A bit about this place

Fully booked from 15 December 07 until 15 January 2008 Motswiri Lodge is a self-owned and managed game lodge situated in the heart of the Kanana Wilderness. The lodge is built around a collection of Calcrete pans which are an essential water source for much of the game in the area. During the Winter months pans dry up, leaving just a small just a small puddle for the animals to drink from. However in a good rainy season, the pans can fill up completely and maintain their water for almost 12-months. The Lodge is made up of an assortment of luxury, walk in safari tents. All the tents have comfy beds and offer en-suite toilets and showers, with hot and cold water. Each tent has a porch with a table and chairs, where you can still quietly and watch the game come down to drink. The main lodge is a large spacious area, where you can either enjoy a few light refreshments at our bar or relax in the comfort of our lounge; where there is a small library of books about the area and wildlife. These books are for your use whilst you are with us. The Kalahari is renowned for its wide open spaces with pockets of wildlife, a consequence of its arid nature. However, Kanana Wilderness on the water rich limestone ridges of Ghanzi is an oasis amidst this aridity. Kanana has game in abundance sustained by this unique eco-system. Herds of over two hundred eland can be seen and other Kalahari species such as gemsbok, springbok, red hartebeest, blue wildebeest, kudu and zebra thrive, whilst giraffe, duiker, steenbok and warthog are all common. Predator species - leopard, cheetah, wild dog, jackal, caracal, civet, brown and spotted hyena occur and although elusive are occasionally encountered. The arid areas of Africa continue to surprise those whose interest is bird life, reptiles and the smaller mammals. The Kanana pan system attracts thousands of sand grouse together with flocks of guinea fowl and doves which in turn sustain the raptors - bateleur, marshal and other eagles, with vultures, goshawks and kestrels in close attendance. Tortoise and other smaller and lesser known species are there to be discovered, with the giant ostrich overseeing this panoply. Experienced and qualified staff, assisted by bushmen guides, accompany you as you explore by vehicle, horse back or on foot, interpreting the secrets of this remote and isolated savannah, part of one of the last expanses of wilderness in Africa. Bushmen cultural experiences The Bushmen, also known as the San or Basarwa, have nomadically roamed the Kalahari for thousands of years, feeding off the land and managing to stay uniquely separated from society and technology. Although they are now coming under increasing pressure to conform with society, Kanana Wilderness is one of the few places in the world where Bushmen can be seen practicing the same lifestyle they have maintained for centuries. Ghanzi district resident Ada Hardbattle is the daughter of a London policeman and a Bushman mother, with whom she still lives, and is uniquely placed to provide a window into this fast-vanishing culture. She embodies two very different worlds, with one foot firmly in modern-day Botswana, the other in a culture transcending millennia. At Kanana, we are lucky to have a close relationship with Ada, and with her fluency in Nharo, she is the ideal guide for visitors wishing to learn more about this fascinating way of life. Ada ensures that a significant proportion of her income from sharing her heritage with visitors to the area goes directly to benefit the Bushmen, and in conjunction with Ada we can offer the following: Bushman dancing These dances are not commercial demonstrations performed by rote. Rather they are carried out by some of the few Bushmen still living their traditional lifestyle deep in the Kalahari, close to Kanana. Visitors will be able to enjoy an evening in the bush, sitting round a fire as the Bushmen dance, clap and chant in rhythmical harmony. The evening ends with drinks and supper, as you absorb the ancient culture of the Kalahari’s eldest statesmen. The Melon dance This takes place in the early evening around the fire, and exhorts the gods for the rains to come and give a good yield of Tsama melons. These melons are a vital source of water when traveling through the big thirst which is the Kalahari desert. The Trance Dance This is the most famous dance, as well as being the hardest to witness, as it needs a ‘doctor’ to lead it and is not normally done with spectators. The duration can be anything from three hours to all night, depending on the gods. A guided Bushman walk Set off on foot into the Kanana Wilderness with a Bushman guide, who will interpret the world of the Kalahari in the distinctive clicking Bushman language. Ada, whose mother tongue is Nharo, will be with you to translate. You will discover how the Bushmen interpret the seemingly invisible clues left by animals, which give away their movements, and may even be fortunate enough to stalk some game. Your guide will also explain the nutritional and medicinal uses of the various plants, shrubs, roots and insects, which will give you some understanding as to how the Bushmen have survived in this environment so successfully. If you are feeling brave, you can participate in the creation of a traditional meal using natural bush products found on the walk. Visit to Groote Laagte Groote Laagte is a domestic settlement designed by the Botswana government to give the Bushmen the opportunity to integrate with society. This interesting afternoon trip illustrates how the government intends to improve the social standing of the Bushmen – the village provides electricity, running water and facilities to give the Bushmen the chance to live the lifestyle enjoyed by the rest of the population Horseriding We have introduced Boereperds to Kanana as they are relaxed horses with a sturdy nature. They have been bred to exist in the arid conditions of rural Southern Africa and are very accustomed to walking through the bush. By their very nature, Boereperds are placid and easy to handle, which means a rider of any standard can explore the reserve. We have two options for those who wish to take a guided horse ride through Kanana Wilderness: Outride We have a number of horses available for visitors to take on a guided ride for a few hours. Our guides are flexible and able to structure your afternoon ride to suit your preferences and ability. Overnight experience For the more adventurous, we offer the opportunity to spend the day on a guided trail through the bush, culminating in an evening by a camp fire before sleeping in a ‘fly camp’ in the bush. In the morning you will have a hearty breakfast before you explore an alternative route back to your starting place. Bird watching Kanana Wilderness is a paradise for birdlife. With our numerous hides, birdwatchers can sit for hours and see a vast array of colourful birdlife, from the vibrant lilac-breasted roller, to the largest of all the flying birds of the Kalahari, the Kori bustard. Vehicles are diverted from the bird hides to ensure there is no noise pollution to distract from your pleasure. You can also choose to observe from the back of a game vehicle, asking your driver to stop at a waterhole of your choice. In the north of the reserve, there is very little standing water, so our waterholes become a hive of activity for all the birds. Some come to drink, some come to eat and some come to eat those that drink! For those that are inclined, there is constant activity to see in the sky.