Hunting tools of the San community

Hunting holds deep cultural significance for our San community. It’s more than just a means of survival or sport; it’s a practice that goes beyond rituals. Our basic hunting method involves tracking and striking game with spears or bows and arrows.

The arrows (kxaosha) have three parts: the shaft, made from stalks of a cultivated plant, and the arrowhead, crafted from a piece of wire about 2mm thick.

The arrows used for hunting are made from peeled tree branches, shaped into smooth shafts and knotted for strength. Our arrows are crafted as lethal weapons.

The tip, once made from bone or small flaked stones, is now crafted from flattened nails or wire. Having mastered bow-making, Kgao is shown here securing the tip with a reed collar, which will later be poisoned and dried.

The poison (g!ain) used on the arrows is made from a white bug that feeds on the leaves of the Commiphora shrub during the wet season. As we believe in a slow kill, the poison begins working as soon as the arrow strikes, gradually taking the animal’s life.

To stay comfortable and prepared for the hunt, we carry a bag made from steenbok, holding all our essential tools.

Hunting is a way of life for us, tied to our nomadic existence. It reflects our belief that “one should use nature judiciously.” By moving from place to place, we give the environment time to replenish before returning to the same campsite.