Khoisan Karoo Conservancy

A hot wind blows across the veld, whipping up dust devils and bending the soft golden grasses before it. Tiny scrub hares and steenbokkies crouch among the low shrubs and termite mounds. A blue korhaan struts boldly, unconcerned by the turbulence around it, its strident, insistent call filling the air. A pair of blue cranes glide in, necks and outstretched legs contriving a delicate balancing act as they prepare to land on the sandy runway of the river bank. A hearty snorting near the reeds lets us know the hippo is wallowing.

An orange sun is on the horizon, signalling the end of a hot Karoo day. Delectable aromas waft from the braai lit on flood-scoured slabs of rock – eland boerewors, buffalo fillet and distinctive succulent lamb. Tales abound of the day’s sightings, walks in the veld to see history in situ, the remnants of past battles between Boer and Brit, the tools and etchings of earlier generations of Khoisan and veld lore known only by those who live on this ancient soil.

Later a night drive along rough tracks through the vastness, where aardwolf, aardvark, porcupines and other creatures of the night may surprise us. Nightjars sit unperturbed in the headlights and an owl hoots gently in a tall gumtree.

This is the Khoisan Karoo Conservancy. Feed your soul in the silence.