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Kalahari safaris struggle in drought - 11th March 2020

This Northern Cape game farm has suffered the deaths of over one thousand animals in the last few months.

South Africa’s entire Kalahari region is being crippled by one of the worst droughts in living memory.

Burger Schoeman manages Thuru Lodge resort; "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."

In common with many other farms in the region, Thuru Lodge relies heavily on international hunters for its income. However, the weather conditions and the absence of animals to hunt have resulted in no-one visiting the area.

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 currently faces feed bills averaging $14,000 a month just to keep its livestock from dying. Meanwhile, workers on the farm, dependent on tips from tourists, are also struggling to make ends meet.

Although the rainy season will deliver short-term relief, the region’s recovery will take a year and, during this time, many businesses will go bankrupt.