The !Ae!Hai Kalahari Heritage Park is a cultural, ecological, and astronomical treasure in the southwestern corner of the Kalahari Desert. Part of the spectacular 3.6 million hectare Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park straddling South Africa and Botswana, ! Ae!Hai was launched in 2002 as part of land claim awarded to the ‡Khomani San Bushmen and Mier communities in the area. Roughly 95,000 hectares – nearly 60,00 within the Kgalagadi and 35,000 south of it – were restored to the communities, and the heritage park was born. ‡Khomani and Mier representatives co-manage the park with SANparks, aiming to preserve the Indigenous communities’ traditional knowledge and culture while improving sustainability. Recent events attesting to the park’s significance are its designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2017 and an International Dark Sky Sanctuary in 2019.

 

‘!Ae! Hai’ means ‘gemsbok tail’ in N/u, one of the ‡Khomani languages – a nod to the names of the two parks incorporated into the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park and to the region’s most iconic antelope, the gemsbok or oryx.

The‡Khomani San Connection: The !Ae!Hai Kalahari Heritage Park covers some of the ancestral lands of the ‡Khomani San, and is aimed at giving the ‡Khomani a physical and spiritual place to reclaim and practice their ancient traditions and to school the younger generations in tradition and culture, a hunter-gatherer culture dating back more than 20,000 years. San, or Bushman, genetic origins date back more than a million years, making them humanity’s oldest genetic stock. When the Kalahari Gemsbok National Park was proclaimed in 1931, San who had lived in the area for centuries were displaced, leading to the disintegration of their culture and widespread poverty as they were severed from the land. Until the land claim was filed in 1995, many young ‡Khomani had no idea they were San, and no grasp of their cultural heritage. The heritage park and related activities within it – such as the Imbewu field school where ‡Khomani elders are teaching youth traditional skills and stories – cultivates and preserves a wealth of indigenous knowledge and strengthens a fragmented community.

 

The Mier Community Connection: The !Ae!Hai Kalahari Heritage Park is also a significant site for the Mier community, whose roots in the area are deeply intertwined with the history of the land. The Mier people, descendants of a mixed group of settlers who have lived in the Kalahari for generations, have developed a unique way of life adapted to the arid environment. Their heritage is characterized by resilience and a strong sense of community, which has enabled them to maintain their cultural identity despite the challenges posed by displacement and environmental changes.

When the Kalahari Gemsbok National Park was established in 1931, the Mier, like the ‡Khomani San, were displaced, severing their connection to the land that had sustained them for centuries. The land claim filed by the Mier in 1995 was a crucial step in reclaiming their heritage and ensuring that future generations could reconnect with their ancestral lands. Today, the !Ae!Hai Kalahari Heritage Park stands as a testament to the Mier’s enduring connection to the land, offering them a space to preserve their cultural practices, traditional knowledge, and community cohesion.

Through initiatives within the park, such as cultural education programs and sustainable land use practices, the Mier community is actively involved in the stewardship of their ancestral lands, ensuring that their heritage and way of life are passed on to future generations.

The !Xaus Lodge Connection: !Xaus Lodge is the sole tourism facility within the !Ae!Hai Kalahari Heritage Park, offering visitors a unique opportunity to experience the vastness of the Kalahari Desert while supporting the local communities. The lodge is a product of the historic land settlement agreement between the ‡Khomani San and Mier communities. Situated on a red sand dune overlooking a salt pan and a freshwater waterhole, !Xaus Lodge is more than just a place to stay; it is a symbol of reconciliation and collaboration between these communities.

The lodge provides an immersive experience in the heart of the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, where guests can participate in guided walks and game drives while learning about the rich cultural heritage of the ‡Khomani San and Mier. The income generated by the lodge is vital for the development and sustainability of these communities, ensuring that they remain active stewards of their ancestral lands.