Bundaberg Rum Distillery

SAFARI

Done the wineries…now see the wildlife. The best experiences are up in the north – close to, or inside, the Kruger National Park. Expect some early mornings and plenty of time spent in a four-wheel drive seeking out the wild animals, but stay focused as the sights are well worth the journey.

You can fly into towns such as Hoedspruit from either Cape Town or Johannesburg, and the game farm experience will greet you on landing (literally); baboons and monkeys scatter across the runway as you come into land. The game parks are right on your doorstep with the entrance to one of the standout providers, Kapama, situated directly opposite the airport.

Hint: Check out if your game reserve is a “Big Five” park. The “Big Five” refers to the five animals that game hunters found most difficult to hunt on foot. They are: lion (of course), elephant, buffalo, rhinoceros and leopard. You’ll find hippo there too. It’s a long way to travel to miss out on these.

Marula tree

AMARULA CREAM – THE HEART OF AFRICA

Originating out of subequatorial Africa is a cream liqueur that is as close to the heart of Africa as any product can claim to be. When it comes to a brand story, this is as authentic as it gets.

The marula tree, or ‘Sclerocarya birrea’, only grows in the warm and frost-free regions of Africa. It holds a unique position of importance to the local population as a meeting place and source of income. It is said that you can expect good news if the elders call you to a meeting under the marula tree. Under a thorny bush, however, negotiations may not go as smoothly.

African elephants eat the marula fruit when it falls to the ground, indicating that it is ripe, which generally takes place during the three months between January and March, much the same as vintage here in Australia. The ripe fruit is also collected by locals and brought to the Amarula production facility to be sold, processed and sent to Stellenbosch (two days drive away) to be distilled and aged in French oak barrels for at least two years, during which wood spice characters of vanilla and toast are naturally imparted. Dairy cream is then infused and Amarula Cream Liqueur is born.

You can visit the Amarula ‘Lapa’ and learn all about the relationship between the liqueur, the local population and the African elephants – which adorn the label – situated in Phalaborwa on the edge of the Kruger National Park.

FRENCH TOAST

GLASS: Short INGREDIENTS: 45ml Amarula Cream Liqueur 15ml Rum 15ml Milk Cinnamon stick METHOD: Combine ingredients over cracked ice in a cocktail shaker. Shake and pour into a glass GARNISH: Lightly dust with cinnamon and swirl with a cinnamon stick or straw

AMARULA COFFEE SURPRISE

GLASS: Coffee mug INGREDIENTS: 4 Cups strong filter coffee 50ml Whipped cream 60ml Amarula Cream Liqueur 8 Marshmallows 20ml Brown sugar 20ml Hot chocolate or cocoa powder METHOD: Pour the coffee into large coffee mugs. Pour the Amarula in each coffee, followed by the whipped cream, brown sugar and marshmallows GARNISH: Sprinkle with hot chocolate powder and extra Amarula