Chef

COOK WANTED | KALAHARI RESEARCH CENTRE

Remote reserve, ±30km from Van Zylsrus

Kalahari Research Centre, a research reserve in the Kalahari, is looking for a second cook to join our kitchen team, working alongside our existing cook to cover breakfast, lunch, and dinner for approximately 20-25 people daily.

THE ROLE

● Full-day cooking: breakfast, lunch, and dinner for ±20-25 pax, Monday to Saturday (Sundays always off, plus one additional weekday off)

● Work as part of a two-person kitchen team

● Menu planning and meal prep for staff and researchers on-site

● Manage kitchen stock using our digital inventory system (Grocy): logging stock, adding/updating recipes, and placing orders through the system

● Basic spreadsheet (Excel) literacy required for stock, ordering, and cost tracking

● Maintain hygiene and food safety standards in a remote, self-sufficient kitchen environment

REQUIREMENTS

● Solid cooking experience at scale: lodge-style catering experience is ideal (not fine dining, but comfortable cooking full meals for a group daily, not just home cooking)

● Able to work to a budget and be wastage-conscious: this is a remote kitchen with limited resupply, so planning and portion control matter

● Good with computers, and quick to pick up new systems: Excel skills required; willingness to learn Grocy (our stock/recipe/ordering system) essential

● Energetic and proactive: a self-starter who takes initiative and finds a way forward rather than waiting to be told what to do

● Genuinely willing to learn

● Friendly, positive outlook, and works well within a small team

● Able to take direction from and work well under a female kitchen lead

● Comfortable working in an international team with a mix of cultures and nationalities

● Reliable and punctual, with consistent attendance: this is a small team covering three meals a day, so dependability matters

● Able to work independently

● Willing to live and work on a remote reserve, 30km from Van Zylsrus

● English essential; Afrikaans is beneficial but not required

WHAT WE OFFER

● Salary: negotiable, in the region of R8 000 - R12,000/month, depending on experience and requirements needed

● Own room with shared ablutions; self-catering

● Sundays off, plus one additional weekday off

● Probation period, leading to a permanent position

● No vehicle needed: staff accommodation is within walking distance of the kitchen

The Kalahari Research Centre is a remote, off-grid reserve. This role suits someone comfortable with isolation, self-sufficiency, and a slower pace of life outside town.

Pay: R8 000,00 - R12 500,00 per month

Work Location: In person