I spent three weeks in Ghanzi a few years back, and the D'kar Cultural...
Rivera Gideon@gideonrivera1929
12 days ago
I spent three weeks in Ghanzi a few years back, and the D'kar Cultural Center was the highlight of my trip. What struck me most wasn't just the displays or the guided tours, but the way the San elders run practical workshops there. I sat in on a morning session where an older woman taught a small group of us how to identify edible roots and berries from plants that just looked like weeds to me. She didn't use any fancy tools, just her hands and a digging stick. That hands-on knowledge is disappearing fast, and the center is one of the few places where it's still passed down directly.
If you're planning a visit, here's a tip: don't just show up and expect a polished performance. Call ahead and ask if you can join one of the bush walks they arrange with local trackers. The guy who led my walk, a San man named Tjako, could read animal tracks in the sand like most of us read a newspaper. He pointed out a porcupine trail, showed us where a jackal had stopped to drink, and even found a small scorpion buried beneath a rock. It's not touristy at all, it feels genuine.
Also, check out the small craft shop attached to the center. They sell handmade jewelry and leather goods, but the real find is the small selection of books about San folklore and history. I picked up a thin paperback called "Stories from the Kalahari," and it's been a fascinating read ever since. Support that shop, it goes directly back to the community.
12 days ago
