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Kalahari safaris struggle in drought - 11th March 2020

The animals on this South African farm are dying. More than one thousand have died in a few months.

There has been no rain anywhere in the Kalahari region in Northern Cape. It is the worst drought anyone can remember.

Burger Schoeman is the manager at Thuru Lodge; "we are trying to go on as we are at the moment, but it’s only going to be so long before all our resources are out and we don't have any money left to do what we do."

Thuru Lodge is visited by tourists who hunt animals. Because of the drought, there are no animals to hunt. This means few people are coming to stay.

Burger Schoeman: "unfortunately the drought forced us to place all our bookings on hold. We can't book a guy coming from overseas having the safari feeling and trying to give him the best safari he ever had but the animals that are here are very skinny and is dying."

The lodge has to feed the animals to keep them alive. This is costing about $14,000 every month. Life is also hard for the farm workers, who usually get tips from tourists.

The rainy season is coming, which will help a little. During the year it will take the area to recover, many businesses will run out of money.