Embarking on a quest to fulfill major "bucket list" items, the Fernweh Chronicles documented a recent family expedition deep into Southern Botswana, achieving the twin goals of tracking alongside the ancient San Bushmen and engaging with the mesmerizing wildlife, from colossal elephants to captivating meerkats. The journey, undertaken by Tara, the narrator, and their children, Bodie and Liv, centered around understanding the San, who are celebrated by scientists as the descendants of the earliest human tribes and possess some of the most genetically diverse DNA among living humans.
The cultural immersion began with the San elders demonstrating timeless survival methods, despite the fact that not all San members today live a pure hunter-gatherer existence, as the government has provided facilities like schools and clinics to promote equality. The children, already showing promise as "quite good little trackers," were taught critical bush etiquette, including the interpreter’s strict warning never to run when encountering large game such as lions or elephants.
They also learned traditional life hacks, such as utilizing old elephant dung to repel mosquitoes by digging a hole, setting the dung alight, and letting it burn overnight to create natural, repellant fumes. The primal skill of friction-based fire making, a practice passed down through generations, was successfully accomplished, leaving young Liv immensely proud of her achievement. This success echoed the profound realization that the San carried that "metaphorical fire across deserts and oceans".
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The wildlife portion of the adventure was equally intense. The family started by viewing zebras and elephants from a specialized hide that allowed for observation without being seen. Later, they settled into Jack's Camp, famed for its "inquisitive neighbors" and luxurious setting, including a treehouse perched over salt pans. A defining moment was the encounter with meerkats, who sought out the highest available vantage points, sometimes climbing onto visitors' heads and shoulders, to look out for danger. They observed the meerkats' hunting prowess, noting they feed on scorpions, termites, beetles, lizards, and frogs. A guide demonstrated how scorpions, which can dig more than half a meter deep, could be calmed, but sternly warned that a human stung by one would face extreme, painful consequences requiring immediate hospitalization for at least three hours. The family also spotted aardvarks—which one child mistakenly identified as a creature found in Las Vegas—a type of anteater, although they didn't catch sight of them while they were actively awake, as they typically stir at night. The expedition culminated in the Fernweh Chronicles capturing a stunning sunrise over the Kalahari Desert salt pans, where the family enjoyed hot chocolate before riding off into the "seemingly endless Kalahari Desert" on quads, wrapping up their time in the "truly spectacular country".
The Fernweh Chronicles extended an invitation to viewers inspired by their trip, announcing a partnership with Go to Africa, a safari specialist. They highlighted that the company offers over 300 customizable itineraries across more than a dozen countries, provides 24/7 assistance, and operates a positive impact program where bookings contribute to protecting wildlife and uplifting local communities.
