A SHORT DEVELOPMENT HISTORY: 2002 - 2012

Some ten years ago, the original Kariba Bush Shower was introduced to campers and 4x4 off-road enthusiasts in South Africa. An extremely simple and compact appliance at that point time, which could be utilize to heat water instantly for showering and other cleaning jobs in any place, and at any time.

What sparked the idea was that some “Nomads” had tried unorthodox methods to heat water at campsites to have a shower.  Some of their ideas worked, but most failed and in general their methods used proved time consuming and rather dangerous and illegal to say the least.  At the time of the original Kariba Bush Shower’s introduction, the units were made up of a hot water coils heat exchanger fitted into a ventilated body which provided space in the combustion chamber to house a slide-in cast iron twin ring LP Gas Burner to power the appliance.  This was the concept and theory behind the design at the time of designing this invention, and which was aimed at providing a safe and practical mobile ablution facility for outdoor use by campers, off-road enthusiasts and adventurers.  Although the new product proved successful at that time, with a large numbers sold locally and abroad, admittedly it was heavy and clumsy due to the length and weight of the cast iron burner. Adding to that, the cast iron burner did not produce sufficient heat for very cold morning showers, not to mention the unacceptable ratio of carbon emissions and odours produced by these cast iron burners.

Kariba Combo Products Information - Introduction to Kariba Combo Page

Technological advancement prompted our design team to set about development of our locally produced compact and light weight stainless steel gas vapour pressure burner. The all new burners were then incorporated into the original appliance.   Not only had the overall performance of the Bush Shower improved, the new appliance was far more powerful and efficient with less carbon emissions, well within the global emissions compliance limitations.   The new burner made it possible for the appliance to have a dual function in one package.  Cooker grids were incorporated to the burner to offer a cooker facility.  The appliances were then renamed Kariba Combo launched during 2007/8.    Since then, ongoing research and development has continued in order for us to produce the best possible results from these appliances. During 2011, we undertook to do a facelift and technical improvements was undertaken to most models, which incorporated an all new  electronic AA battery powered “Push Button” flame ignition.