How to Get Ready for Heritage Day in South Africa

Heritage Day, or as many call it, National Braai Day, is on 24 September. You know what that means: fires, meat, and most importantly… tongs!

Few days carry as much significance in South African culture as Heritage Day. With so many cultures making up our nation, there’s a lot to celebrate. And no matter where you come from, one thing most South Africans share is our love for fire and cooking over an open flame.

Whether you call it a braai, shisa nyama, or something else entirely, it doesn’t matter. At the end of the day, we all stand around the fire, smiling, laughing, and smelling like smoke.

That’s why we’ve put together the ultimate Heritage Day prep guide, packed with tips for stocking up, choosing the best braai wood, gathering your tools, and making sure the meat and sides are ready for the biggest braai day of the year.

And this year, we’re taking it one step further. To celebrate National Braai Month, we’ve launched our “Pass the Tongs” social media challenge. Here’s how it works: you light a fire, show us what you’re braaiing, nominate someone else to braai, and then “pass the tongs” on to them. It’s about keeping the fire going and celebrating together as South Africans. So get ready to tag your friends, show off your chops (literally), and keep the flames alive all month long. For more info, check out our social media accounts.

Step 1: Start Prepping Early for Heritage Day South Africa

National Braai Day might only be on 24 September, but don’t wait until the last minute to start prepping. The biggest braai day in the world needs planning.

So, first up, braai wood. Get yours early, because with so many fires going, you don’t want to run out or end up with bad quality wood. Choose a quality hardwood that produces excellent coals so that you can braai for hours. If oom Frikkie pitches up with his 51 sosaties again, you need to be ready. The last thing you want is to send your kids or spouse scrambling for charcoal… or worse, switch to gas (shudders).

Head to Namibian Hardwood now and stock up. Trust us. Don’t let Oom Frikkie and the sosaties catch you unprepared.

Best Braai Wood for Heritage Day

If you’re wondering what braai wood will see you through a long, flavour-packed Heritage Day braai, these are our top choices:

Kameeldoring Wood

Grown in the arid regions of South Africa and Namibia, Kameeldoring is not only a premium hardwood but also one of the best braai woods. Naturally aged and dried, it’s a favourite for consistent, high-heat fires.

Benefits:

• Burns slowly and produces intense heat

• Minimal smoke, which enhances flavour without overpowering

• Ideal for long evening braais
  

Pro tip: Make sure you’re getting genuine Kameeldoring. Look for dense, very dry pieces.

Sekelbos Wood

Another favourite for South African braai wood is Sekelbos. It burns hot and long while giving your meat a unique, smoky taste.

Benefits:

• Burns hot and long with minimal smoke

• Infuses meat with a rich, smoky aroma

Pro tip: Look for wood with a yellowish hue and no signs of moisture.

Step 2: Get the Right Braai Tools

You can’t master the flames without the right tools, unless you plan on using your bare hands (which we, and your doctor, strongly advise against). 

Here are the Donkey Long Tong fire tools that you absolutely cannot go without this Heritage Day: 

• Donkey Long Tong 80cm - Keeps you far enough from the flames while giving you control over the wood and coals. No more singed arm hair.

• Donkey Tong 69cm - Designed for food handling with a spatula-shaped head for flipping, turning, and basting meat without tearing it.

• The Blower - Direct air exactly where you need it to get your fire roaring.

• The Paddle - For bigger bursts of air when your fire needs a fast revival. Much cooler than waving a pizza box.

• The Jack Sack - A genuine leather bag for all your Donkey fire tools. Pull up with one of these and you instantly become the unofficial Braai Master. Add custom heat-pressed branding for bragging rights.
  

Step 3: Choose the Best Meat for Braai Day in South Africa

You can’t have Heritage Day without good meat. Whether you’re providing meat for everyone or doing a “bring and braai,” quality matters.

To help you avoid those awkward movements where your cousin’s meat looks better, we’ve put together a list of places that you can grab your Donkey Long Tong fire tools and the best meat for your braai below:

• Frankie Fenner Meat Merchants - Cape Town

• The Grounds Meat & Deli - Bellville

• Impala Vleis - Pretoria

• Noag's Market - Gauteng

• Karoo Lusern Slaghuis - Oudtshoorn

Step 4: Snacks, Sides & Dessert for Heritage Day

While the meat is the star, snacks, sides, and salads (and no, we don’t just mean chicken), help to keep everyone happy from start to finish. Here are some of our favourites to add to your Heritage Day Braai.

Snacks:

• Peanuts

• Pretzels

• Biltong (Obviously)

• Droëwors (Also Pretty Obvious)

These snacks will keep the energy going while the coals get ready. 

Braai sides:

• Potato salad

• Green salad

• Mielies

• Coleslaw

• Braaibroodjies

These popular Braai sides are a must-have this Heritage Day. After all, South African braais aren’t complete without at least one of them. 

Traditional South African Desserts:

• Malva pudding

• Peppermint Crisp tart

• Milk tart

Pro tip: Serve dessert near the fire. Just because the meat’s done doesn’t mean the flames should be. Keep the stories and flames going!

Step 5: Invite Your People

Heritage Day in South Africa is a public holiday, so invite everyone - friends, family, neighbours, and yes, even that uncle who always tells the same story. At the end of the day, Heritage Day is about connection.

We may speak different languages, eat different foods, and have different traditions, but on Heritage Day in South Africa, we all share one thing: the fire

Pictured above: Jan Braai & Donkey Long Tong Co-Founder Marcel Hattingh

Final Word

There you have it, everything you need to get ready for National Braai Day. Wood, tools, meat, sides, dessert, and most importantly, people. Few days mean as much to us as South Africans as this one. So stock up, fire up, and get ready to laugh, eat, and share stories.

And don’t forget to join in on our “Pass the Tongs” challenge. The perfect way to spread the joy of braai far and wide this Heritage Month.

Because no matter who you are, where you come from, or what you put on the braai, on 24 September we all end the same way. Standing around the fire, swapping stories, and smelling like smoke. And honestly, we wouldn’t have it any other way.

#PassTheTongs