Today we travel east to neighbouring Botswana and the Kalahari Desert. Starkly different to the Namib Desert after which Namibia is named, the Kalahari is no less dramatic and covers over 900 000 square kilometres. The San people have long been associated with this harsh environment and this tonight we enjoy a dance evening that provides an insight into their culture of song, dance and story-telling.
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We left Windhoek early in the morning on a tarred road, on the long trip to Ghanzi. We had a border crossing. In Ghanzi we had a visit to a supermarket for supplies and garage for new tyres.
Border crossing
Ghanzi
The route from Windhoek to Trail Blazers
Our first stop was at Ghanzi Trail Blazers, the 'ultimate Kalahari Bushman experience'. It was a traditional San village. We heard the story of the San, a First People or the indigenous persons. This group of San used to live in the Kalahari Game Reserve, but were moved as no 'hunting can take place in a game reserve'. They were moved to an urban area, where they do not really fit in. But what is meant to happen to these people, and their children? The guide could not tell me how many San there are in Botswana, so how can planning be done if there is a solution to their plight?
I spoke to a local, not part of this village, who said the resistance to the move was created and led by persons in England - not sure what that means.
We had a walkabout with them looking at plants and then had fireside singing and dancing.
Tragic.
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