Skip Ribbon Commands
Skip to main content
Location:  En route to Bokspits, Botswana
 

Background:    The Kalahari Desert spans several countries over 350,000 square miles.  It The Kalahari Transect

 

Situation:  I’ve just landed in Maun, Botwswana via a flight from Johannesburg.  Unfortunately, the bag with my travel guide in it did not!  I’m in a hurry to meet up with my fellow researchers, so I’m in a rented truck heading to our first field site in Bokspits. 

I’ve got a pretty good map with me, but not much information otherwise.  I’m heading south on the Trans- Kalahari Highway with a stop to pick up provisions in Ghanzi.  I’m not sure what to get, since I don’t really know what I’ll need in the field without my guide book.   

 

In the truck

 

Out the window

 

Assignment:  Help me find out some information  about my route to Bokspits!  I’m not sure what some of the larger towns are to stop in for fuel and supplies.  I know that this area is populated by the San, an indigenous people whose culture has been drastically influenced in the last few years due to the building of this highway. 

What can you tell me about the San that might be useful to know?

I’ll only have a few hours to gather supplies in Ghanzi, so knowing what to pick up will be helpful.  Do I need raingear this time of year? 

How much rain does southern Botswana get? Will I need to pick up blankets for cold nights?  How about mosquito netting? 

Is this an area where malaria is a risk?  If so, any advice?

 

< hey heather, this is hunter sondeen. I found this useful little page about malaria in botswana from the CDC so here it is: http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/destinationBotswana.aspx
 
Hey this is Austin and Rob, you are in the peak of rain season in  Botswana so you will definitly need raingear.  Heres a good websitehttp://www.sa-venues.com/weather/botswana.htm Hey its dylan need umbrella
its derek and i dont think its ganna rain verry much but i dont know
hey its reed, there will be alot of rain headed your way, so i suggest you get lots of supplies to fight off the bad weather.
hey its hunter take rain stuff.
 
Stacy Here: sorry i couldn't help you out the other day, but i found out that this is the peak of the rain season, usually from january through march is the prime time for rain. I would advise bringing some kind of rain coat, along with non denim or cotton fabrics, something that doesn't stay wet.
There is definatley a malaria risk in your area, and i advise you use a mosquito net that has been dipped in permethrin insecticide, and also wearing lond pants and shirts. Use DEET repellant, and I am not sure if you have antimalaria pills, but one website advised that for trips. Hope you're having fun!
 
Quin Here:
I found some good stuff on the basarwa:
 

"The History of the San

The San are considered to be the oldest culture in the world dating back over a hundred thousand years. Beautiful San rock art can be seen throughout Southern Africa where the San lived as hunter-gatherers. In the past 2000 years the San were slowly pushed to live in the arid sands of the Kalahari Desert by Bantu tribes and white farmers who took the more fertile land for their crops and livestock.

Traditional San Culture

There are only about 3000 thousand San that still follow a totally traditional lifestyle of hunting and gathering (out of a population of 95,000). Groups (or bands) usually number 10 to 15 individuals and move around frequently to find new foods to gather, water resources and to follow migrating game. Shelter is temporary and made of branches tied together in a semi-circle with grass tufts on top. Groups are made up of family members and there is no official leader or chief. The San men traditionally hunt and the women are responsible for gathering. Hunting is a collaborative exercise and the meat is always shared among the group. The San are expert hunters with bows and arrows tipped with poison. Gathering has less social significance but generally provides up to 80% of the food.

The San Today

Like many hunter-gatherer tribes the world over the San are finding it very difficult to maintain their traditional culture and lifestyle. Land that the San used to hunt on is increasingly being used for grazing cattle. Fences are put up to protect the cattle which means that the wildlife the San depend upon for their hunting are changing their migrating patterns. Farmers in the area have notoriously abused the San workers yet many San have become dependent on them for survival. The San's hunting and tracking skills have made them popular with armies who have used them to track guerillas and even map out mine fields. Farmers also use the San to track down poachers.

Governments have forced the San to relocate to permanent locations usually with the intention of 'civilizing' them and providing schooling, running water and other modern amenities. Unfortunately rounding up hunter-gatherers and forcing them to live in settlements has been tried in many countries and has not been very successful.

Having no concept of private ownership, the San struggle to prove that land belongs to them. Having no traditional tribal leader makes it difficult to present their grievances with one strong voice. And as with many hunter-gatherers the world over, their neighbors consider them 'savages' hence the derogatory name of 'Bushmen'."

hope you liked it its from http://goafrica.about.com/library/bl.san.htm

ya its rainy... -cass ps. i wanna see more pics and you should write more about whats going on over there, how are the people, the food, your hotel or where ever your stayin. give us some info and less us givin you info hahaha...

Hey this is Jeremy, here's a good website for background on the San http://www.uiowa.edu/~africart/toc/people/San.html p.s. Having fun yet?
Hey guys, Heather here: Thanks a million for all the great info!!! You were soooooooo right about the rain. It was amazingly hot, dusty and dry the first couple of days, and then one night the rains came in like you wouldn't believe!!! It soaked our tents, filled our soil pits we had been digging and even got my sleeping bag wet! That was a very uncomfortable night! I'm so sorry that I have been out of touch!! We were in the middle of no where!! I mean NOWHERE!!! I'll fill you in on the next couple of pages!