If you love overlanding, car camping, or cooking outdoors, you probably know the value of a reliable grill…
A good outdoor cooking setup can turn a basic trip into a five-star wilderness feast. And in my experience, the Tembo Tusk Skottle is exactly that—a five-star kitchen in a rugged, compact, and impressively versatile package. After four years of cooking everything from hearty breakfasts to fresh-caught fish dinners, I can confidently say the Tembo Tusk Skottle is an absolutely awesome grill.
Whether dodging gusty winds in the Alabama Hills or cooking under a star-filled sky in the Arizona high desert, this grill performs like a champ. In this in-depth Tembo Tusk Skottle review, I’ll share the grill’s features, my personal experiences using it, and why I think it deserves a spot in your overlanding kit!
Table of Contents
- Tembo Tusk Skottle Grill Features and Build Quality
- Real-World Cooking Performance of the Tembo Tusk Skottle
- Ease of Use and Cleanup: The Skottle Couldn’t Be Easier<
- Accessories That Expand the Tembo Tusk Skottle’s Capabilities
- Portability and Storage: This is a Go-Anywhere Grill
- Final Thoughts: Is the Tembo Tusk Skottle Worth It?
Tembo Tusk Skottle Grill Features and Build Quality
The Tembo Tusk Skottle is modeled after the traditional South African “disco”—a disc-style plow cooking surface. But it’s been thoroughly modernized for today’s adventurers…
The grill is built around an 18-inch pre-seasoned carbon steel cooking surface that functions similarly to a cast iron skillet. This pre-seasoning means it’s ready to go out of the box, with natural non-stick properties that improve the more you use it. I’ve re-seasoned mine a few times to boost performance, and now it cooks like a dream.
The Tembo Tusk Skottle includes a Kovea 10,000 BTU burner that offers excellent flame control. While the high setting is perfect for heating things up quickly, I’ve found that low to medium heat is best for actual cooking. The burner’s wind resistance is a major plus—it’s kept a steady flame in some extremely windy environments, including both the Alabama Hills and Arizona.
Tembo Tusk has numerous kits, but I went with the Ultimate Kit. More on what that means in a bit.
Real-World Cooking Performance of the Tembo Tusk Skottle
What really sets the Tembo Tusk Skottle apart is its performance in the field. Whether it’s breakfast, lunch, or dinner, this grill delivers. I’m a big breakfast guy, and I’ve cooked countless rounds of eggs, bacon, and hash browns on mine. The heat distribution is excellent, so I can crisp my bacon on one side while gently scrambling eggs on the other.
For lunch, I’ve grilled hot dogs, burgers, quesadillas, and even stir-fry. It’s incredibly versatile and gives you a full 18-inch canvas to work with. And when dinnertime rolls around, I’ve seared steaks, cooked freshly caught fish, and sautéed vegetables without a hitch. The Tembo Tusk Skottle is like an all-in-one outdoor stovetop that brings restaurant-quality cooking to the campsite.
Even in tough conditions—like sub-freezing temps or gusty winds—the Skottle delivers consistent, even heat. One of the most impressive parts of my experience has been how the burner never falters in windy environments. On my first trip using it in California, the winds were so bad I thought cooking was out of the question, but the Tembo Tusk Skottle didn’t miss a beat.
Ease of Use and Cleanup: The Skottle Couldn’t Be Easier
Setting up the Tembo Tusk Skottle is refreshingly easy. You just insert the legs, attach the burner, and hook it up to a propane canister. It takes maybe 30 seconds. Packing it up is just as quick—detach the burner, fold the legs, and it all slips into a carry bag. That level of convenience is priceless when you’re breaking camp or setting up after a long day of driving.
Cooking on the Skottle is intuitive and beginner-friendly. You control the heat with a dial, and the grill reacts quickly to changes in flame. You don’t have to be a chef to make great meals with it—just some basic ingredients and the will to cook outdoors. And thanks to the pre-seasoned surface, food rarely sticks.
Cleanup is simple, even if you accidentally char your food. Just add some water to the pan, heat it up, and let it sit. After 10 minutes, you can scrape everything off easily. Then, a quick rinse and a light coat of oil gets it ready for your next cook. Compared to scrubbing a cast iron skillet or lugging around a full camp kitchen, the Tembo Tusk Skottle is a total game-changer.
Accessories That Expand the Tembo Tusk Skottle’s Capabilities
Tembo Tusk has done a great job of transforming the Skottle from a simple grill into a full cooking ecosystem. My Ultimate Kit came with a variety of accessories. One of my favorites is the leg-mounted table, which provides a super convenient prep area. It’s made from durable bamboo plywood, supports up to 25 pounds, and stores neatly in the Skottle’s carry bag.
There’s also a stainless steel dome lid that lets you steam veggies, melt cheese, or even bake. Pair it with the steam tray and you can expand your menu to include cinnamon rolls, pizza, cookies, and more. I’ve used it to steam dumplings and even smoke some meat—something I never thought I’d do with a portable grill.
Other helpful accessories include the stainless steel wind guard, which makes the burner even more effective in high winds, and the downloadable Tembo Tusk cookbook for recipe inspiration. These extras make the Skottle more than just a grill—they make it a modular kitchen solution for life on the road.
Portability and Storage: This is a Go-Anywhere Grill
When it comes to overlanding gear, space is always a consideration. Fortunately, the Tembo Tusk Skottle is incredibly compact. The legs collapse, the burner detaches, and the entire kit fits neatly into one carry bag. The newest version of the BlueRidge Overland Gear bag even has exterior straps for the legs, streamlining your loadout even more.
The compact form factor means it tucks easily into a truck bed, RV storage compartment, or gear drawer. And despite its portability, the Skottle is built to last. The carbon steel pan can take a beating, and the burner is made by Kovea, a respected name in outdoor stoves.
After four years of regular use, my Skottle still looks and functions like new. I’ve taken it through dust, mud, snow, and rain, and it hasn’t let me down. That kind of durability is essential when you’re depending on your gear in the backcountry!
Final Thoughts: Is the Tembo Tusk Skottle Worth It?
After using the Tembo Tusk Skottle for four years across a wide range of terrain and weather conditions, I can wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone who loves outdoor cooking. Whether you’re a weekend warrior or a full-time overlander, this grill brings flavor, fun, and flexibility to your meals.
Its build quality is exceptional, the cooking performance is reliable and versatile, and it packs down small for easy transport. The pre-seasoned surface makes cooking and cleanup a breeze, and the available accessories let you expand your culinary repertoire far beyond burgers and bacon.
If you’re tired of cramped camp kitchens, weak flames, and boring meals, the Tembo Tusk Skottle is the solution. It’s not just a grill—it’s an experience. And for me, it’s one of the most enjoyable pieces of overlanding gear I’ve ever owned.
So if you’re on the fence about investing in one, let this Tembo Tusk Skottle review be your sign: go for it. You won’t regret adding this powerhouse to your gear lineup.
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