Cooking while camping

[AnyaB]

If I'm expecting to be late in the evening after a game drive, what I also do is to cook at midday (say a stew for eg.) and then warm it up in the pojike in the evening for less hassle (which makes the stew even better if you cook it twice)

Hmmm…. That is actually pretty smart 😁 in Namibia we were gone all day, but in Botswana, it will probably makes sense to come back for lunch and prepare dinner then, before going on another drive.

I’m really worried about doing stuff at dusk with all the wild animals around.

[lekhubu943]

A 90 liter fridge is big. You will have enough space.

Before you go on a wild goose chase about the cast iron pot. It is a good idea and very versatile. However a proper cast iron 'potjie' needs to be seasoned in and that is a looong process.

I would suggest the following: first find out what pots is included in the rental vehicle. Secondly if you want or need to buy one, go for a flat bottomed enamel coated pot. They are ready to use and take up much less space than the three legged one's. Like this one: https://bestduty.co.za/product/144-9...BoCZ00QAvD_BwE

No idea where to buy one in Kasane though.

Charcoal you will find at any supermarket, widely available.

[Kalahari Safari]

Thank you all for the suggestions! I feel much better now! We cook at home every day, but generally these are not quick meals, other than burgers or pasta.

Quite a few of you recommended cast iron pot, and Im leaning towards the idea. However, where exactly can I buy a cheap one in Kasane? Cant bring my own from home for obvious reasons

as far as the fridge/freezer specs, this is what the rental truck lists:

• 90 litre fridge - seperate fridge and freezer

Just ask a local, these pots are almost everywhere in different sizes even at hardware stores.
The 90l fridge /freezer is a decent size appliance and enough space for breakfast stuff and frozen food.
Judt toggle with the drinks and fillnuo invthe morning when they are cool and you will drive during the day, turn tempersture down when the engine runs and reduce cooling when stationary to save on battery usage.

[Kalahari Safari]

A 90 liter fridge is big. You will have enough space.

Before you go on a wild goose chase about the cast iron pot. It is a good idea and very versatile. However a proper cast iron 'potjie' needs to be seasoned in and that is a looong process.

I would suggest the following: first find out what pots is included in the rental vehicle. Secondly if you want or need to buy one, go for a flat bottomed enamel coated pot. They are ready to use and take up much less space than the three legged one's. Like this one: https://bestduty.co.za/product/144-9...BoCZ00QAvD_BwE

No idea where to buy one in Kasane though.

Charcoal you will find at any supermarket, widely available.

Well yes, but you will run from pillar to post to find
one, then its considerably more expensive.
The commissioning can be done in one go, okay the longer you spend the better but here yes.

Here the shortcut:
Heat it up with cooking oils rub it in everywhere when hot let it cool down and clean out with household paper.
Repeat and you are ready to go.
Keep it oily when not in use and dont use abrasives to clean.

[cccole]

Have you heard of the Wonderbag? It is a cloth bag that you put your pot in and it cooks your dinner while you are out. I purchased it for my young adult children and they use it when camping and even at home. Also, if you are near a Woolworths, or something similar, they have great food to go. Planning your meals is fun and, for me, an important part of the journey. Cherie

[Stranger]

When you get to Kasane, take the time to just explore the town a little bit. There is a shopping centre at the airport side, another in the town centre and another on the rd to Kazangula and another in Kazangula.

100% agree with the dutch oven if you can find one.

On the subject of wild animals, sit down with hubby and map out some basic rules. If in unfenced camps, you leave your vehicle unlocked if you are close to it. Walk, not run, don't feed animals or bait them ........

This way you will know what to do.

[KobusDJ]

These days you buy them pre-cured, ready to use. https://bestduty.co.za/product/114-21/

I bought mine 25 years ago "pre-cured". Never seen a layer of oil. Goes through the dishwasher after every use. Not a spot of rust.

[AnyaB]

@everyone
great news! I emailed my rental car company and this is what they responded:

”The rental has a dutch oven - which we call a potjie or iron pot in SA”

yay!

[AnyaB]

When you get to Kasane, take the time to just explore the town a little bit. There is a shopping centre at the airport side, another in the town centre and another on the rd to Kazangula and another in Kazangula.

100% agree with the dutch oven if you can find one.

On the subject of wild animals, sit down with hubby and map out some basic rules. If in unfenced camps, you leave your vehicle unlocked if you are close to it. Walk, not run, don't feed animals or bait them ........

This way you will know what to do.

thank you! Also, apparently my rental comes with the dutch oven!!! Yay!

[AnyaB]

Have you heard of the Wonderbag? It is a cloth bag that you put your pot in and it cooks your dinner while you are out. I purchased it for my young adult children and they use it when camping and even at home. Also, if you are near a Woolworths, or something similar, they have great food to go. Planning your meals is fun and, for me, an important part of the journey. Cherie

Thank you, no I havent heard of it. Im not sure if I feel comfortable leaving a fire unattended. Too many things can go wrong.

[AnyaB]

A 90 liter fridge is big. You will have enough space.

Before you go on a wild goose chase about the cast iron pot. It is a good idea and very versatile. However a proper cast iron 'potjie' needs to be seasoned in and that is a looong process.

I would suggest the following: first find out what pots is included in the rental vehicle. Secondly if you want or need to buy one, go for a flat bottomed enamel coated pot. They are ready to use and take up much less space than the three legged one's. Like this one: https://bestduty.co.za/product/144-9...BoCZ00QAvD_BwE

No idea where to buy one in Kasane though.

Charcoal you will find at any supermarket, widely available.

I emailed my rental company and my 4x4 comes with a potije! Yay!!!

[Emmie L]

Thank you, no I havent heard of it. Im not sure if I feel comfortable leaving a fire unattended. Too many things can go wrong.

This is a wonderful product, but I think you will be facing enough strange experiences to happily exclude this one as you are only here for 10 days and it takes a small learning curve to use. Plus I doubt you would have time to source one. But maybe something to play around with at home for future trips? I use mine all the time even at home with our ongoing electricy problems.

It's a cloth bag filled with tiny Styrofoam balls. It works on a residual heat retention principle and works very well. For example, you cook your rice for 10 minutes on the stove to get it going, then put the pot in the wonderbag and the rice continues cooking until done. It's handy because your rice can't burn and will stay hot for quite a while. You have to be familiar enough with it to know at which point you can transfer your food and be confident that the cooking process will complete, so that's why I think I would not go there for this trip if I were you. There are loads of recipes on the internet to help get you familiar with how it works.

[AlduCor]

Hi!

We tried MamaAlles . They are REALLY nice. Easier than 2 min noodles, but very filling, tasty and healthy.

https://mamaalles.com/

They are expensive. So we pack them as backups when we need something nice, but don’t have the energy to cook/braai.

[AnyaB]

This is a wonderful product, but I think you will be facing enough strange experiences to happily exclude this one as you are only here for 10 days and it takes a small learning curve to use. Plus I doubt you would have time to source one. But maybe something to play around with at home for future trips? I use mine all the time even at home with our ongoing electricy problems.

It's a cloth bag filled with tiny Styrofoam balls. It works on a residual heat retention principle and works very well. For example, you cook your rice for 10 minutes on the stove to get it going, then put the pot in the wonderbag and the rice continues cooking until done. It's handy because your rice can't burn and will stay hot for quite a while. You have to be familiar enough with it to know at which point you can transfer your food and be confident that the cooking process will complete, so that's why I think I would not go there for this trip if I were you. There are loads of recipes on the internet to help get you familiar with how it works.

ohhh, I got it! I thought it works similar to a slow cooker, which is always “on” 🤦🏻#♀️

thank you! Will look into the bag, but you are right, probably not for this trip.

[AnyaB]

Hi!

We tried MamaAlles . They are REALLY nice. Easier than 2 min noodles, but very filling, tasty and healthy.

https://mamaalles.com/

They are expensive. So we pack them as backups when we need something nice, but don’t have the energy to cook/braai.

The food looks good! Can you buy them at the stores or you can only order it online?
We are staying one night in JNB before flying to Zambia, so we could technically order a meal or two as a backup and have it delivered to the hotel before our arrival.

[Gungets Tuft]

Totally agree. Having the 3 legged pot makes all the difference and you save on gas bottles.
Amongst my dishes different kind of stew, chichen curry, sauces like bolognese are a must in the Pojike as well as "risotto". Then braai obviusly and foil to cook food on charcoal like potatoes, onions or even fish.
I use pots on the gas cooker just to boil water for cooking rice or pasta aside, or in the morning for eggs and bacons on a frying pan or to toast bread if I'm not making a fire.
Sometimes I'd just cook enough to have another meal the day after either for lunch, or for dinner. Otherwise I'll have sandwiches.
If I'm expecting to be late in the evening after a game drive, what I also do is to cook at midday (say a stew for eg.) and then warm it up in the pojike in the evening for less hassle (which makes the stew even better if you cook it twice).
So basically, I'm not eating differently than at home. To me is one of the best parts of mi trips.

My only change to this is to make it a legless pot. I've tried the potjie pot with legs, it's like trying to pack a dead octopus. The flat bottomed pot cooks as well and packs much better. My potjie lives at home for home braais.

And the advice on potatoes and onions in foil on the coals is top notch. If you're attentive and turn regularly they don't get burned to coal and are delicious and filling.

[Nambots]

My only change to this is to make it a legless pot. I've tried the potjie pot with legs, it's like trying to pack a dead octopus. The flat bottomed pot cooks as well and packs much better. My potjie lives at home for home braais.

And the advice on potatoes and onions in foil on the coals is top notch. If you're attentive and turn regularly they don't get burned to coal and are delicious and filling.

To me the biggest difference is if the bottom of the potjie is flat or round. I have the flat one at home with shorter legs which is fine, but out in the bush with uneven terrains or firepits, having the round one allows for better even cooking no matter how the pot stands.

But I do get your point. To me is no issue, coming by flight from europe I just rent it with the camping equipment so the packing is not my concern. While driving, I just squeeze it between the tent bag and being heavy it's not going anywhere not even if it's bumpy, they are literally indestructible.

[btscott]

We have a group of 8 for 21 days. We start in Johannesburg and plan to purchase a grill (maybe 2) for cooking and donate them to someone in Kasane at the end of trip. Cheap Megaster propane grill costs 2,299 rand. About $120 usd.

[Savuti_RTT]

We have a group of 8 for 21 days. We start in Johannesburg and plan to purchase a grill (maybe 2) for cooking and donate them to someone in Kasane at the end of trip. Cheap Megaster propane grill costs 2,299 rand. About $120 usd.

Can I suggest, do yoyrself a favor and try cooking "braaing" on a fire, or charcoal fire, with an actual grid. There are "braai stands" in most camps, hence it will only cost you the price of the wood or charcoal, it gives so much more authentic flavor to your meals, and it really is part of the African experience! (Also, in unfenced camps, the fire helps keep the animals at a bit of a distance)

[Stranger]

(Also, in unfenced camps, the fire helps keep the animals at a bit of a distance)

Except for Rhino's, they will charge in and stamp your fire out