Sala Sentle: Kalahari Kids Kit

The proofs are being printed! Four books for starters, and we will start working on the fifth, about invertebrates - insects - snakes soon.

The concept is Jill Thomas’ idea. She owns Berrybush (Tsabong, Southwestern Kalahari Desert), offering campsites, rooms and delicious meals (see links below, Maud had so much fun there last year). It is a great place to be, and an ideal stopover for people on their way to Mabuasehube Game Reserve and Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. So Jill sees all those families in their 4x4s, packed with camping gear, all set and ready for the bush, kids on the backseat with their game computers and mp3 players. Will it be possible to get them at least a little bit interested in the flora and fauna they can spot if they look out of the window?

What if they would have little books that give them a preview of some animals and plants they are likely to see, instead of the big books full of stuff you are unlikely to spot and facts that are way over their head?

And for the little ones a nature colouring book. It will be a set of books and colouring pencils put all together in a custom made bag.

Since Jill doesn’t have time to go all the way from concept to a finished product, she asked us to assist her. Which might seem a bit over our head because we are neither native English speakers, nor nature photographers, nor flora and fauna experts. Jill has spent two years with the San, learning about Kalahari plants and their uses. Jill’s friend Vincent, who is a wildlife photographer, helped out with a lot of pictures. Jeff donated his knowledge about nature, English and Setswana. Jill’s brother-in-law Dave took care of the Afrikaans names.