Trackers International leads a trip to the Kalahari to live and track with the Bushmen
Tracking Safari in the Kalahari Desert, Botswana
A journey with Jon Young and the San Bushmen
March-April 2011 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.
| 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, 2011 10 day trip April 27-May 6, 2011 Starting and ending in Maun, Botswana |
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$9950
50% deposit due upon registration ($4975), full payment due Jan 4, 2011 7 Day Ground March 7-14, 2011 Starting and ending in Maun, Botswana |
Please note Pricing is subject to currency and seasonal fluctuations.
More Information
Cost Contact Nicole for more information
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 7-10 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 March 7th or April 27th, or arrive early and overnight in Maun. Our charter flight to the Kalahari desert leaves the Maun airport around 1:00 pm.
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.
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.
10-day Tracking Safari in the Kalahari Desert, Botswana includes
Our 10-day Tracking Safari travels to both the Kalahari Desert and the Khwai River.
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 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.
Khwai River area
• game drives (day and night) to see more wildlife
• using the tracking skills gained in the Kalahari and time for reflection and disussion
• game walks here as well
Itinerary and guides are subject to change due to unforeseen events.
Part 1: The Kalahari Desert 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: Khwai River area After our days spent with the San we depart to the Khwai river, one of the numerous fingers of the Okavango Delta. This beautiful area is known for its rich wildlife, and we will see species here not found in the dry Kalahari.
7-day Tracking Safari in the Kalahari Desert, Botswana includes
Our 7-day Tracking Ground Safari remains in the Kalahari Desert the entire time.
Part 1: The Kalahari Desert 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.
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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