After the last post we drove to Tsumkwe, which is a small city in the middle of the Kalahari where many of the Ju/'Hoansi (a tribe of the San, also sometimes known as Bushmen) live today. It was a deep and very interesting experience, and it will be hard to describe it in a short text like this. We visited a traditional village, where we saw the way they used to live, we sat down with one family to learn and experience their way of doing craft, and we also joined a traditional, short hunting trip (in which we didn't encounter any animals). Communication was not easy, reflecting the significant cultural differences. The 3 days we spent there were challenging in many ways, and yet a day after we left we already felt ready to go back. It is interesting since it was not easy, but somehow those people in the desert left a significant impression on us.
After we left Tsumkwe we went to the Caprivi in the far northern tip of Namibia - we went to visit the Mafwe tribe. There is something called the living museum for some tribes in Namibia. The idea is that you can go there to see the traditional way of life of the tribe (and also the modern village if you wish) and so generate a source of income for the community that also help them preserve their traditional life style. As you can see in the website for the Mafwe, it is open all year round and you can just come. So we did. We arrived towards dark to a beautiful strange place, where there was a traditional village - completely empty - in the heart of a Baobab trees forest. We decided to go look for the people in the near by villages the next morning, and for now camped in this isolated magical spot. In the morning, after some more misunderstanding, we met an old lady that signaled us that she will go call the others...
We came to see their traditional craft, but as they arrived they immediately changed to their traditional cloths and assumed we came to see the signing and dancing, while we were failing to explain what we came for. So we did (in addition to the craft), and it was an amazing experience! They seemed to have as much fun as we did, and they saw us off singing druming and clapping at the sides of the road.
We then started to make our way towards Botswana. We slept in a place near the Okavango river - just before it turns into the Okavango delta in Botswana. During the night we could hear the hippos near by. What does a hippo sounds like? LOUD. A little like a motor boat trying to start. In the morning we drove through the Mahango national park in which we saw (among other animals) a lion and a lioness, sitting at the side of the road, and just 30 meters behind, a family of warthogs peacefully grazing. Once the lioness saw them though, she chased them away - though it seemed mostly to scare them off than to hunt them...
We passed the border to Botswana and reached Maun, from which we took a 2 days Mokoro ride in the delta - it was an interesting experience, slowly sailing through the high reeds, seeing elephants, zebras, babboons and many other animals on the small islands, though it did not match the delta's magnificent reputation. At night, near the fire a tiny frog (as long as my little finger) decided to come sit on my nee and enjoy the fire.
We will start our way back to Windhoek Namibia, where we will return the car and start making our way to Victoria falls and beyond...
After we left Tsumkwe we went to the Caprivi in the far northern tip of Namibia - we went to visit the Mafwe tribe. There is something called the living museum for some tribes in Namibia. The idea is that you can go there to see the traditional way of life of the tribe (and also the modern village if you wish) and so generate a source of income for the community that also help them preserve their traditional life style. As you can see in the website for the Mafwe, it is open all year round and you can just come. So we did. We arrived towards dark to a beautiful strange place, where there was a traditional village - completely empty - in the heart of a Baobab trees forest. We decided to go look for the people in the near by villages the next morning, and for now camped in this isolated magical spot. In the morning, after some more misunderstanding, we met an old lady that signaled us that she will go call the others...
We came to see their traditional craft, but as they arrived they immediately changed to their traditional cloths and assumed we came to see the signing and dancing, while we were failing to explain what we came for. So we did (in addition to the craft), and it was an amazing experience! They seemed to have as much fun as we did, and they saw us off singing druming and clapping at the sides of the road.
We then started to make our way towards Botswana. We slept in a place near the Okavango river - just before it turns into the Okavango delta in Botswana. During the night we could hear the hippos near by. What does a hippo sounds like? LOUD. A little like a motor boat trying to start. In the morning we drove through the Mahango national park in which we saw (among other animals) a lion and a lioness, sitting at the side of the road, and just 30 meters behind, a family of warthogs peacefully grazing. Once the lioness saw them though, she chased them away - though it seemed mostly to scare them off than to hunt them...
We passed the border to Botswana and reached Maun, from which we took a 2 days Mokoro ride in the delta - it was an interesting experience, slowly sailing through the high reeds, seeing elephants, zebras, babboons and many other animals on the small islands, though it did not match the delta's magnificent reputation. At night, near the fire a tiny frog (as long as my little finger) decided to come sit on my nee and enjoy the fire.
We will start our way back to Windhoek Namibia, where we will return the car and start making our way to Victoria falls and beyond...
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