Safari Chef Grill

[cactusjk]

Looking for recommendations/feedback on the Safari Chef.

 

[mmccurdy]

I've had one for about a year. The form factor is really great -- very flexible and stows very easily. I mostly use the basic grill surface, but I've also used the other surfaces occasionally as well.

The burner unit was very noisy, and the regulator made it almost impossible to control the flame anywhere below full blast. I picked up a single-burner Coleman stove on eBay for about $12 and fitted the regulator and burner to the bottom. There was some cutting and grinding involved, but in the end it was a bolt on application :sombrero:

With the coleman kit, it's a great stove. Can't really recommend it without that mod.

 

[cactusjk]

Thanks for the feedback. I was not aware of the regulator problems. I wonder if any changes have been made over the past year?

I've had one for about a year. The form factor is really great -- very flexible and stows very easily. I mostly use the basic grill surface, but I've also used the other surfaces occasionally as well.

The burner unit was very noisy, and the regulator made it almost impossible to control the flame anywhere below full blast. I picked up a single-burner Coleman stove on eBay for about $12 and fitted the regulator and burner to the bottom. There was some cutting and grinding involved, but in the end it was a bolt on application :sombrero:

With the coleman kit, it's a great stove. Can't really recommend it without that mod.

 

[mmccurdy]

Thanks for the feedback. I was not aware of the regulator problems. I wonder if any changes have been made over the past year?

Not sure, I did notice they started carrying it at REI, and usually they don't carry products that are total crap.... I got mine at Camping World (in Tucson actually)

You could always pick one up and return it if you don't like it or don't want to make the mod. It's probably worth checking out, since it is a nice and compact yet functional grill.

 

[cactusjk]

Thanks. I'll give it a try. I do like the form factor. I am surprised more people on this forum have not tried them.

 

[lostworldexpedition]

Please write a review if and when you buy the Safari Grill. They look like they are well designed and very versatile, but the construction seems slightly on the shoddy side.

I am curious if anyone here in ExPo knows the PSI of propane tanks in South Africa. I have been using a South African Kariba on demand water heater, without a regulator it can get metal red hot in no time... I had to mod the stove with an adjustable regulator just like mmccurdy did to his Safari Grill.

 

[cactusjk]

You would think with REI selling these now we would have more feedback.

Please write a review if and when you buy the Safari Grill. They look like they are well designed and very versatile, but the construction seems slightly on the shoddy side.

I am curious if anyone here in ExPo knows the PSI of propane tanks in South Africa. I have been using a South African Kariba on demand water heater, without a regulator it can get metal red hot in no time... I had to mod the stove with an adjustable regulator just like mmccurdy did to his Safari Grill.

 

[Corey]

That is a cool looking setup.
http://www.safarichefgrill.com/safari_chef_grills.html

I would not mind having one for home to cook breakfast outside on the deck on weekends, and barbecue for dinner.

 

[targa88]

Interesting concept of the interchangeable cooking surfaces. Somewhat similar to the Cobb BBQ that I use.
I don't like the idea of having to carry a variety of flammable sources (in this case 1lb propane cylinder) - whereas the Cobb relies on briquets.
Question of preference I suppose

 

[lostworldexpedition]

cactusjk, hope you do not mind I started another thread to help narrow down my search for a portable BBQ...

 

[Martyn]

Please write a review if and when you buy the Safari Grill. They look like they are well designed and very versatile, but the construction seems slightly on the shoddy side.

I am curious if anyone here in ExPo knows the PSI of propane tanks in South Africa. I have been using a South African Kariba on demand water heater, without a regulator it can get metal red hot in no time... I had to mod the stove with an adjustable regulator just like mmccurdy did to his Safari Grill.

I have a propane fridge I brought back from South Africa when we returned to the US. I just fitted a standard regulator and it worked fine.

 

[mmccurdy]

Just noticed from some of the pics in the other thread that Cadac have definitely changed the design of the knob at least since I bought mine.... seems like it may be even more worth a shot if they've improved some of the internals as well. Mine originally had a blue/gray knob and no bezel, similar to the pic in Corey's post above, but the (more current?) pics in the other thread show a different design:

Old one (mine):

New one:

 

[cactusjk]

My first REI grill had the original knob but was damaged so REI just sent me a new one that has the new knob!!

Just noticed from some of the pics in the other thread that Cadac have definitely changed the design of the knob at least since I bought mine.... seems like it may be even more worth a shot if they've improved some of the internals as well. Mine originally had a blue/gray knob and no bezel, similar to the pic in Corey's post above, but the (more current?) pics in the other thread show a different design:

Old one (mine):

New one: