A time with the first people: The Old Ways.

Have you ever wondered how people survived in the harsh, mostly waterless semi-arid environment of the Kalahari? Famously, the Kalahari San pioneered and explored incredible ways to exist under the baking sun. Edible roots, fruits, nuts, tubers and bulbs would form a large part of their diet along with meat supplements when the hunting was good. Foraging parties made up mostly of women and older children would set off to gather and collect nutritious treasures as well as seek out plants that have medicinal qualities. Through the passage of time, certain plants were identified for use to cure or relieve ailments within the family groups. Headaches, diarrhea and period pain for example could be treated based on The San’s deep and extensive knowledge of the lands they call home – The Kalahari.

The men in turn, would leave their camp in search of wild animals to hunt. Light weight bows, arrows and digging sticks would be the little they would carry. The hunting party would lug a limited water supply in Ostrich egg shells and additional moisture would be found in underground tubers along the way. Because their bows were lightweight, The San found out that the larvae of a certain beetle in the Genus Diamphidia would serve as a very effective poison to quickly incapacitate an animal at close range. Getting close to antelope like Oryx or Eland called for incredible tracking skills and the ability to stalk without disturbing the target. To this day, The San are well recognized to be some of the greatest hunters and trackers on Earth.