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.
Photo: Victorgrigas, CC BY-SA 3.0
- 📍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 · 12 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
How to make a braai fire (and know when the coals are ready)
Step-by-step: build a braai fire with wood or charcoal, get an even bed of coals, and use the hand test to know exactly when to start cooking.
Johan Botha · 7 min read
Pizza oven guide: gas, wood-fired and built-in compared
An independent pizza oven buyer's guide for South Africa: gas, wood-fired, built-in brick and braai-top ovens compared, plus temperatures and how to use one.
Johan Botha · 8 min read
Braai grid guide: hinged, flat, fish and stainless options
Toeklap or flat? Stainless steel or chrome? Compare braai grid types and materials, pick the right size and learn how to clean and look after your grid.
Johan Botha · 8 min read
Braai ideas: 12 recipes beyond chops and boerewors
Fresh braai ideas with real recipes: braaibroodjies, snoek, prawns, sosaties, stuffed butternut, halloumi and desserts on the coals, in metric with clear steps.
Johan Botha · 9 min read
Braai salads: 10 classic South African sides with recipes
Ten braai salads and sides South Africans actually make: potato salad, three-bean, beetroot, coleslaw, chakalaka, sous and more, with metric quantities.
Johan Botha · 9 min read
Braai stand guide: types, sizes and what to look for in SA
Drum, kettle, free-standing box or fold-up? Compare braai stand types, materials and sizes, and learn what to check before you buy or build your own.
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.