Cooking while camping

[Savuti_RTT]

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

Hahaha Jamie Uys was brilliant, wasnt he?

[AnyaB]

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)

thank you! Good to know, Im really worried about the animals. Funny enough, the animals are what Im super excited about
How do you guys go to bathroom after dark, though

[AnyaB]

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

What?

[hatjohan]

thank you! Good to know, Im really worried about the animals. Funny enough, the animals are what Im super excited about
How do you guys go to bathroom after dark, though

We don't

I have searched but cannot find the "users manual" for wild camping/overlanding that was compiled on the forum a few years back. I think the late Stan and some other boffins played a major role.

This may be of tremendous help to Anya and others.

[Savuti_RTT]

thank you! Good to know, Im really worried about the animals. Funny enough, the animals are what Im super excited about
How do you guys go to bathroom after dark, though

Porta potty. Works with bio chemicals and is pretty cheap (about USD80). Empty it out (no smell due to the bio chemicals) before you go to next camp. Buy at any camping or outdoors store

[janseekat]

We don't

I have searched but cannot find the "users manual" for wild camping/overlanding that was compiled on the forum a few years back. I think the late Stan and some other boffins played a major role.

This may be of tremendous help to Anya and others.

Read this may be of interest.

https://blog.tracks4africa.co.za/eti...ing-in-africa/

[Stranger]

Anya

On the animal side of things, you just need common sense. For example, never go to the toilet alone or without a torch if it is dark.

Many of us change our shower habits to make sure we shower in daylight. DON'T leave food of any kind within reach of animals and that includes your rubbish and left overs. Don't take food into your sleeping arrangement.

Animals are animals, if you camped somewhere that had Raccoons or bears or mountain lions, what precautions would you take?

There is one African animal that you never take on, and if you see one walk calmly away.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3WjnLn9p3U

A pack of Pitbulls would come off second best.

[hatjohan]

I think this is the post I was referring to.

[btscott]

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)

There will be some cooking over the fire. However, there will be days when we want to eat faster and not wait for a fire. We are also a mixture of veggies and meat eaters, so will be a good way to divide it up. Regardless, appreciate your suggestion.

[280iNyati]

Don't stress. Foil cooking is my preferred cooking method for sides and vegetables when we camp as well.

Some of our favorites:

Diced butternut, feta, sundried tomato, olives.
Green beans and balsamic
Sweet potato
Carrots and peas, can be canned peas or fresh mangetout.
Corn on the cob in foil.
Zucchini although they work better directly on the braai grid cut in half.
Chopped cabbage with cumin and chilli. Fresh whole cabbage does not need cooling, but peel the leaves from the outside

You don't mention the size of the freezer. We have a 80 liter fridge/freezer and for my husband and I we easily fit enough meat in for 10 days or more. So unless you are very big eaters, you should be fine with meat for 10 days. But as a backup, take some pasta, tuna and ready made sauce. It is always nice to have something else other than braai for variety or if the weather is not nice.

About creating carbage. You will create carbage, no two ways about that. Just be responsible about it. If possible take your garbage out with you and expose of it in the first town.

Have a look at the "braai bag"

https://www.craftbraai.org/products/craft-braai-bag

I bought two and used it for crayfish tails, fish and Mozambique river prawns

[Topolino]

You obviously don't drink!

Although I have personally never made this, I've only seen these potatoes come out very burnt. Hence I've never tried murtu potatoes myself.

...as in batatas a murro? Par boil first to soften, then cross cut on top , smash down slightly to open them up, add some olive oil, salt & pepper to taste, add some garlic to taste, some potato spice, foiled up and placed next to coals, rotate regularly..... when you hungry its the best ever!

[Topolino]

Is this not what they call "Dutch Oven" ?



I'm using a flat pot. (Flat bottomed cast iron Dutch Oven). For almost everything. It can go on the fire, it can go on the gas. I use it as a normal pot with lid but it makes a good skillet/pan for frying eggs/bacon/sausages for breakfast. Many options.

EDIT: At home we use the same pot in the oven. Low and slow Leg of Lamb/Pork Shoulder/Brisket/Lamb Shanks ....

.

Cast Iron cooking is the best (and the healthiest - avoid aluminium/aluminum like the plague).

[Steady]

How do you guys go to bathroom after dark, though

Run, fast as you can!!

[Adam Stander]

I'm using a flat pot. (Flat bottomed cast iron Dutch Oven). For almost everything. It can go on the fire, it can go on the gas. I use it as a normal pot with lid but it makes a good skillet/pan for frying eggs/bacon/sausages for breakfast. Many options.

EDIT: At home we use the same pot in the oven. Low and slow Leg of Lamb/Pork Shoulder/Brisket/Lamb Shanks ....

.

Makes packing of your kitchen so much easier.
https://www.outdoorwarehouse.co.za/p...RoCmq0QAvD_BwE

Adding this to your kit not only gives you back your 3 leg potjie, but has a load of other uses.
This one specifically gives you 2 levels of cooking by swinging the legs over to the other side for a lower stance.

[DarylB]

Is this not what they call "Dutch Oven" ?



I'm using a flat pot. (Flat bottomed cast iron Dutch Oven). For almost everything. It can go on the fire, it can go on the gas. I use it as a normal pot with lid but it makes a good skillet/pan for frying eggs/bacon/sausages for breakfast. Many options.

EDIT: At home we use the same pot in the oven. Low and slow Leg of Lamb/Pork Shoulder/Brisket/Lamb Shanks ....

.

The flat-bottom pots are also SO much easier to pack, especially for potentially inexperienced campers/4x4ers! Those 3-legged pots can be very destructive in the back of a 4x4 on poor roads unless you’ve made a special box or other holder. (And yes, I do have both styles and have learned from experience! My wife & I camped at least 10-months a year for 18 years around Africa.

To the original poster, a fire is just another form of heat. Once you’ve learned to control the heat source there’s literally no difference from cooking at home. My wife bakes scones, elaborate cakes, lasagne and everything else she does at home in an electric oven on the fire, either in a “Dutch oven” pot or a simple tin box.

Just move stuff around to different parts of the fire for more or less heat. And remember to load some hot coals on top of the pot if you want more of an oven effect.

[Poen]

Is this not what they call "Dutch Oven" ?



I'm using a flat pot. (Flat bottomed cast iron Dutch Oven). For almost everything. It can go on the fire, it can go on the gas. I use it as a normal pot with lid but it makes a good skillet/pan for frying eggs/bacon/sausages for breakfast. Many options.

EDIT: At home we use the same pot in the oven. Low and slow Leg of Lamb/Pork Shoulder/Brisket/Lamb Shanks ....

.

If given a choice of only two cooking utensils for camping, one will be a whistling kettle, and the other a flat bottom cast iron pot to be used on a gas cooker or fire (tripod required). Macaroni & cheese, shepherd's pie with tinned veggies and mince/mash & cheese on top), spaghetti bolognese, chicken curry, bacon and eggs, fried sausage/burger patties, braised beef - the possibilities are limited only by your imagination. Don't get me started on all the Dutch Oven (potjiekos) possibilities.

Enjoy - I am green with envy!

[Poen]

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

There is a very well-stocked supermarket-type shop in Kasane where one can buy almost all one needs.

[Savuti_RTT]

If given a choice of only two cooking utensils for camping, one will be a whistling kettle, and the other a flat bottom cast iron pot to be used on a gas cooker or fire (tripod required). Macaroni & cheese, shepherd's pie with tinned veggies and mince/mash & cheese on top), spaghetti bolognese, chicken curry, bacon and eggs, fried sausage/burger patties, braised beef - the possibilities are limited only by your imagination. Don't get me started on all the Dutch Oven (potjiekos) possibilities.

Enjoy - I am green with envy!

Agreed!

We used our flat bottomed pot to make pizza in the fire, on our botswana trip. First baked the base, then used it as an oven with hot coals on top, to melt and crisp the toppings! It was great

[daj]

We have always rented a vehicle with RTT and the cooking utensils have always included a cast iron pot - did the company give you an inventory of what's included? Could be useful to check.
Sometimes they supply 'tupperware' type boxes, but never enough and never big enough, we found it useful to buy a couple of larger ones for bread, open biscuits etc. The smaller ones for tea, coffee, sugar, spices - stops spillages and deters insects! We give them away to camp staff at the end of our trip. And maybe take a few large zip-lock food bags (and clip food bag fasteners), the bags not only useful for open packets of food but also to keep bits together so you can easily find them - things like your torches, bug sprays etc - so easy to drop and lose these things in the sand as you're preparing to camp, especially as it gets dark so quickly.
We always buy a couple of mugs and drinking glasses (cheap ones from the supermarket)- nicer to drink from than the metal ones they supply - might get broken but not if wrapped up in tea towels or something. If you have space in your luggage an old piece of light cloth is useful for either a tablecloth (sounds daft but nicer and more 'homely' than the metal top of the camping table) or to wrap round anything that's clanking around in the car.
And do you have a beer bread recipe? Very easy to do in a cast iron pot, many recipes online (but basically beer, self-raising flour, a little oil and salt - add cheese/onions for variation).
One of our staple dishes is a bean stew - admittedly towards the end of the trip when fresh stuff is running out. A couple of tins of mixed beans, tinned tomatoes (with onions in case you run out of fresh onions), with potatoes, squash and carrots and any other surviving vegetables plus curry powder. We make enough for 2 days (those tupperware containers come in useful again!)
We tend to base our menu on what facilities the campsite has to offer - if there's a good space to spread out with solid tables to prepare food and sufficient water to wash utensils easily we might do something more ambitious - if not then something like pasta and a pot of bought pasta sauce will do (the pasta sauce can also be useful to flavour a stew).
Hope that's useful and not stating the obvious too much! You'll have a great time!

[daj]

sorry, I didn't see this answer before replying!

@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!