BACK TO NATURE
The Kalahari is wild and free and you’re not guaranteed to see every animal or bird, but with so many species roaming the riverbed and red sand dunes, you’ll go home with most of your list ticked.
Keen to ensure I see m meerkats I visit a sa anctuary where m mongoose expert Prof A Anne Rasa ( WWW.KALAHARIRAILS.TR ) offers 2-3 hour guided ided walks alks and le ets me coo at orphan baby meerkats. Later, I e enjoy a game drive with Vinkie’s Kalahari E Experience ( WWW.KALAHARIVINKIE.CO.ZA) and spot m my first giraffe before returning to Aunt K Koera’s lodge for a traditional African feast, d dancing and storytelling under the stars.
The first predator I see is a cheetah, s stretched lazily under a tree, too hot to cchase the wildebeest that graze nearby.
And, oh, the birds! There are ostrich, s secretary birds, vultures and owls. E Especially impressive are the kori bustard – t the largest flying birds in the world, they fl flock together on the plains, turning the la andscape into a version of Jurassic park.
On an early morning game drive, the cry of ““lions” goes up. There they are, a male and tw wo females, feasting on a freshly-caught o oryx. Our party watch in wonder. Then, as our gu uide drives on, giraffe appear over the sand du unes, meerkats pop up to catch up the sun w while hungry jackal and hyena make their way to o the kill.
For more information please visit WWW. SOUTHAFRICA.NETREAD more about Karen’s Kalahari adventures at WWW.MYWEEKLY.CO.UK/CATEGORY/LIFESTYLE