Book tip: Stories of an almost vanished Desert People

The Ju/'hoansi in northeastern Namibia are the last San people who still live, in part, as traditional hunter-gatherers. This was emphasised by Allen Zimbler at the presentation of his book, 'Kalahari Diaries – Impressions of a Desert People,' last night at the Namibia Scientific Society (NSS) in Windhoek.

 Bushmen expert Allen Zimbler with his book 'Kalahari Diaries - Impressions of a Desert People' after the launch at the Namibia Scientific Society in Windhoek, Namibia. Photo: Namibian.org

"Fifty years ago, I embarked on my first expedition to the Kalahari in Botswana," Zimbler recounted. "It was the first of many I undertook in the following fifteen years. Into a world of pristine nature, less than 500 km from the metropolitan world of Johannesburg."

What fascinated Allen Zimbler was the fact that people managed to live in the 'Kgalagadi', the land of thirst (Tswana). They pressed water from tubers and roots, they ate veld fruits and termites – and, hunting fortune provided, also game meat.

"They took only as much as they needed for their survival and always made sure that enough remained in nature." A stark contrast to the Western world of consumerism, which exploits nature and struggles to find ways to live sustainably.

Zimbler's Diary in the Kalahari

Day after day, Zimbler noted what he learned from these people about living in and with nature. How they lived together, as equals and cooperatively. How they raised their children. Decades later, he typed up the notes. A professional writer transformed them into stories and compiled them into a book.

With stories and photographs, the book 'Kalahari Diaries' paints a vivid picture of a desert people. The illustrations in the appendix are also fascinating: jewelry, everyday objects, toys and weapons. All crafted from what the Kalahari nature provided: bones, hides, eggshells, wood, pods and seeds.

"For a long time, I wondered," says Zimbler, "whether I, as an outsider, should be allowed to tell the stories of the Bushmen." He ultimately answered in the affirmative, because otherwise the stories would be lost forever.

Because this desert people, with their hunter-gatherer lifestyle, has now almost disappeared. Diamond mining and cattle ranching have gradually driven them from their territories in the Kalahari.

Book also aims to support the Ju/'hoansi.

With his book, Zimbler also hopes to contribute to preserving the world of the last traditionally living San groups – the Ju/'hoansi. The are located in the Nyae Nyae Conservation Area near Tsumkwe in northeastern Namibia.

In the last chapter, Zimbler mentions the Ju/'hoansi Development Fund unobtrusively, even without providing contact information. You have to google it: Ju/'hoansi Development Fund (website: VillageSchoolsNamibia.

This non-profit organisation raises funds to build primary schools for Ju/'hoansi children. The government finances teachers and teaching materials. At the same time, clan elders impart knowledge and skills of their traditional way of life to the children.

Incidentally, a Ju/'hoansi man ultimately brought Zimbler final peace of mind regarding the question of whether he was allowed to write the stories of this desert people. After reviewing the book, the Ju/'hoansi said: "This is exactly what we need to tell our children about our original way of life."

Allen Zimbler reveals more about himself and his excursions to San communities in the Kalahari Desert of Botswana in an extensive interview.

The book 'Kalahari Diaries' can be found in the NSS library in Windhoek. You can also order it from Exclusive Books (Namibia) and from Yale University Press (worldwide).

Cover of 'Kalahari Diaries - Impressions of a Desert People' by Allen Zimbler, Paul Holberton Publishing, London 2025.