Karoo Kettle meerkat mark Karoo Kettle Order
The Karoo Kettle on its fire pot in coastal fynbos

Boil and cook anywhere,No gas. No batteries

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Heats up to 1.25L of water in under 5 minutes using only dry grass, twigs, and any flammable bio mass material, in any weather conditions.

The Karoo Kettle with burnt orange leather handle standing on its fire pot, whistle cap on, photographed on white

How it works

Water surrounds an internal fire chamber completely capturing nearly all generated thermal energy instead of losing it into the air.

Cutaway diagram of the Karoo Kettle on its fire pot: the blue water jacket surrounds the central chimney and orange arrows carry heat up from the fire below

The Karoo Kettle is a locally made, modernized & improved version of an old Irish design, which comprises of a hand spun aluminium double walled vessel, placed on a round fitted fire pot, with a hollow central fire core chamber, surrounded by a water jacket, allowing hot air to draw upward, feeding oxygen to the fire and letting it escape outwards, heating the surrounding water, thereby creating greater thermal efficiency, as opposed to a conventional kettle which heats a large body of water from the bottom only.

The Karoo Kettle comes with a fire pot that accommodates flammable materials & can also be used as a small stove to cook on. After use this fits neatly into the body of the kettle for transportation.

The 3 way, collapsible pot stand can be fitted on top of the chimney whilst boiling water, or for a longer cook, placed directly onto the fire pot, or inverted under the fire base for heat sensitive areas.

The kettle can also be placed directly onto a gas stove for indoor use.

The sturdy folded handles are covered in genuine leather, hand crafted by a local leather smith.

The spout has a whistle cap letting you know when the water has boiled and can easily be pulled off by the toggle.

The Karoo Kettle cut in half with its parts labelled: the chimney, the water jacket around the fire core chamber, and the fire pot below Chimney Water jacket Fire core chamber Fire pot
The kettle cut in half: the fire core chamber inside the water jacket.

Key features

  • 1.25L of water making 5 standard cups
  • Boils water in under 5 minutes when full
  • 3 way pot stand for cooking
  • Fire pot that can also be used as a small stove
  • Whistle with leather toggle
  • Integrated fire base
  • Uses twigs, brush, pine cones, and most natural flammable materials
  • Works in all weather conditions
  • Can also be placed on a gas hob
  • Carry bag for easy transportation and storage
The whistle cap and its leather toggle on the kettle spout
Whistle cap
The stitched genuine leather covering on the kettle handle
Leather handles
The 3 way pot stand fitted on top of the chimney
Pot stand
The fire pot on its own: an open aluminium bowl with a round stoking port in its side
Fire pot
The black canvas carry bag with its drawstring and leather Karoo Kettle patch
Carry bag

Kettle uses

The Karoo Kettle on its fire pot on coastal fynbos sand, whistle cap off, beside a carved wooden cup of coffee The Karoo Kettle steaming on its fire pot among the flames of a stone-ringed riverbank campfire at dusk The Karoo Kettle steaming on its fire pot on rocks above the surf, beside an open tackle box, a stoneware mug and a fishing rod The Karoo Kettle steaming on bare ground beside a riverside picnic blanket, wicker basket and a bowl of naartjies The Karoo Kettle boiling on the tailgate of a dusty 4x4 in the arid Karoo, two enamel mugs beside it The Karoo Kettle among camp chairs and gear at a festival campsite The Karoo Kettle on a kitchen gas hob by candlelight during load shedding
  • General outdoor trips
  • Camping
  • Fishing
  • Picnics
  • 4x4 adventures
  • Festivals
  • Load shedding
  • Disaster relief
  • Military
A pot of mussels cooking on the Karoo Kettle fire pot on the beach
This is real footage of the fire pot cooking a pot of mussels on the beach.
The 3 way pot stand: fitted on top of the chimney, placed onto the fire pot, or inverted under the fire base.

Hand crafted in South Africa

The sturdy folded handles are covered in genuine leather, hand crafted by a local leather smith.

A craftsman in ear defenders leaning into a metal spinning lathe, forming the aluminium kettle body against the roller
A leather smith's hands cutting a piece of burnt orange leather on a workshop bench

Specifications

The kit on the studio table: kettle, fire pot, 3 way pot stand and whistle cap
Kettle, fire pot, pot stand, whistle cap.

Water and fire

Capacity
1.25L, making 5 standard cups
Boil time
Under 5 minutes when full
Fuel
Twigs, brush, pine cones, and most natural flammable materials
Weather
Works in all weather conditions

Build

Height
32cm
Width
18cm
Weight
1kg, or 1.2kg packed with all accessories
Body
Hand spun aluminium, double walled
Handles
Genuine leather, hand crafted by a local leather smith
Whistle
Whistle cap with leather toggle
Fire base
Integrated
Pot stand
3 way, collapsible

Practical

Indoor use
Can be placed on a gas hob
Transport
Carry bag included
Made in
South Africa
Price
R2,550, including the kettle, whistle cap, fire pot, 3 way pot stand and canvas carry bag
Delivery
Free in South Africa, only if ordered directly through our website
Warranty
3 year warranty

The range

Two leathers, brown or burnt orange, and a limited edition matte black kettle.

  • The Karoo Kettle with brown leather handle and toggle on its fire pot, cut out
    Brown leather
  • The Karoo Kettle with burnt orange leather handle and toggle on its fire pot, cut out
    Burnt orange leather
  • The matte black Karoo Kettle on its fire pot, the meerkat mark in white on the body, cut out
    Matte blackLimited edition

Why we made it

This clever design has been used since the turn of the century by Irish fishermen, outdoors men and hunters.

In WW2 it was also used by the military and is the fastest way to heat water using minimal flammable fuel materials like sticks, grass etc in any weather conditions and also in fire sensitive locations.

In this fast paced modern world, this " old school " technology cannot be rivalled in its ability to boil water in the shortest possible time, using minimal flammable materials.

Our design has included more user friendly features like folding, collapsible handles wrapped in leather, larger water spout for easier filling, a looped leather toggle for ease of pulling off the whistle cap, and a wider base for extra stability.

The tribal meerkat mark of the Karoo Kettle

The Sentinel

We have used the Meerkat as our logo, a tuff, social creature living and thriving in South Africa's harsh, arid, karoo. The Meerkat forms tight, social bonds, much like the friendships formed over a camp fire and a cup of coffee, where stories are told and experiences swopped.

Order

Orders go through this form. We answer every enquiry ourselves, by email or WhatsApp.

Price
R2,550
Includes
Kettle, whistle cap, fire pot, 3 way pot stand and canvas carry bag
Delivery
Free in South Africa, only if ordered directly through our website
Phone / WhatsApp
082 774 1995, also on WhatsApp