In the Kalahari desert, resources are not plentiful. Although food and water are scarce, the natives of the region have specialized in finding the substances they need to survive.

Mongongo Nut

Mongongo Tree

Elephants eating at Mongongo Tree

One such food is the Mongongo nut. The nut grows on large trees spread throughout the desert. An easier way of finding this nut is to dig through Elephant dung, as it is a main staple of the animals diet. The mongongo nut is also a main part of the !Kung diet, it consists approximately a third of what they eat.

Although the !Kung's diet consists a 1/3 of mongo nuts. The other 2/3 of their diet consists of nuts and roots, melons and berries. Meat is rare, but constantly sought after. They hunt attempt antelope and giraffe.

In order to get water, the !Kung drink out of fruit, roots and vines that they dig up from the ground.

Baobab Seed Pod

Kalahari Antelope

Marula Nut

Sha root

Tsamma Mellon