Best Wood for a Braai in the UK (2026 Complete Guide)

If you are searching for the best wood for a braai in the UK, look no further!

What makes a great braai wood for BBQing the Southern African way? A South African braai is much more than a meal, much more than just cooking food! This isn’t just a way to grill meat, it is a national ritual, cooking on open flame for an authentic grilling experience!

What makes great braai wood?

For an authentic braai, you need:

1. High density: Extremely dense hardwood creates long-lasting coals.

2. Long burn time: A very slow burning wood that creates hot coals, so you can cook and grill for hours!

3. High heat Output: Hardwood that gives off intense heat. High quality dry wood produces lots of heat. This burns hotter, making it perfect for grilling your food

4. Low moisture content: Our wood is Ready to Burn certified. It means the wood has a moisture content of 20% or less. It burns more efficiently, producing more heat and less smoke. Baked in the African sun, our Kameeldoring hardwood has a very low moisture content, between 0 to 1% moisture.

Let’s Braai Namibian hardwood vs UK firewood

Most UK firewood is grown for fireplaces – not for braais and outdoor cooking.

Hardwood from Namibia and South Africa is naturally denser due to the arid climate, producing wood that:

✔ Burns hotter
✔ Produces long lasting coals
✔ Lasts significantly longer
✔ Produces less smoke

👉 Looking for premium Namibian hardwood in the UK? Shop our LET’S BRAAI range.

Why Braai Culture Demands Better Wood

A braai isn’t just a ‘barbecue’. It is all about the experience, the smells, aromas, ambiance. A braai is much more than just cooking food, it is all about the atmosphere, the taste, the experience, and the people that you share it and spend time with!

In South Africa, braais are social events centred around cooking slowly over coals. The wood is the foundation of the experience.

We believe a braai start by making the perfect fire! A major difference between a braai and a BBQ is the fire! A braai, traditionally, uses wood as fuel. Wood brings out the best flavours in the meat. And different varieties of wood produce different flavours. When using wood, the air is full of wonderful aromas that create a great ambience. The coals will remain lit for the duration of the braai, even after the food has been cooked. Guests will then gather around the fire and enjoy atmosphere. Check our blog on ‘The Ultimate Guide to braai’.

Unlike standard UK BBQs:

• You cook over embers
• Heat must remain consistent
• The wood flavour enhances the meat

Braai wood – Bring on the flavour!

We know that the right wood can take your BBQ to the next level. Our high-quality braai wood is sustainably sourced and Ready to Burn certified. At LET’S BRAAI, we offer:

• Kameeldoring: Our top-sellers! It produces high-heat coals ready to braai within an hour. Additionally, Kameeldoring (Camelthorn) a great option for beginners trying their hand at a South African barbecue for the first time. Kameeldoring hardwood produces a very small amount of smoke and gives off a beautiful natural aromatic fragrance. Kameeldoring is a very slow burning wood. You will be able to cook and grill for hours. Ideal for long slow roasts and stews on a BBQ!
• Sekelbos: For beginners, Sekelbos is a very hard wood that burns hot and produces a lot of heat. Our Sekelbos (Sicklebush) is extremely dense = long burning time! Its natural and unique oils are well known to enhance the flavour of the meat. Great for cooking steak at a high temperature and get that delicious wood-fire flavour!
• Mopane: Another very popular Southern African braai wood! Reddish in colour, Mopane African hardwood is one of Southern Africa’s heaviest wood. Very dry and dense, Mopane makes extremely hot coals and stay hot for a very long time. Mopane will enhance the flavour of the food, a beautiful cooking wood.
• Rooikrans: It is by far the most popular braai wood available in the Western Cape region of South Africa. Rooikrans produces coals in around 40 minutes. Rooikrans firewood adds a lovely smoky flavour to the meat.

🔥  Kameldoring – long-lasting coals
🔥  Mopane – intense heat
🔥  Sekelbos – classic braai flavour
🔥  Rooikrans – quick, hot fires with steady heat

Our braai wood will enhance your entire outdoor cooking experience, creating the perfect aroma and atmosphere for your get together.

How to Store Braai Wood in the UK

• Hardwood is best stored outside in a dry, elevated and well-ventilation area
• Cover the top to protect from the elements but let the logs breathe
• Stack your logs loosely for good airflow
• Rotate your stock

Protect your wood from the elements – Keep it Dry

You will need to protect your wood from harsh weather conditions.  We recommend you invest in a good wood cover and place it over the top of your woodpile that will protect it from the rain, etc. when needed. A quality tarp or waterproof sheet is a good solution but leave the sides open for good airflow.

Keep your wood off the ground, elevated and well-ventilated

Wood should always be stored off the ground to allow for proper ventilation. A great option is to store your wood on a wooden pallet, a wood rack or a raised log store. Storing your wood off the ground will also prevent pests or ground moisture from entering/seeping in.

Don’t tightly stack your logs together, allowing airflow throughout. Stack your wood loosely but in an organised pile. You want gaps between the logs to keep air moving through the pile.

Rotate your wood like a braai master 

Keep your newest wood at the bottom of the pile and your oldest wood at the top. And make sure to use older logs first and keep newer deliveries to the back or bottom so everything gets its turn.

Moisture content of 20% or less 

Ensure the hardwood you use for your braai has a moisture content of 20% or less for a clean and efficient burn. High moisture levels (over 20%) causing it not to burn as efficiently as desired. You can use a moisture meter to check the moisture level of your logs.

You can find more tips in our blog ‘How to store your braaiwood and firewood the LET’S BRAAI guide’

Why choose LET’S BRAAI wood?

We know that the right wood can take your barbecue to the next level. Our wood will enhance your entire outdoor cooking experience, creating the perfect aroma and atmosphere. At LET’S BRAAI, we supply:

✔ Premium Namibian hardwood 👉 Browse our premium braai wood here!

✔ Wood that is sustainably sourced and Ready to Burn Certified

✔ Bulk options with our mixed pallet deals

✔ Top quality braais (freestanding, mobile and camping braai)

✔ Braai accessories & equipment so you can have the right tool

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best wood for braai in the UK?

Dense hardwood such as Namibian hardwood is ideal due to long burn time, high heat and long-lasting coals.

Is LET’S BRAAI Namibian hardwood better than oak?

Yes — it burns hotter and produces longer-lasting coals.

Can you use charcoal for a braai?

Charcoal can be used, but traditional braai cooking relies on hardwood coals. At LET’S BRAAI, we sell Restaurant-grade Namibian lumpwood charcoal

How dry should braai wood be?

Under 20% moisture content for optimal heat. LET’S BRAAI wood is Ready to Burn certified. It means the wood has a moisture content of 20% or less. It burns more efficiently, producing more heat and less smoke. Baked in the African sun, our Kameeldoring hardwood has a very low moisture content, between 0 to 1% moisture.

👉 Looking for premium Namibian hardwood in the UK? Shop nowhere else, at LET’S BRAAI, we’ve got you covered 😉