood, gas heaters, fireplaces, fire pits and home fire safety, with real prices from South African stores.
- 📍Written for SALocal brands, stores, rules and weather
- 🏷️Real local pricesPulled from SA retailers, dated
- ⚖️IndependentNo brand pays for a spot in our picks
- 🧯Safety firstChecked against SANS and official sources
Start here
Best braai wood in South Africa: rooikrans, sekelbos & more
Which braai wood gives the best coals? Compare rooikrans, sekelbos, mopane, kameeldoring, blackwattle and vine stumps, plus which woods never to braai with.
Johan Botha · 7 min read
Built-in braai and braai room guide: planning & chimneys
Planning a built-in braai or braai room? What to decide first, how chimneys and extraction work, wood vs gas, approvals, and how to brief a builder.
Johan Botha · 7 min read
Fire extinguisher guide: choosing one for your SA home
Which fire extinguisher suits a South African home, what size to buy, where to mount it, how SANS 1475 servicing works, and when to leave and call for help.
Nadia Pillay · 11 min read
Fire pit guide: types, safe placement, DIY builds and ideas
An independent fire pit buyer's guide for South Africa: steel bowls, bomas, gas fire pits and chimineas compared, plus safe placement, a DIY build and ideas.
Johan Botha · 10 min read
Fireplace guide: types of fireplaces for SA homes
Open, closed combustion, gas or bioethanol? Compare types of fireplaces, built-in vs freestanding, efficiency, chimney basics and the approvals you may need.
Lize van Wyk · 9 min read
Gas heater guide: choosing the best gas heater in SA
Radiant, blue flame or catalytic? Compare gas heater types, size one for your room, work out LPG running costs and know the safety features to insist on.
Lize van Wyk · 12 min read
How to choose a braai: a South African buying guide
Kettle, drum, gas, built-in, portable or kamado? Compare braai types, what to check before you buy, and which one suits your space, budget and cooking.
Johan Botha · 8 min readGear worth buying this summer
JetmasterJetmaster Kalahari 2 in 1 Fire Basket – wood burningR4 299at Braai Culture →
HomeFiresHomefires 700 Basic EconoMaster Built-in BraaiR6 599at Braai Culture →
MegamasterEmber Series 37cm Kettle BraaiR949at Megamaster →
MegamasterMegamaster 2 Pack Braai LightersR49at Megamaster →Prices from South African retailers, checked November 2026. We may earn a commission on purchases.
Do the maths before the fire
Braai meat calculator
Meat per cut for any crowd, adjusted for kids and big eaters, plus pap, bread, salads and braai wood.
Braai timer & cooking times
Steak, chops, wors, chicken, sosaties and snoek: a timer that beeps when it's time to turn.
Braai calendar
Braai festivals, potjie competitions, long weekends and the fire seasons, month by month.
Heater size & running cost
The kW your room needs, and what it costs per hour and per month on LPG versus electricity.
How long will my gas cylinder last?
Hours of gas in a 3, 5, 9, 19 or 48 kg cylinder for heaters, skottels, gas braais and patio heaters.
Fire extinguisher picker
Tick the places you want to protect and get the right extinguisher type and size for each.
Heaters and fireplaces we rate
Latest guides
Firelighters guide: types, how many to use and DIY options
Classic blocks like Blitz, wood-wool or gel? Which firelighters suit wood, charcoal and fireplaces, how many to use, and how to light a braai without them.
Johan Botha · 11 min read
Charcoal vs briquettes: a braai fuel guide for South Africa
Lump charcoal, briquettes or instant-light? How each burns, how much to use, how to light it without fluid and how to store it so it stays dry and ready.
Johan Botha · 10 min read
Braai meat per person: how much to buy for any group size
How much braai meat per person? Quantity tables by group size and cut, a full shopping list for 10 people, and how to braai wors, chops, steak and chicken.
Johan Botha · 12 min read
Smoker braai guide: how to smoke meat in South Africa
How a smoker braai works, offset vs kettle vs kamado, which South African woods to smoke with, and the temperatures and timings for your first brisket or ribs.
Johan Botha · 12 min read
How to braai steak: heat, timing and doneness
How to braai the perfect steak: which cut to buy, how hot the coals should be, cooking times and temperatures for rare to well done, resting and the mistakes to avoid.
Johan Botha · 10 min read
How to clean a braai: grids, stands, built-ins and ash
How to clean a braai grid, braai stand, drum, built-in braai and kettle, get rid of ash safely, deal with rust and avoid the cleaners that do more harm than good.
Johan Botha · 10 min readMeet our writers
Johan Botha
Braai & outdoor editor
Writes our braai, fire pit and pizza oven guides. Firmly in the wood-fire camp, but owns up to a gas braai for weeknights.
Lize van Wyk
Heating & fireplaces writer
Covers gas heaters, fireplaces and keeping a South African home warm through winter and load shedding.
Nadia Pillay
Home fire safety writer
Writes our home fire safety guides, built on SANS standards, SAQCC rules and fire service advice.