Cultural sensitivity isnft something that a guidebook can teach you, though reading the section on cultural guidelines, may help. Being sensitive to the results of your actions and attitudes on others is especially important in this area.

The Bushmen are often a humble people, who regard arrogance as a vice. It is normal for them to be self-deprecating amongst themselves, to make sure that everyone is valued and nobody becomes too proud. So the less you are perceived as a loud, arrogant foreigner, the better.

Very few foreigners can pick up much of the local Ju/fhonasi language without living here for a long time. (Readers note that spellings of the same word can vary from text to text, especially on maps.) However, if you want to try to pronounce the words then there are four main clicks to master:
/ is a sucking sound behind the teeth
// is a sucking sound at the side of the mouth, used to urge a horse
! a popping sound, like a cork coming out of a bottle
‚ a sharper popping sound (this is the hardest).

What to do and what to see

Aside from coming here out of a general curiosity about the areafs wildlife and culture, one area stands out: the Nyae Nyae Pan. This is a large complex of beautiful salt pans, about 18km south of Tsumkwe. During good rains it fills with water and attracts flamingos to breed, as well as dozens of other waterbirds including avocets, pygmy geese, grebes, various pipers and numerous plovers. Forty-six different species of waterbirds have been recorded here when the pan was full.

Towards the end of the dry season you can normally expect game drinking here, and the regulars include kudu, gemsbok, steenbok, duiker and elephant. Meanwhile black-backed jackals patrol, and the grass grows to 60cm tall around the pan, with a belt of tall trees beyond that.