A cartridge grill with four cooking surfaces on 30 centimetres
Cadac sells the Safari Chef 30 HP Deluxe as a “compact 4-in-1 outdoor gas grill” under article number 6546C-10-EU. The EAN from the manufacturer’s page, 6001773120531, appears in the Amazon catalogue as the model number. The Amazon page therefore belongs to exactly this version and not to the Combo or the Starter Set, which Cadac lists with their own EANs.
The product image shows a round black body on three slim legs. On top sits a round grill grate with diagonal bars. At the front of the lower section there is a control knob with a small button next to it, and between the legs the gas cartridge hangs from the underside of the appliance.
The 30 in the name stands for the diameter; Cadac states ø 30 cm. For the cover, the manufacturer gives 32 x 23 x 32 cm (width, height, depth), and the Amazon catalogue arrives at the same values when converted. Our price box stands at approx. €155 (Amazon page on 20.10.2026: €154.53). In the Cadac shop, the same grill cost €159.00 on 21.10.2026. In our comparison of gas grills, it scores 8.3 out of 10 points.
The Amazon text presents the brand as “CADAC | Dometic” and dates its work in outdoor cooking to 1948.
HP means cartridge: gas, power and consumption
At Cadac, HP stands for high pressure. You screw the EN417 cartridge under the appliance; no hose or pressure regulator comes in between. That is how the Starter Set page describes it, which bundles the same grill with cartridges. The Deluxe does not come with gas. For a refillable gas bottle or Cadac’s Power Pak, there is the LP version (low pressure), which is also in the range.
The technical data in the manual (“Manual Safari Chef 30 HP (2025)”) is brief. Nominal heat input 2 kW, permitted gas butane, nozzle number 0.27. For the gas pressure there is no value in mbar, just the word “vapour pressure”. As countries, the table lists Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Slovakia, among others.
On consumption, the two sources do not quite agree: the product page gives 140 g/h, the manual a nominal use of 145 g/h. When in doubt, we calculate with the higher value.
How cartridge and bottle differ in purchase, exchange and storage is explained in our guide Gas bottle for the grill.
In detail: one burner, a heat diffuser and what cold does to vapour pressure
According to Cadac, an integrated heat diffuser sits under the grill grate and griddle plate, which is meant to spread the heat “evenly across the entire grilling surface”. On a round grill with one flame in the centre, this is the real design point. Without a diffuser, the zone directly above the burner would be hottest and the edge much cooler; with a diffuser, the heat is first guided sideways and then released to the cooking surface. How evenly this works on the Safari Chef, we do not know. We found no temperature readings across the surface in any source.
Everything is controlled with one control knob. Separate zones like on a gas grill with two burners are missing: you make the whole surface hotter or cooler, and you cannot switch off one side to keep food warm.
Wind is the second enemy for camping grills of this size. Cadac uses the removable grease pan for this. It catches cooking residues and, according to the manufacturer’s page, protects the burner from wind “so that the flame cannot blow out”. For the 2025 model, Cadac also writes that the burner has been reworked for a more stable flame.
More important than wind with an HP appliance is temperature. As a general rule for cartridge appliances without a pressure regulator: the pressure at the burner arises solely because the liquefied gas in the cartridge evaporates. Pure butane boils just below 0 °C. The closer the cartridge gets to this temperature, the less overpressure it builds, and the flame becomes smaller. As it evaporates, the cartridge also cools itself, so during long operation on a high setting it cools further. On a cold morning in April, you must therefore expect less power than in July. How much less is stated neither in the manual nor on the product page. The manufacturer’s term “vapour pressure” describes exactly this principle.
Brand-wide, Cadac advertises its ThermoGrill technology with a shorter heating time and “lower gas consumption (up to 34%)”. The claim appears on the product page, but refers to the brand and not explicitly to this model, and against which comparison appliance the 34 % was measured remains open.
What is in the box and what the 2025 model does differently
According to the manufacturer’s page, the Deluxe includes a pot stand, the grill grate, the griddle plate and a lid that also serves as a pot, plus a carry bag. Amazon lists the same parts in other words: BBQ grill, plancha, pan lid, carry bag. This gives the four cooking surfaces from the manufacturer’s title. The grill grate and griddle plate carry the ceramic coating that Cadac calls GreenGrill in the manual.
According to the manual, pots with a diameter of 150 mm to 280 mm belong on the pot stand. You should avoid cookware with plastic handles, because these handles get hot during cooking and can melt.
The legs fold together and are spring-loaded. The manual requires you to open and close them in a controlled way to avoid injury or damage to the appliance.
For the 2025 model, Cadac lists four changes. The piezo ignition is now integrated directly into the burner. The control was redesigned so that the burner bowl falls over the appliance when stowing, which is meant to reduce the packed size. There are recesses in the feet so that the quick-release coupling can stay fitted when the grill is packed away. And the burner itself was reworked, as described above.
On weight, Cadac contradicts itself on the same page. The data table gives 5 kg, the body text “only 4.5 kg”, the Amazon catalogue 9.92 pounds, converted approx. 4.5 kg. We would plan for 5 kg in luggage. According to Amazon, the colour is black.
What is missing from the documents
The following details appear neither on the product page nor in the manual: the grilling area in square centimetres and the diameter of grate and plate individually, the number of burners as an explicit statement (the manual speaks of the burner in the singular), the material of the housing, lid, burner, grate and plate, a maximum temperature, a heating time in minutes, the burn time per cartridge, suitability for propane or butane-propane mixtures, a number of people, the country of manufacture, material and padding of the carry bag and whether the bag holds all attachments at once. Calculating a grilling area from the 30 cm outer diameter would be wrong, because the rim of the body counts too. A protective cover is missing from the accessory list of the model.
What does the Safari Chef cost after purchase?
Mainly gas. A 500 g screw-on cartridge costs €7.95 in the Cadac shop, and without a cartridge the grill does not run. Everything else is optional accessories in the 30 format, which Cadac offers on the model’s product page.
The list in the Cadac shop on 21.10.2026: a Paella Pan 30 for €49.95, a Pizza Stone Pro 30 for €29.95, the BBQ 2 Plancha 30 for €39.95, a Tapas Set for €29.95 and a coffee pot stand for €9.95. For care, the shop carries a Cleaning Set 30 for €31.95 and Soft Soak 30 for €19.95.
Our assessment: you need none of these to start. The grate, plate, pot and pot stand already cover the four cooking surfaces. The only accessory whose material we know is the paella pan, which is aluminium.
These three alternatives are worth a look
| Model | The difference | Price | Our rating | Choose this one if |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CADAC Safari Chef 30 HP Deluxe (this one) | Cartridge directly under the appliance, grate and plate with ceramic layer | approx. €155 | 8.3 | you want to set off without a hose and bottle |
| CADAC Safari Chef Compact 30 | according to the Amazon title designed for 50 mbar, so for low pressure | approx. €143 | 8.2 | you already bring a gas bottle with a regulator |
| Campingaz Party Grill 400 R | according to the Amazon text 2000 watts, fat drips into a water tray | approx. €90 | 8.2 | your budget is under €100 |
| Enders Explorer II | according to the Amazon text two separately adjustable stainless steel burners and thermometer | approx. €122 | 8.0 | you want to grill directly and indirectly |
The prices are the values from our price box and change; the rating is our editorial assessment from the data comparison and not a measurement result. For the sibling models, the technical details come from the Amazon catalogue texts, not from our own measurements.
The Campingaz stands out: at 2000 watts it has the same rated output as the Safari Chef, at approx. €90 instead of approx. €155. Instead of a heat diffuser, its catalogue text mentions a water tray. At approx. €143, the Compact 30 is currently below the HP Deluxe at approx. €155.
When the Safari Chef fits and when another grill does
Number of people. At ø 30 cm, we would plan the grill for one to three people who eat in turns. For four people who all want to be fed at the same time, we would rather look at a grill with two burners, such as the Enders Explorer II, which costs approx. €122.
Balcony. The product page advertises “An ideal gas grill for camping, balcony or park!”. The manual counters this with clearances: to combustible materials, at least 120 cm above the appliance and 60 cm at the back and the sides apply. If an awning or something else combustible hangs less than 120 cm above the grill, this spot is ruled out. Added to that are the tenancy agreement and house rules, which can allow or forbid gas grills. What applies legally is covered in our guide Grilling on a balcony.
Cartridge or bottle. If you already own a gas bottle and want to take it along, you do not buy the HP but go straight for the LP version. If you drive to a picnic by car and do not want to carry anything extra, you are better served by the screw-on cartridge.
Zones. For a piece of meat that should finish indirectly beside the heat, a single knob is not enough. A grill with two burners suits better here.
Budget. Cartridges come on top of the approx. €155. If you mainly look at price, the Campingaz Party Grill 400 R is an alternative under €100. More criteria for choosing between gas, charcoal and electric on the move are collected in the Camping grill buying guide.
Safety, cleaning and care according to the manual
With gas, the wording counts, so here is what Cadac writes. On the place of use: “Use outdoors only.” And: “Never use this product indoors. Burning liquefied gas produces carbon monoxide, which accumulates in enclosed spaces.” The appliance consumes air and belongs in a well-ventilated area. If several gas appliances operate nearby, the manual requires additional ventilation. The grill stands on a level, horizontal surface and must not wobble. During operation, you do not move it and do not leave it unattended, not even while it is hot. You keep a fire extinguisher or other suitable means ready, and chemicals, combustible materials and aerosol cans are not kept nearby. You place only cooking pots and pans on the appliance, and nothing is leaned against it.
A leak test is mandatory each time you attach or change the cartridge. You apply soapy water to the connection between cartridge and appliance and slowly turn the control knob anticlockwise. If bubbles form, the connection is leaking: gas off immediately, disconnect the cartridge, check the seals, reconnect and test again. If the leak remains, the appliance goes to an authorised repair agent. You never look for leaks with an open flame. The cartridge always stands upright, and changing takes place outdoors, away from people and only once the burner has gone out.
If you smell gas, you turn the knob clockwise to “•” and extinguish all open flames. In case of fire, you shut off the gas supply immediately.
To light it, you remove all cooking surfaces. Then you turn the knob anticlockwise to the highest setting and press the igniter button several times in quick succession. If the burner does not light, you close it after 2 to 3 seconds and wait 30 seconds until the accumulated gas has dispersed. After grilling, you disconnect the cartridge. The grill is never stored with a cartridge connected, and you preferably store the gas supply outdoors, according to the manual never in a basement or garage. After a longer break, you check the appliance for insects, dirt and spiders, which can disturb the gas flow.
The ceramic layer needs oil. Before the first cooking, you spread a thin layer of cooking oil over the entire cooking surface and heat it for 2 to 3 minutes on medium heat. Without an oil coating, the surface should never stand on the heat source. Cadac recommends sunflower or rapeseed oil because both have very high flash points. The cooled surface is cleaned with warm soapy water and a soft sponge; scouring pads are taboo. Stubborn residues are soaked for a few minutes in warm water. Before storing, you spread a little oil again to protect the surface from air and moisture. The CeramiCoat care instructions forbid metal utensils and recommend silicone or wood.
For the grill itself, according to the manual a damp cloth with a little detergent after each use is enough. You must not immerse it, because the burner tube can be damaged. You keep water away from the burners and the flame indicator area and dry everything completely before lighting again. Abrasives, high-pressure steam cleaners and water jets are ruled out. The product page states brand-wide that the grease tray and “most cooking surfaces” are dishwasher safe. Which surfaces that means for this model remains open, so we would stick to the hand washing from the manual.
Who is it suitable for?
The Safari Chef 30 HP Deluxe suits you if you drive to the campsite, the lake or the park by car and cook there outdoors on a solid table or level ground. It then delivers grate, plate and pot in one appliance, and the cartridge hangs directly under the body, with no hose beside it.
It is the wrong choice for anyone who wants to cook under a roof in the rain. The manual expressly rules out operation “in unventilated areas such as enclosed rooms, tents, awnings, motor vehicles, motorhomes, caravans or in ships, yachts, boats and lorry cabs”. So if you want to grill in an awning, in a motorhome or on board, you need a different concept.
If you sit on the picnic blanket with small children, you should know one point: according to the manual, accessible parts can get very hot, children and pets belong at a safe distance, and you should touch the appliance with bare hands only after it has cooled well. With a grill on three legs that is 23 cm high, we would therefore put it on a table and not on the blanket.
