Not every proposal needs an audience. And sometimes, the most unforgettable moments happen far away from the places we know — in quiet, unfamiliar landscapes that invite you to slow down and simply be with the person beside you. At Shumbalala Game Lodge, we’ve seen how love settles naturally into the rhythm of safari life. It’s there in the stillness after a game drive, when the dust has settled and the first...
Rooibos-infused Panna Cotta Recipe
Posted on Tue December 6, 2022.
We are excited to share one of our favourite summer recipes with you - a light and creamy Panna Cotta that we regularly serve to guests at the lodge. Below, you will find the recipe for this beautifully light dessert. We hope you enjoy bringing the South African flavours of Shumbalala Game Lodge into your kitchen this festive season.
ROOIBOS-INFUSED PANNA COTTA RECIPE
Ingredients
- 125 ml freshly brewed strong Rooibos espresso tea
- 50 g light brown sugar
- 375 ml fresh cream
- 2 tsp gelatin powder
Rooibos Syrup
- 5 Tbsp strong brewed rooibos tea
- 110 g sugar
- 50 ml honey
Method
- Pour the rooibos and sugar into a saucepan on medium heat and stir until sugar has dissolved.
- Stir in the cream and bring the temperature down to a low heat.
- While the cream mixture is gently heating up, pour 2 tsp water in a small bowl and sprinkle the gelatin on top, so that it’s completely covered in water. Let this rest for about 5 minutes or until gelatin has completely softened.
- When the cream mixture is about to boil (when it starts to bubble around the edges) take the saucepan off the heat.
- Take 1/2 cup of cream mixture and mix into the softened gelatin and stir to dissolve completely.
- Add this 1/2 cup cream back into the remaining cream in the saucepan and whisk to mix thoroughly.
- Pour the mixture into a set of ramekins or glasses and let them rest in the fridge overnight, until set.
- Rooibos syrup - In a small pot add 5 Tbsp of brewed rooibos, sugar & honey. Bring the mixture to a boil, stir until the sugar has dissolved. Pour the syrup in a jar and set aside to pour over the panna cottas when you serve them :) Enjoy!
We look forward to welcoming you to Shumbalala Game Lodge in the near future.
Further Reading
A Moment That’s Yours: Planning a Proposal at Shumbalala Game Lodge
Tue February 3, 2026
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The Best Cup of Coffee You’ll Ever Have: Safari Stops at Shumbalala Game Lodge
Mon January 12, 2026
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It’s never just about the coffee. Out on morning game drive, when the sun is just beginning to stretch across the bush and the day’s first sightings have already settled into your memory, there’s a moment of quiet surprise. The vehicle slows. Your guide eases off the main track. The engine clicks softly as it cools. And the sounds of the wild return in full — birds calling, insects ticking through the...
A South African Celebration: From Winelands to Wilderness, Bubbles Included
Mon December 15, 2025
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In South Africa, celebration has a signature sparkle — and it’s called Méthode Cap Classique (MCC). Whether it’s a wedding, a birthday, a long-awaited reunion, or simply a sunset worth remembering, MCC is how we mark the moment. Especially as we head into the festive season, this homegrown bubbly brings something joyful to the table — or to the bushveld.
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