Join me on the incredible Braai4Heritage tour with Jan Braai

Running through the tunnel at Ellis Park, holding a fire extinguisher in one hand and a heavy-duty rubber mat in the other, I couldn’t help but wonder if these things were actually fire-proof. But there was no time for doubts. If our braai turned into a disaster and the mats burned up, I didn’t want to be the one explaining the massive scorch mark to the already-stressed grounds manager. He had enough on his plate, with a Super 15 rugby match about to go live worldwide. It had taken a lot of negotiation to secure our one-hour window, so there was no room for error.

Wow, this was no ordinary BBQ. It was like we were preparing for battle. We only had one chance to get it right and make a big statement. Our mission? To have a BBQ exactly where Joel Stransky scored that winning drop-kick in the 1995 World Cup final. But if we damaged this guy’s pristine lawn, we knew there would be serious consequences.

We were all geared up, dressed in our Springbok rugby uniforms, and running around with our portable grills, charcoal (wood was a no-go), cameras, and rubber mats. We must have looked pretty intimidating. Adding to the chaos, none of us knew exactly where the famous drop-kick had taken place. We were frantic, searching YouTube on our laptops and phones for a video that could guide us. Eventually, we settled on a spot, put down our mats, and fired up the grill. I can only imagine the growing panic on the sidelines as Jan attempted to recreate Stransky’s kick for the cameras. He tried and failed countless times, with the sizzling boerewors adding to the pressure. (I lost count after his 10th attempt, but he eventually got it right, although not quite over the bar).

A short 60 minutes later, it was all done. Not one stray piece of coal (we never figured out if those mats actually did the trick), and the first-ever Braai4Heritage Tour of South Africa had proven to be a smashing success. We were already three weeks into our grand journey across the country, and while we may have been a bit worn out and maybe even a little headachy from a lack of vitamin C, things were going exactly as planned. We were barbecuing, exploring, and barbecuing some more. Life really couldn’t get much better than that.

But let me start from the beginning. Maybe you haven’t heard about the Braai4Heritage Tour or about Jan Scannell, also known as Jan Braai, the man behind National Braai Day. It’s been six years since Jan started his mission to bring all 50 million South Africans together for a braai on 24 September. Although his dream has gained momentum, achieving his ultimate goal is a massive task that won’t happen overnight.

“The Irish have St Patrick’s Day, and the Americans have the Fourth of July – even the Aussies have Australia Day. But in our country, despite all the public holidays, we don’t have a single day that truly unifies us as South Africans,” Jan explained during our first meeting to discuss the tour.

“The Braai4Heritage Tour is going to take me all over South Africa,” he said excitedly. “We’re going to explore some of the most incredible heritage sites this country has to offer and have an epic braai with the local people. I believe that the braai is deeply connected to our heritage, and I hope that one day National Braai Day will become an official holiday in South Africa.”

I couldn’t help but get excited when I heard we would be traveling 10,000 kilometers across South Africa in just 40 days. We would be visiting 40 of the most important heritage sites in the country, including all eight Unesco World Heritage Sites. And to top it all off, there would be a braai every single day. I was practically drooling at the thought of all the delicious braaivleis we would be enjoying.

I embarked on a memorable journey that started in Cape Town and took me through various picturesque locations in South Africa. Along the way, I met hospitable hosts and indulged in delicious food. From Kleinzee and Port Nolloth, we made our way through the Richtersveld, enjoying lamb and steak braais by the banks of the Orange River in Augrabies and Upington. As we drove, cities like Kimberley, Bloemfontein, and even the iconic Vredefort Dome faded away, leaving behind the scent of smoky braais.

We continued our adventure, venturing into Soweto and Pretoria before heading south to Mapunguwe. The drive took us through the dry Lowveld and up the lush green slopes of Graskop and Pilgrim’s Rest. We then made a stop at Pretoriuskop, the oldest rest camp in the Kruger National Park. Our exploration continued with visits to Sterkfontein and Swartkrans caves before finally reaching our destination at Ellis Park, armed with fire extinguishers and rubber mats, on a memorable Saturday morning.

Throughout our journey, we cherished the art of braaiing. Sometimes, we indulged in this tradition once a day, sometimes twice, and on one extraordinary occasion, even three times. The tantalizing aroma of braais accompanied us on every step of our South African adventure.

I have a few secrets when it comes to braaing, but this adventure wasn’t about showing off my grilling skills (luckily, because I forgot to bring my tongs). It wasn’t just about proclaiming that all South Africans love to braai; it was about experiencing it firsthand.

And let me tell you, I experienced it. I can confidently say that South Africa is a nation of braaiers. Whether it’s kabeljou on the West Coast, kudu fillet in the Northern Cape, lamb potjies in the Soutpansberg, or tshisa nyama in Soweto, everywhere we went, we were surrounded by braais and joyful braaiers. Standing around the fire, chatting, and watching the meat (or even vegetables – yes, you can braai veggies too), it’s nearly impossible not to have a great time.

After our adventure at Ellis Park on day 21, we headed back to the coast. We drove through Vereeniging and Sharpeville to reach Spioenkop, then Nongoma, which is the spiritual and royal capital of the Zulu people. Our next destination was St Lucia, where we had an unforgettable night grilling succulent prawns basted with ginger and lemon. We laughed late into the night, knowing we would have a rough start the next morning with bleary eyes.

In Durban, we indulged in some curry, went surfing, and rounded it off with a barbecue at the Shark Tank with the Sharks Rugby team. On Sani Pass, we had a braai at the highest pub in Africa and hiked into the foothills of the Drakensberg to witness the world-famous San rock art. Our journey then took us to Qunu, the birthplace of Nelson Mandela, and Graaff-Reinet, which was voted South African town of the year in 2010. Finally, we reached Knysna, where I saw more oysters than I could ever imagine.

Each of these destinations was carefully chosen by Jan for its heritage and the promise it holds for our country’s future. He repeatedly emphasized that National Braai Day is about heritage that moves forward. Heritage is a living, evolving entity. It has a past, but it also has a present and a future. It’s not merely a cautious journey through the challenging history we have left behind. To Jan, places like Kimberley’s Big Hole and Grahamstown, where many of South Africa’s great journalists started and will start their careers, are also heritage sites. The Vredefort Dome, the oldest and largest meteorite impact site on Earth, is another example. Our country is filled with so many heritage sites that we could have continued our journey indefinitely. However, by the time we reached Cape Agulhas, the southernmost tip of Africa, we were exhausted. Were we tired of braaing? Surprisingly not, but after 38 days on the road, there was one thing that kept us going: our final braai on Robben Island.

When my friends and I organized a braai at Ellis Park, we believed it would be an almost impossible task. However, the real challenge came when we attempted to obtain permission to have a fire on Robben Island, the eighth and final World Heritage Site on our tour. Dealing with the bureaucracy was an enormous hurdle. To be honest, going into the details would lead to potential legal issues. Nevertheless, as we reached the Waterfront in Cape Town, the situation still looked uncertain. The ferries were on strike, and there was a massive swell along the coastline. Even Jan’s well-thought-out plans seemed doomed to fail.

But then, I started to realize that nothing can stand in Mr. Braai’s way when he sets his mind to something. It wasn’t a miracle, but the ferry eventually set sail. We arrived at Robben Island, carrying bags of wood and a cooler box filled with steaks and bubbly. The sight of the island brought big smiles to our faces.

Not many people can say they’ve braaied at all eight South African World Heritage Sites. Even though it wasn’t a record-breaking achievement, it felt amazing to be part of something so grand and visionary. As Jan placed steaks on the grill and we celebrated the end of our tour, I couldn’t shake the feeling that this was just the beginning.

On that bright, sunny morning, Jan spoke to the cameras and said, “What we do today will shape our future heritage. One day, when all of South Africa, including our grandchildren and their families, gather to braai on the same day every year, they will look back at what we did as an essential part of their heritage.” His words resonated with me. Although Jan can’t kick a rugby ball to save his life, his enthusiasm for bringing South Africans together through shared activities is truly inspiring. The forty-six braais in forty days haven’t dampened my love for this South African tradition, and like Jan, I’ll be lighting a fire this National Braai Day. And the best part? No alarm clock needed for the next morning.