12/01/2017 Botswana

Now we have been in Botswana for three days and there is a lot to tell again. After a long drive through part of the Kalahari Desert, we had the opportunity to get to know the San. They are people in Africa who live very originally and without any kind of technology.

There are many different tribes that are very similar in culture and daily life, but they all have a different language and do not understand each other. The state assigns them areas in which they can hunt and live, but in general they do not enjoy the best reputation, which could largely be due to the excessive alcohol consumption that apparently many San engage in. The area we were in should actually have given way to a large hotel complex and the San would have been displaced. To prevent this, a British couple decided to buy a lodge nearby and market the daily life of the San as an attraction. In the afternoon, we had a bush walk with them, where they explained to us how they manage to survive in this desert. We were able to try roots and leaves with which they prevent dehydration. They also explained animal tracks to us and showed us how they make fire without a lighter or matches. That was incredibly impressive and exciting.

In the evening, they told fables that they have been passing on for hundreds of years, and we were allowed to watch the traditional dances. They use these dances for spiritual cleansing but also to celebrate the community. The naturalness and openness with which these San live their culture is incredibly fascinating and hard to put into words. Because our truck got stuck in the mud, our stay with them lasted longer than planned. They and our driver tried all day and half the night to get the truck free. So we got to know the San in a completely different way than their reputation suggests and we really enjoyed the time with them.

Currently, we are in the Okavango Delta. To get all the way to the interior, we had to fly for about 40 minutes. The airplane had only 12 seats and was tiny. With my fear of flying, it took a lot of courage to get on there. But the flight was worth it, this area here is fantastic! We reside in small luxury tents and have our own outdoor shower.

The individual tents are connected to each other by wooden walkways, and in between there are trees, flowers, and various grasses. With a short walk, you reach a lake that would actually be completely overgrown with papyrus if it weren't for the hippos constantly creating new paths.

On this lake, we had two boat tours to watch the sunset.

In addition, we were lucky enough to experience a canoe trip with locals. They maneuvered us through the hippo channels, and all we had to do was not to fall in. On a small island, we had another bush walk with them. They were firmly convinced that Isa and I are twins... Even though we don't really look alike at all! We still can't believe that we are lucky enough to experience all of this!