Literally a Real Forest Shower

Throughout the Wild Coast we are getting a very good look at how to achieve modern convenience in a remote area. Take hot showers for an example; we are staying at Bulungula Lodge where the freshwater comes from an underground aquifer which, in this area, is something of a commodity. Drilling a well is expensive and most places don’t have one. Actually at the last backpackers we stayed at, they functioned solely on rainwater. Rain barrels are not a fashion item, or an “environmentally minded” phenomenon here, they are a necessity.

For showering, it requires a lot of energy to heat the water. Since this place is run 100% on solar panels (1.3kW panel system with 18kW battery bank for fridges, lights, charging outlets) they have to get creative.

T-5 Seconds till Blast Off

I had heard of the term ‘rocket shower’, but never really knew what it was until now. Rocket showers use a small oil/wax flame (here its paraffin) to heat a chimney in which the hot water line is enclosed. The water line is run inside of this chimney, a long vertical tube (5” dia x 12 ft tall). To heat the water in the line, a flame is ignited at the bottom using paraffin wax and toilet paper. The vacuum caused by the wind blowing over the tube pulls the hot air up through the tube, which heats the water line. There is a valve that controls the flow of water (like any normal shower except these are just levers) through this chimney.

Blast Off!

The rocket part comes in when the thing is actually lit. There’s a small flame at the bottom of the chimney caused by the toilet paper/paraffin combination. As the flame ramps up, the chimney makes a noise like a rocket taking off. Smoke and sometimes bits of enflamed toilet paper fly out the top of the stack, adding to the effect. You can tell your hot water is about to run out when the rocket starts to “depower.” It actually sounds like a motorized engine winding down.

It really works quite well and even creates a cool rocket noise when you’re showering. The downside is the smoke and smell of burning oil, but the benefit of a hot shower is pretty sweet in an outdoor setting.