There’s a hush that settles over the Kalahari in winter. Mornings arrive slow, with breath visible in the crisp air and frost dusting the dry grass like powdered sugar. Winter is lingering—stubborn, beautiful, and utterly Kalahari.
The veld lies still, golden and brittle, stretching under a bright cold sky. Yet, the silence doesn’t last long. Laughter echoes through the house, boots crunch across the yard, and the clatter of coffee mugs marks the start of another day. Our winter days are filled with the joy of hunters who find joy not just in the chase, but in the moments in between—the stories, the meals, the memories. This is Kalahari Safari.
In the quiet moments—between prepping stews and stirring pots—I pause by the basket of lemons. My heart is full of thankfulness and memories that arrive unannounced, like the scent of citrus on a breeze. The sharp, sunlit fragrance takes me back…
To Italy.
To late alfresco dinners in Tuscany. To Positano, where the scent of citrus drifted on the sea breeze. To summer in a glass.
Limoncello. A bold, zesty Italian liqueur made by steeping lemon zest in alcohol. Bright yellow and intensely citrusy, it’s best sipped chilled on a long-awaited summer evening.
I find myself searching for that taste again—that golden memory. Longing for the return of slow, sun-drenched evenings. I scroll through the internet, looking for an authentic recipe, hoping to bottle a little bit of summer before it arrives.
I gather our Kalahari lemons. It will take time. But all good things do.
Anything worth doing is worth doing slowly.
Mae West
While the hunters laugh and share stories around the fire, and the wind whistles outside, a jar of lemon zest quietly steeps in the corner of My Kalahari Kitchen—bottled sunshine.
And when the limoncello is finally ready, we’ll raise our glasses.
To winter in the Kalahari. To memories. And to the joy of citrus and time. – Aldalene
(Recipe on next page)
Limoncello Recipe
Limoncello is the taste of Italian summers and it’s so easy to make at home!
It’s sweet, tart and bursting with fresh lemon flavour. Sip on a small glass after dinner, add it to cocktails on a hot summer’s day or use it to make desserts and gelato.
INGREDIENTS
- 8 medium – large organic lemons
- 4 cups / 1 litre Vodka * (use a good quality vodka, it makes a huge difference to the overall flavour)
- 4 ⅔ cups / 1.1 litres water
- 2.43 lbs / 1.1kg white sugar
* Traditionally, Limoncello is made with 95% pure grain alcohol but it’s not available to buy in every country or easy to find(especially in the Kalahari! ) Good quality vodka works just as well.
INSTRUCTIONS
- Wash lemons then using a vegetable peeler, peel the skins. Make sure to only peel the yellow part and not to extract too much of the white pith (the white parts)
- Place the lemon peels in a large glass jar or bottle and pour in the alcohol. Close the lid securely and place in a dark place. Allow to infuse for 25 days ( or longer!)
- After 25 days use a fine mesh strainer/colander to strain the lemon peels with a large bowl underneath
- Pour water in a large pot over a stove top on a medium heat. When you see small bubbles starting to appear (but not boiling), add in the sugar
- Stir the mixture with a wooden spoon to melt the sugar, and turn the heat off after 2 minutes
- Leave the pot on the stove and continuously stir for 3-5 minutes to ensure all of the sugar dissolves in the water
- When water becomes warm but not at room temperature yet, add in the lemon infused alcohol and stir continuously for a couple of minutes
- Allow it to cool down to room temperature, then using a funnel, carefully ladle the limoncello into glass bottles
- Securely tighten the lids, place in the fridge to cool for a few hours and its ready to serve! Serve up limoncello in chilled shot glasses or make a limoncello spritz and enjoy!!
Limoncello Spritz
Ingredients
3 shots prosecco
2 shots limoncello
1 shot soda water
Garnish
Lemon slice or fresh herbs
Fill a wine glass with ice and pour in three parts prosecco, two parts limoncello, and one part soda water
Stir together and garnish with a lemon slice or fresh herbs and enjoy your fresh limoncello spritz!