Ever dreamed of sipping a cocktail while experiencing the indoor/outdoor luxury of a South African safari camp? Keep reading for the signature cocktail recipes enjoyed by vacationers seeking adventure and the upscale living environment at Great Plains in Botswana.
Below you’ll find the secret recipes sipped by Great Plains guests that you can make at home. Great Plains hopes these tempting tipples transport you into their fantastic Botswana camps and plant the seeds for your future safari vacation plans.
Whether you are enjoying a caffeinated pick me up or a relaxing sundowner, we invite you to enjoy these drinks and project yourself into the Great Plains Selinda Camp. The staff at Great Plains are thinking about past, and future guests around the world. They can’t wait to welcome you back soon! Sit back and enjoy the following signature Great Plains Botswana beverages at your leisure.
Selinda’s Liquid Gold Cocktail from Great Plains Selinda Camp
Created by Michael Jones, Great Plains Selinda Camp Manager and mixology enthusiast!
Selinda’s Camp Manager Michael Jones is no stranger when it comes to rum – his love affair with the spirit is contagious at camp, making The Selinda Gold a tempting tipple of choice. You can re-create The Selinda Gold at home as follows:
Ingredients:
750ml water
2 chamomile tea bags
2 whole cloves
Pinch of cinnamon
1 teaspoon of sugar
1 heaped teaspoon of Seville orange marmalade
50ml Don Papa Rum
Method:
1. Take the water, tea bags, cloves, cinnamon, sugar and boil together in a saucepan until you have reduced the liquid by 2/3. Set aside to cool.
2. Mix the rum, marmalade and a cup (180ml) of the tea mixture in a cocktail shaker with ice.
3. Shake and finely strain into a martini glass.
4. Garnish with a vanilla flavoured candied lemon slice and enjoy!
Zarafa’s Cinnamon Amarula Iced Coffee from Great Plains Zarafa Camp
Perfected by Zarafa Dhow Suite’s Private Chef, Lungile Mbangi
Your day hasn’t officially started without Zarafa Camp’s pick-me-up of choice: Cinnamon Amarula Iced Coffee! Chef Lungile Mbangi’s has perfected the refreshing iced coffee, ideal for early starts and warm afternoons. Recipe as follows:
Ingredients:
1 heaped tablespoon of good medium roast ground coffee
30 ml of Amarula liqueur
150 ml boiling water
1 cup of boiling hot milk
1 cinnamon stick
Dusting of ground cinnamon
Equipment:
A glass tumbler
2 coffee plungers
Sieve
Method:
Use one plunger to steep the ground coffee in hot water for 5 minutes. Press the plunger down completely and pour the coffee into a container.
Drop the cinnamon stick into the coffee and refrigerate for 30 mins.
Sieve out the cinnamon stick, mix in the Amarula and pour into the tumbler glass.
Bring milk to the boil and pour into the other plunger. Vigorously push the plunger up and down to froth the milk.
Drop a few ice cubes in the cold coffee and spoon some milk foam over the ice cubes. Sprinkle ground cinnamon over the foam and voilà – your perfect iced coffee from Zarafa camp is ready to be enjoyed!
Great Plains Zarafa Dhow Suite is located adjacent to Zarafa Camp, overlooking the Zibadianja Lagoon on the private 130,000 hectare Selinda Reserve in northern Botswana. The camp is 100% solar-powered and plastic-free so guests need not worry about their environmental footprint during their stay. Zarafa means “the beloved one” or “the lovely one” in Arabic and exclusivity truly takes on a new meaning once guests enter through the wooden Lamu door of the Zarafa Dhow Suite. Arguably one of the most exclusive villa residences in Botswana, this 210 square metre (2,260 square foot) two-bedroom suite is set on raised decking under flowing canvas with exquisite furnishings and design.
Perfecting the balance between luxury, romance and adventure, the Zarafa Dhow Suite offers guests a full lounge and dining area, two large bedrooms with open layout bathrooms and copper claw-foot baths, a large decking area with an exercise bike, firepit and large private pool where guests can admire elephants passing by alongside the pristine Botswana wilderness. The villa is privately guided and hosted including private game drive vehicle, guide and chef and can accommodate 4 adults sharing or a maximum of up to 5 persons if travelling as a family (the Zarafa Dhow Suite accommodates children age 6 and up).
Resting on the banks of the Selinda Spillway as it enters the Linyanti River, the brand new Selinda Camp is situated on a private 130,000-hectare Selinda reserve. This pristine area is home to elephants by the thousands, wild dogs and the famous Selinda Lion Pride recently featured in the National Geographic film Birth of a Pride by Dereck and Beverly Joubert, the co-founders of Great Plains. Selinda Camp was completely re-done in June 2019 and can accommodate up to six guests sharing three tented villas, including a family room where children aged 8 and up are welcome. Each room has a private pool and in-room exercise equipment to assist in working off the sensational food and wine served at the camp’s fine dining show kitchen. Activities include: morning and evening game drives, guided walks, local culture visits, and in-room spa and wellness treatments for an additional cost. Water-based activities are also available depending on the season. Nightly rates from $1,995 per night
