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Sperrgebiet. Isn't that the forbidden diamond area? Or one that previously was such?

I read it up earlier and found out that the Germans claimed this land and created an area where only they could do the mining. In World War I South Africa won from the Germans and in nowadays a small percentage still is mined for diamonds.

Really going "out on a limb" here...

The Shepherd's Tree provides shade all day, as it's branches are circular, and shade seeking animals do not have to shift position as they do under other desert trees.

Their branches often reach to the ground, providing limbs on which the cheetah can survey its surroundings, as well as mark its territory, via feces and urine, signaling other competing cheetahs in the area.

Is it to do with the fact that the leaves are very nutricious, being high in protein and vitamin A, thus being a good food source for aniamls? Thus, while resting beneath the tree, lunch may just come to them?

Yes, the Shepherd's Tree does provide good shade! In summer the sand temperatures can become extremely hot and the sand temp under the Shepherd's Tree can be up to 21 degrees C (70 degrees F) lower!

It is also a good food source for browsers in the Kalahari.

A 'coffee' is made from the lateral roots by the folk of the Kalahari. The roots are dug up, debarked and dried to make a 'coffee' ... which one would probably only enjoy if there was little chance drinking the real thing for a while.

The tree has many uses and this makes it protected and have almost holy status amongst the local tribes.

Cheetah mom and cubs enjoying the shade of a Shepherd's Tree


The tree from a distance

Name 2 plants animals in KTP eat to supplement their water intake
in the drier months.

Tsamma melons and Gemsbok cucumber!!

Well done Ingrid

Concur! Nice to see you here Ingrid60! Guess our work's REALLY cut out for us now that we have yet another Kalahariaholic onboard!

Should be FUN! C'mon the rest of you, we're a force to be reckoned with. Join in!

Not a Kgalagadiaholic yet but I am working on it

Do you know the story of the Giraffe in KTP?
A very kind regular visitor from England told me the story and I found it very fascinating. I don't know if it's true though.

and the story Rieks? Let's have it; I for one do not know it.

Some years back (don't know exactly) the Park decided to introduce Giraffe to KTP to see if they would survive. They brought in ±14 Giraffe from Namibia and kept them in a 'kraal' for a couple of years close to Mata Mata.
These Giraffes do look different than the ones in KNP - their spots are darker.

The lions lingered around this kraal day in and day out. They knew there was food. The Giraffe thrived so well in their new environment that the Park decided to let them free after a couple of years. The lions did not touch them as they did not know what it was and what to do with them.
They increased to more than ±60 and are having a 'jol of a time'.
Maybe there is somebody that will give us the correct dates and figures or maybe rectify where I am wrong.

There you see Rieks, I did not know they were introduced; again I have learned something new! Do you know if they lived there originally? I suppose so, if not it would be a strange idea to try to introduce them, or no?

Micetta ... maybe one of the Gurus will help us here.