In this episode, we’re looking at the Kalahari Ecosystem. Botswana is a country that named its currency „Pula“ - the Setswana word for „rain“. Rain dictates life. Massive thunderstorms cross the vast open plains of the Kalahari and create heavy local downpours. The mighty Kwango river floods the Okavango Delta in the north, turning the dry sand into the worlds largest inland delta. Thousands of animals make their annual migration to grazing grounds - and in their shadows, predators like Lions follow. Let’s have a closer look at the seasons of Botswana!

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2020 was supposed to be the year when we would reopen our camp for tourists. We had it all planned out, excited to open our gates in June. Well, as we all know it all came different. The corona virus claims lives all over the world and lockdown measures are being implemented. International travel has become virtually impossible.

Although Botswana might be one of the least populated countries in the world, we make no exception. In this episode I am taking you through 6 months of lockdown. Ups and Downs and how we improvise to get through these challenging times.

Stay healthy, stay safe everyone!

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This episode centers around a sad fact: Botswana used to be home to Africa's second largest Wildebeest migration, only second in size to the Masai Mara/Serengeti Migration.

This migration disappeared decades ago. Hundreds of thousands of antelope died off. Why it happened, and what we could do to bring these numbers back - in this episode of the Kalahari Diaires!

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Mentioned Links:

Arithmetic, Population and Energy - a talk by Al Bartlett

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O133ppiVnWY

The Effects of Veterinary Fences on Wildlife Populations in Okavango Delta, Botswana

https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/3f1f/b052941d5993c9c151c9015f434815f5e823.pdf?_ga=2.95927070.383089270.1596375735-797873679.1596375735

Vet Fences in Botswana

http://www.botswana.co.za/Wildlife_Conservation-travel/vet-fences.html

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In this episode, we're going way back! I often get asked how Sirga, a tiny lion cub, came into my life, how I raised her and how we formed a unique bond. In this episode I read from my diary in which I documented Sirgas first 60 days with me - the last time I had a look at it, was at the time I wrote it. 8 years ago.

I am also telling the story of the very first kill she made when she was just 16 months old. Many "Lion experts" told me, that after her first kill, everything in our relationship would change. Well, I was also worried. But it all turned out very differently than anyone could have imagined. Enjoy listening to the Kalahari diaries!

Many people dream of being close to African wildlife. Being close to lions, cheetahs and leopards is not a question of "how" than rather a matter of "how much". All over the world, there are facilities which meet the demand of animal lovers wanting to pet lions and other wildlife. But do these facilities fulfil the claims they make to draw in well-meaning tourists? Does the "orphaned" lion cub get raised and released back into the wild? Is there even space for more lions in the wild? Does the facility use the funding to support the conservation of wild animals?

My name is Valentin Grüner. I live in one of Africa’s most remote Wilderness areas. The Kalahari in Botswana. Nature and Wildlife is my biggest passion. I hand-raised Sirga the Lioness and walked the Kalahari to join her on her hunts. I work in tourism and nature conservation. How I got here? Well - it’s kind of a long story! Join me for my very first podcast episode!

See you next time on the Kalahari Diaries!