Our Story
The story of fire has been since for ever, ours began shortly after.
Border of South Africa & Namibia | 17th July 2021
De Hoop, Richtersveld
Three friends came together from across Africa to meet around a fire.
Disconnected
Exploring simplicity
After years of camping trips, overlanding and countless fires all three friends were tired of burnt hands, broken tools and bent backs. Many stories around the fire sparked the concept of a 'long tong', but it was more than just a tong. It was the longest and strongest tong out there with a built in bottle opener for all the cold beers.
'long tong' needed a name
After a night of conversations around the fire all three friends discovered there was only one who embodied the values of; reliable, tough and hard working... the Donkey. Without cell phone signal and under the African sun the three friends drew in the sand. The mark of the Donkey started to appear as the hoof.
the hoof of the donkey
Heading home
Starting the brand
The long way home began through the west coast of South Africa with hours of ideas. One adventure leading to another, fire after fire, and countless DONKEY LONG TONG jokes, the three friends arrived back to Cape Town and the grind began.
Kitchen workshop
the first 300 tongs
The launch date was set: 24th September 2021 - Braai Day (a South African Heritage day where you get together around a fire). The three friends started making the tongs by hand on an AirBnb countertop, after some sleepless nights and more fires DONKEY LONG TONG successfully launched! A great way to celebrate South African Heritage.
