On Tour... KALAHARI BUSHMEN WALKABOUT

OTT-DVD-124 - The Kalahari is a unique habitat in Southern Africa, a world full of austere beauty and fascinating inhabitants. Only a few marks in the sand indicate the presence of Man. The Kalahari is often mistakenly described as a desert as in this region in the heart of Botswana it is more like an arid savannah and most visitors are surprised by the exceptionally large bio diversity of the local flora and fauna. On the border of the Central Kalahari Wild Reserve is the luxurious Deception Valley Lodge with first class accommodation and even a swimming pool. It is not only an ideal starting point for various safaris, it is also an ideal place in which to relax after an exhausting tour of the surrounding wilderness. Suddenly, two men appear. They are Bushmen, one of the most legendary ethnic groups in Africa. The Kalahari Bushmen have for more than twenty five thousand years lived in harmony with nature in this semi-desert that is also a hostile environment. However, they have managed to survive without disrupting the ecology of their surroundings. Within the branches of a tree our two guides discover the remains of a dead creature that a lion has left in order that it can retrieve it later in the day. As the tree is surrounded by bones it appears that the lion appears to favour this particular location. We continue our walkabout through the dry savannah while the two bushmen provide us with a very welcome sense of security. Despite its desert-like appearance, the Kalahari contains around two hundred and fifty edible plants. The gathering of plants is one of the main duties of the women while hunting has always been a male domain. Only here in this relatively small area of the Kalahari is there still a home for the legendary Bushmen. Desperate, but far from defeated, they attempt to preserve their cultural heritage for future generations to come.

YouTube | April 19, 2008

Tags:. .various. .security. .discover. .central. .africa