Firewood & Braai Wood Expert FAQs
Welcome to the definitive guide from Cape Town's firewood experts. We cut through the confusion about Kameeldoring, Rooikrans, and Blue Gum to help you choose the best wood for your braai, kaggel, or pizza oven. Our 25 years of experience is here to answer your critical questions.
This FAQ empowers your purchase. We detail the best wood for braais, closed fireplaces, and pizza ovens. Learn about essential quality checks: moisture, seasoning, and bulk value with bakkie loads. Find complete details on our Cape Town delivery, payments, and quality guarantee here. If you have questions regarding large-scale industrial procurement or global supply chains, please refer to our International Firewood Export & Logistics Hub for comprehensive trade specifications.
Expert Answers: Choosing the Right Wood
Which wood is best for a traditional Cape Town braai? +
It depends on your style. For a long, social braai with unbeatable coals, Kameeldoring is the gold standard. However, Rooikrans is the local Cape Town favorite—it lights easily and makes hot coals quickly. If you want a smoky, aromatic flavour for your meat, choose Sekelbos.
What is the best wood for a closed-combustion fireplace (kaggel)? +
You need dense, dry hardwood to protect your glass and flue. Blue Gum is the best value choice—it burns incredibly hot and lasts for hours, making it perfect for efficient home heating. For a high-heat, low-ash option ideal for closed systems, choose our Kaggelhout mix.
Can I use Pine for my indoor fireplace? +
No, never as a main fuel. Pine contains high resin that causes creosote buildup in your chimney, which creates a serious fire hazard. However, dry Pine is excellent as Kindling to help get your fire started quickly, provided you switch to hardwood once the flames catch.
What is the difference between Blue Gum and Black Wattle? +
Think of Blue Gum as a marathon runner—it is denser, heavier, and burns slowly for long-lasting heat (ideal for fireplaces). Black Wattle is a sprinter—it lights faster and burns with a lively, hot flame, making it great for starting fires or shorter, intense burns.
Which wood works best for pizza ovens? +
You want a wood that produces a consistent, high-temperature flame to cook the toppings without smoking them out. Black Wattle is the top choice for pizza ovens because it provides that essential 'rolling flame.' Thinner pieces of Blue Gum are also excellent for maintaining high base heat.
💰 Pricing & Bulk Value
What is a "Bakkie Load" of wood? +
A 'bakkie load' refers to a bulk delivery of loose pieces, delivered directly rather than packed in bags. A long wheel base bakkie holds 1000 pieces (or 50 Bags/1-Ton), while a standard trailer holds slightly less around 800pcs to 1000pcs depending on the wood type (or 40 to 50 Bags/800KG to 1-Ton). It is the most cost-effective way to stock up on Blue Gum for the winter or pre-order braai wood like Rooikrans.
Is it cheaper to buy loose wood or bagged wood? +
Yes, Loose Wood is generally cheaper per piece because you aren't paying for the labour cost of bagging or the bags/packaging needed. However, Bagged Wood offers convenience for easier storage and handling if you have limited space.
How many pieces of wood is in a large bag? +
A standard large bag usually contains between 20-25 pieces, depending on the cut or wood type. Namibian Hardwood bags are however sold by weight for consistency—for example, our Kameeldoring bags are weighed to strictly 18kg (bulk loads per 20KG bag) to guarantee you get exactly what you pay for.
Why is Namibian hardwood more expensive than local wood? +
It comes down to logistics and quality. Namibian Hardwood (like Kameeldoring, Sekelbos and Mopani) is imported from arid regions, requiring long-distance transport and permits. Its superior density and ultra-low moisture content (<5%) mean it burns twice as long as local wood, justifying their premium price point.
Do you offer discounts for bulk orders? +
Yes. We offer tiered pricing where the cost per unit drops significantly when you order larger quantities (e.g., 20+ bags or a full load). Check our Firewood Specials page for current bulk deals and seasonal offers.
🔬 Technical Quality: Moisture & Seasoning
How do I know if my firewood is seasoned (dry)? +
The easiest test is the sound. When you bang two dry pieces together, they should make a sharp, hollow 'clack' sound. If they make a dull 'thud', the wood is wet. Also, look for radial cracks at the ends of the logs—this is a sign that our Namibian Hardwood has dried perfectly.
What is the ideal moisture content for firewood? +
Firewood performs best with a moisture content below 20%. Wood above this level wastes energy boiling off water and creates excessive smoke. Our premium imported Kameeldoring is sun-dried in the desert and often registers below 5%, making it the driest fuel available.
Why is my fire smoking so much? +
The most common cause is wet (unseasoned) wood. Instead of burning, the moisture turns into heavy white steam and smoke. Switching to a dense, dry wood like Sekelbos or seasoned Blue Gum usually solves this problem instantly. Also, check that your flue is open!
How should I store my firewood outdoors? +
The golden rule is airflow. Stack your wood off the ground (on pallets or bricks) to prevent rising damp from the soil. Cover the top to protect it from Cape Town rain, but leave the sides open so the wind can dry it. If you have limited outdoor space, Bagged Wood is often easier to manage.
What does "Green Wood" mean? +
'Green' wood is freshly cut timber that still holds its natural sap and moisture (often over 50%). It is not ready to burn and requires 6–12 months of seasoning. We prioritize selling fully seasoned or naturally dry woods like Mopani so you can burn it the day it arrives.
🚚 Delivery, Service & Policy
Where exactly do you deliver in Cape Town? +
We cover 124+ areas across the Cape Peninsula, from the Northern Suburbs and Southern Suburbs down to the Deep South, including parts of the Boland and Winelands. Check our delivery page to see whether we cover your area. FREE Delivery for orders of R1000 or more, in any area we list and cover. Un-bagging, Stacking and clean up service is complementary with all deliveries no matter the size.
How quickly can I get my wood delivered? +
Standard delivery is typically 3-5 business days depending on your area, order size or how busy we are at the time. We aim to process orders as quickly as possible, usually faster than this. For our most up-to-date firewood prices, please refer to our Firewood Collection.
Can I collect my order to save on delivery fees? +
Unfortunately not as yet, we hope to have this option in the near future. However, with offering FREE delivery and related services you do save on fuel and effort. To arrange a speedier delivery, please reach out via our Contact Us, via email or online chat and confirm possibilities.
What payment options do you accept? +
We accept multiple South African based payment methods including secure online payments for cards (Visa/Mastercard), EFT (Bank transfers) and various other Electronic solutions. You can see full options when you proceed to the secure checkout for any Bulk Order.
What if my wood arrives damaged or wet? +
We do our utmost to guarantee the quality and dryness of our product. If your order is damaged or does not meet the promised quality (e.g., moisture content is too high), we offer a full exchange or swap for an alternate selection. Our commitment is detailed on delivery page and in our Refund & Return Policy.
🤝 Company, Ethics & Sustainability
Why should I choose your company over a local garage/vendor? +
We are specialized experts focused only on premium, sustainably sourced firewood and braai wood. We make it our mission to guarantee every bag's weight and dryness, and we provide FREE Delivery and complimentary stacking, offering superior value and convenience that local vendors can't match.
Is your firewood ethically and sustainably sourced? +
Yes. We only source wood that is legally harvested from invasive species like Blue Gum and Rooikrans, or imported Namibian Hardwoods that are sustainably regulated.
Do you sell other products besides firewood? +
Yes, we sell essential braai and fireplace accessories, including firelighters, quality charcoal, kindling, and natural Fire Starters. You can find all extras in our Firewood Supplies collection.
Are you open during load-shedding (power outages)? +
Yes, we are fully operational during load-shedding and power outages. We are primarily an online delivery service, so you can place your order 24/7 on our website. Our delivery schedules are managed to ensure minimal disruption. You can check our Google Business listing page for current operating hours.
How long have you been operating in Cape Town? +
We have been serving the Cape Town area as a team for over 10 years with our team's combined experience topping 25 years. Our longevity is a testament to our quality control, reliable delivery service, and deep passion for providing the best burning experience for our customers. You can read our full story on the About Us page.