Tracking Safari in the Kalahari Desert, Botswana
A journey with Jon Young and the San Bushmen
April 5-14, 2010 Rediscover the old hunter gatherers of the Kalahari. Modern culture has become too convenient and potentially destructive for all of us. For this one-time only safari we walk with the San and Bayei people, learning from the incredible connection they have to their land.
Spend the first 6 days at a lodge in the Kalahari Desert with the San (Bushmen) tribe, learning their ways first-hand. This safari is quite unique, often on foot and truly a gift of our indigenous guides. Forage, track and walk with them as they share their tremendous spirit of place.
Second journey to the Khwai River, bordering on Moremi National Park. Here we can practice the skills learned from the Bushmen with expert tracker Jon Young. Together with his staff and our other guides we also meet and learn from the BaYei tribe, the River Bushmen from the Khwai region.
| Jon Young on traveling to the Kalahari |
Jon Young and Tracking
Internationally known tracker and naturalist Jon Young will be joining us for this journey. Jon's experience in working with indigenous elders across the world is vital to our collaboration with the San Bushmen.
This trip is both a cultural and a wildlife exploration, a place to learn and practice the art of tracking with some of the best in the world.
Life with the San (Bushmen)
This is not your typical safari. The philosophy and goals are quite different. We travel there to honor and learn from people who have an intimate relationship with the land where they live. It is working with the San on their terms, learning from them in their village. Please weigh carefully if this is a good match for you.
Booking for Tracking Safari in the Kalahari Desert, Botswana
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$12580
50% deposit due upon registration ($6290), full payment due Feb 1, 2010 April 5-14, 2010 10 days Starting and ending in Maun, Botswana |
Please note Pricing is subject to currency and seasonal fluctuations.
More Information
Cost $12580 per person sharing. 50% due upon registration ($6290), full payment due February 1, 2010.
We accept checks made out to Trackers International. Credit cards are processed via secure PayPal with a 3.5% fee. Contact us to learn more about payment options.
Insurance Basic medical rescue insurance is required. Trip insurance is highly recommended. This trip is expected to fill so please sign up early.
Single supplement No single supplement at this time as this trip is expected to be full. We can assign you a roommate at a later date if you are traveling alone.
Total days 10 days, starting and ending in Maun, Botswana. Pre- and post-trips can be arranged by emailing or contacting Nicole our trip leader. You must fly into Botswana on the morning flight on April 5th, or arrive early and overnight in Maun. Our charter flight to the Kalahari desert leaves the Maun airport around 12:30pm on April 5th.
Accommodations
The first part of our journey will be spent at a lodge in the Kalahari Desert. The owners of this lodge have lived alongside the San here for 120 years. They have truly succeeded to preserve this piece of land and protect the food sources that have been so crucial to the San for thousands of years.
The second part of our journey will be spent in the bush near the Khwai river in luxury meru tents.
A full compliment of food and beverages is included while on safari. We will have a San interpreter with us in the Kalahari.
Tracking Safari in the Kalahari Desert, Botswana
Part 1 For this journey we completely put ourselves into the mind set of a hunter gatherer as we spend time with those that consider themselves to be the "First people". We benefit from the extensive knowledge that the San have accumulated over the centuries of living in the harshest of environments in Africa. With the help of experienced guides and leaders we spend our days sharing the life of our San friends.
This visit requires open minds and hearts to a timeless way of life. The trip is during a time of abundance of veldfoods and game in the area, making the pace of foraging easier for novices to keep up with. The San accept you as part of their village very quickly. They are great teachers, imparting every bit of knowledge they offer with the wisdom survival.
Our guides help us fit into a daily routine. Most days start with warming ourselves by the fire, while plans for the day are discussed. Women journey almost daily to find veldfoods, the men may decide to go for a hunt or to check numerous small game snares they leave out during the night. You may find them disappear down a burrow system, blocking off the routes of a porcupine only to appear with it after several hours.
Midday we typically rest to avoid the heat of the day while the late afternoon is often a time to play games. This mood extends into the night when our teachers sing and dance around the fire, celebrating, trance dancing and healing. At this point, any participant has the option to remain with them for the night, sleeping in a traditional hut that you construct yourself. Sharing of food is very important and you will be encouraged to sample many foods they collect.
Part 2 After our days spent with the San we depart to the Khwai river, one of the numerous fingers of the Delta. Here we reached the home of the Bayei tribe. With the boom in tourism during the last 10 years in Botswana, this tribe has reaped huge benefits, yet they remain every bit as traditional in their outlook on life as many years ago. They still hunt and gather as their name "River Bushmen" suggests and, just like the San in the Kalahari, they experience the abundance of wild foods this time of year. A small group of people from the main village will join us for a few days, sharing their intimate knowledge of the area right down to perhaps sharing a kill with a large predator, something quite unique. We also then have the opportunity to relax on game drives as the area has some of the best wildlife in Botswana.
Working Itineraries
Every day will be a unique journey. We will do a lot of food gathering - every day in a different area so that we can find and experience a bigger variety. The San will teach and guide us the same way they do with their own children. They teach their children with acting and demonstration while out in the bush. The ladies will do the food gathering and show us medicines. The men will put up traps, track, make rope, make fire, etc. The late afternoon is often a time to play games which often extend into the night when they sing and dance around the fire and perhaps do some trance dancing and healing.
April 5-10, 2009 The Kalahari Desert
• walking with Bushmen women gathering foods
• medicinal uses of plants and herbs
• hunting with men, checking on snares, etc...
• the art of tracking with Jon, Mark and the Bushmen
• tracking to pursue game, digging for porcupines etc.
• storytelling
• spending time around fire while singing, trance dancing etc.
We put emphasis on the laid-back life of hunter gatherer! There is no particular order for any activities.
April 10-14, 2009 Khwai River area (new environment!)
• meet with Bayei tribe and experience their lifestyle
• game drives (day and night) to see more wildlife
• using the tracking skills gained in the Kalahari, keep on with tracking here
• game walks here as well
Itinerary and guides are subject to change due to unforeseen events.
Nicole Apelian is their main travel consultant and lead adventurer. Her experience in scientific research is distinguished. She was a research associate at the Okavango Lion Research Project, a 10-year study focused on ecology, reproduction, disease and genetics of these large cats. She has worked as a game warden for the Department of Wildlife and National Parks and the US Peace Corps in Botswana, as a shellfish observer for the Alaska Dept. of Fish and Game, and other diverse career paths in the field of biology, education and ecology. Currently Nicole is working on her Doctorate in Sustainability at Prescott College and is the lead coordinator for the 
Xigao is the main guide and tracker on all our activities.
Xlinsa is a mother of many! When there are questions to ask everyone calls her.
Xhoema is a young tracker and hunter. He is also Xigao's son.
Koba and Xigao are married. She specializes in grass perfumes and dying animal skins.
Xlabathe has a great knowledge of
Neeltjie Bower will translate the San
Alwyn Myburgh was born and raised among the red sand dunes of the Southern Kalahari. His earliest childhood memories are of days walking through the bush with San (bushman) learning about the animals. For the past 13 years he's had the great fortune of showing numerous international guests some of the most spectacular wildlife on the planet.
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