Latest News

2010-04-06 : Bushmen, Khoi, San, Khoi-San?

Michael kwhattu.jpg [© 2009 gondwanastudio.com]

Are you interested in different cultures? Do you like authenticity? About an hour from Cape Town I recently met with the most passionate & enthusiastic team that takes an interest in their past, present and future of the "bushmen”:!Khwattu!


!Khwattu! is not just another lodge. On the property there is a training school for member of these specific communities who wish to conserve their culture and share it with others. They come from all over: Botswana, Namibia, South Africa..


One way of sharing their traditions is by taking visitors on a walking tour. There are 2 different walking tours:

One is called "The Gatherer” which tells how the women would collect berries, fruits & plants and how they would use them in their daily life (food, medicine). Another tour is called "The hunter” which tells about how the men used to hunt , make fire etc. Tours are done in small groups which gives opportunity to ask questions and be interactive. I learned so many interesting things and can highly recommend these tours. There is also an educational center / museum which gives you an amazing overview of what place these cultures had and have in Southern Africa and the changes over the years.

Both walks end at the educational center where you are given a small language course. The many different dialects are explained and you learn a few words of the typical "Click” language. 

Bushmen, Khoi, San, Khoi-San? - BelAfrique - your personal travel planner - kids.jpg [© 2009 gondwanastudio.com]

Excuse me for being blunt but I like to be clear: for those expecting half naked people with a rug tied around their waists and a twig bow in their hands: this is not what you'll find. !Khwattu! is about real people sharing their customs & traditions and their integration in the modern world. It’s about people that care about sustainability, pride and understanding the importance of heritage. As mentioned, !Khwattu! is part of Fair Trade in Tourism. Fair Trade in Tourism South Africa (FTTSA) is a non-profit organisation that promotes sustainable tourism development, another reason to be enthusiastic about this fascinating place!

For those who wish to overnight, there is a tented camp and some self catering cottages available at very reasonable prices.
There is also a restaurant with a large garden where you can enjoy your food under a beautiful Fig tree. The meals are delicious and a highlight for me was that they try and incorporate typical indigenous ingredients in the different dishes. I for example, had a mouthwatering Kei-apple cheesecake. If you are a group, there are also a few magnificent venues to accommodate you away from your normal artificially lit conference room.

Are you interested in this fascinating place: contact me!

[author: Isabelle Dechamps]

| home | ideas | incentives | references | responsible tourism | affiliations | car hire | flights | terms | news | contact |