Page 355 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - South Africa

INTRODUCING THE ARID INTERIOR  353

Steppe buzzards are one of the many raptor
species that can be seen in the Kalahari. As migrant
visitors, they arrive in southern Africa during
October and depart in March. Namaqua sandgrouse males fly distances
of up to 60 km (37 miles) every three to five
days to drink and to soak their spe cially
adapted chest feathers. The water retained
Digging sticks are used to
unearth a variety of edible and in these feathers sustains the chicks.
water-bearing roots and tubers. Ostrich eggs are a
source of mois ture
and protein.

The puff adder is highly venomous and bites
readily when threatened. The snake propels itself
forwards leaving deep, straight tracks which can
sometimes be seen on the Kalahari sand dunes.

The San
These nomads, once known as Bushmen,
have all but vanished from the subcontinent.
A small community lives on land south of the
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park allocated to them
in 1997. The modern age has severely affected
their culture. Even in the remote reaches of
Botswana, clans now live in settlements around
waterholes – the nomadic lifestyle replaced by
a sedentary existence. Before these camps were
estab lished, water and food were obtained from
the bush: the San knew of 20 edible insects and
180 plants, roots and tubers.

Barking geckos herald sunset in the The Sparrmannia
desert by emitting a series of sharp flava scarab has a
clicking sounds. When furry coat which
threatened, they tend to enables it to remain
freeze, camou flaged active at night when
against the temperatures can
red sand. drop drastically.

Windmills pump precious water
from below the surface into metal
reservoirs. Farming activities in the
Kalahari region include Karakul sheep,
goat and wildlife rearing, while hardy
Afrikaner cattle survive only where
a water supply is assured.

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