A giraffe reaches into the branches of a tree, curls its tongue around a cluster of leaves and begins to feed. After a while, it moves on to another tree. It is an everyday sight on safari at Shumbalala Game Lodge. But while our attention naturally follows the giraffe, something rather remarkable may be happening in the plants around it. The tree isn’t simply standing there, doing nothing. Plants can sense damage,...
Rooibos-infused Panna Cotta Recipe

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
“Are we in Kruger?” It sounds like a simple question, and it is one that guests sometimes ask when trying to understand exactly where Shumbalala Game Lodge is located. The answer needs a little more explanation than a simple yes or no, but behind it lies an important story about Thornybush Nature Reserve, conservation and the value of giving wildlife the space to move. Shumbalala Game Lodge is situated within Thornybush Nature...
Ask any guide about winter in the Lowveld and they’ll probably mention visibility before anything else. By July, the summer grasses have faded to gold, many deciduous trees have shed their leaves, and the bush begins to feel more open. Guests often comment that the wildlife seems more abundant at this time of year. The reality is a little more interesting. Winter doesn’t bring more animals to the landscape; it changes how...




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