Only elephant dung gin is made in this SA city

Infusing elephant dung in the production of gin has been met with exclamations of shock among South Africans.

IBHU, a small gin manufacturer in the heart of Cape Town, is the only business in South Africa that’s been producing the Ndlovu gin using elephant dung.

This unique blend of gin is the creation of a couple, Paula and Les Ainsley, hailing from the Mother City. The innovative idea was born while they were on safari in Kenya.

Elephant dung gin never fails to amaze

Nambitha Mlonyeni, marketing coordinator for IBHU, said the couple’s tour guide was explaining the process of digestion in elephants and the safe botanical notes in elephant poo. The possibility of using elephant dung as an emulsifier in gin manufacturing then dawned on the couple.

IBHU, which translates to “Dung Beetle” in English, has been operational at the Hope Distillery in Cape Town since 2019. The business showed off their elephant dung-based gin at the recent SANParks 2040 Vision Indaba in Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape.

“People, particularly South Africans, are completely taken aback when they hear of a gin that’s blended with elephant dung. Only after we explain the emulsification process and assure people it’s completely safe to drink the gin, do they reluctantly taste the drink.

“People find it fascinating that we are able to produce such a drink. They are very skeptical and are immediately curious about how we achieve this innovative gin-making process. When they do try Ndlovu gin, their initial skepticism disappears because it’s a good gin with no odd taste or bad odour,” said Mlonyeni.

The process of crafting the elephant dung gin

So how does IBHU create its innovative Ndlovu gin?

Mlonyeni explains that, unlike cow dung, elephant dung cleans out all contaminants when left under the sun to dry over a 24-hour period. IBHU sources its elephant dung from the Botleurskop Private Game Reserve located along the Garden Route between Mossel Bay and George.

“Our gin is made using a London dry gin base and emulsifying it with the elephant dung. We know it’s ready to bottle and consume when the desired golden colour is achieved. The infusion of the botanicals from the dung with the dry gin base results in an unusual golden colour. Gin is generally a liquid,” said Mlonyeni.

Mlonyeni indicated that the best part of her job was observing South Africans’ reaction to the unusual gin. She said she often witnesses exclamations of shock and scepticism. After explaining the process, some South Africans are open to tasting the beverage and realise it’s a good quality gin.

She reiterates that the Ndlovu gin has undergone the relevant testing. It has received the stamp of approval from the Department of Agriculture and other bodies.

Mlonyeni indicated that she was surprised that people abroad were excited by the elephant dung-based gin and were open to the idea of trying the drink. IBHU exports its gin to Japan, Italy, Belgium, Namibia, and the United States.

Locally, people source Ndlovu gin online or at a few shops around Cape Town that stock the drink.