Only 'braaivleis', or soup and pancakes, on a camping holiday?

Few debates around a South African campsite fire are as spirited, or as revealing, as the question of what should actually be on the menu. For some, camping without braaivleis is practically unthinkable.

The hiss of boerewors, the glow of coals, and the ritual of standing around a fire with tongs in hand feel inseparable from the outdoor experience.

Yet winter camping, particularly when temperatures drop sharply in the Drakensberg, Karoo or highveld, often introduces a compelling alternative: soup pots, pancake pans and steaming comfort food.

So must campers choose between fire-charred tradition and cold-weather practicality?

Braaivleis carries cultural gravity in South Africa. Whether at Addo Elephant National Park, a Bushveld caravan site near Bela-Bela, or a windswept West Coast campsite, the braai is often less about food alone and more about ritual. It creates rhythm at day’s end, drawing people together beneath jackets and blankets as woodsmoke drifts into dusk.

Winter, however, can challenge even the most devoted braai enthusiast. Freezing fingers, icy wind and sub-zero mornings may make slow grilling feel less romantic than imagined.

This is where soup enters the campsite with surprising authority. Thick tomato soup, butternut blends, bean stews or smoky potjies bubbling over gas burners or coals offer efficient warmth and nourishment.

Pancakes, too, have become an understated winter camping hero. Whether sweet with cinnamon sugar or savoury with mince and cheese, they are quick, comforting and adaptable. In many South African campsites, particularly family-oriented ones, pancake-making can become its own cherished ritual.

The smartest campers often avoid choosing sides altogether. Braaivleis may own the evening, while soup handles lunch, and pancakes soften icy mornings. Regional flair adds further pleasure. Roosterkoek in the Karoo, seafood chowder along the Garden Route, or vetkoek beside inland dams can all enrich the seasonal menu.

Practicality matters. Firewood quality, weather forecasts, and cooking equipment shape outcomes more than culinary ideals. A campsite kitchen built solely around braai plans may feel limiting during relentless cold snaps.

Camping food, at its best, reflects place, season and company. Winter in Southern Africa may not dethrone braaivleis, but it certainly makes room for a wider variety. Perhaps the real answer is this: on a winter camping holiday, there should absolutely be braaivleis, but never only braaivleis.