soundandsmell,to knitthevarioustopics
together.A 270-degreefilmanda soundscape
of 24 hoursin theKalaharigivevisitorsa feel
forwhatit’slikein theSanworld.
“Thenewbuildingis to betheEmbassy
oftheSan,”Irenehadannouncedat the 2018
openingofthenewcentre.“Aplaceofdignity
andbeautywheretheycanhostmeetings.”
Insideandaroundthebuildingarelocal
indigenousplantsthathavebeensignificantto
peoplein thisregionforthousandsofyears.
“Theissueofusingwaterandresources
sensiblyis thestoryoftheSan,it is what
enabledthemto surviveforthousandsofyears
in theharshestpartsofSouthernAfrica,and
is notjusta storyforresponsibletourism,’’
MichaelsayswhenI congratulatehimon
recentawards.!Khwattuscoopeda Water
SustainabilityAwardlastyear,aswellas
SocialResponsibilityAwardand,thisyear,
theWesternCape’sCulturalAffairsAwardfor
theBestMuseumProject,anda goldforBest
HeritageExperience.
“Itis intrinsicto !Khwattu,whichwas
previouslya wheatfarm,thatwefollowan
ecologicallysustainablemodelofdevelopment
andsupporttheregenerationoftheland.Our
buildingcarriestheeco-messageofknow
more,needless,andlookafteryourresources,
includingyourcommunity,”Michaelsays.
!Khwattuusesboreholewaterandsolar
electricity.It recycles,reusesandrepurposes
resourcesasefficientlyaspossible,and
encouragesvisitorsto usewatersparingly,
andutiliseglassratherthanplasticwater bottles.
Suitablefoodwasteis fedto thechickens, which
supplytherestaurantwitheggs.
“Fromanemploymentperspective,
thecentreis deeplyembeddedin the local
community,buyingallitsfoodandresources
fromtheimmediateregionwhenever possible,”
explainsMichael.“Thisis a criticalpart of
presentingtheSanstoryin a widerecological
frameworkoflivingwellfromwhat is around
you.It’sa messagelinkedto ‘place-based
education’,oureducationalphilosophy in
whicha healthycommunityandhealthy
environmentgohandin hand.”Irene passed away in February this year,
almost exactly 20 years after she initiated the
!Khwa ttu project, one she was as proud of as
are the !Khwa ttu team and the San people.
Whether you are local or a visitor to the Cape,
looking for a solitary retreat or an active escape,
a visit to !Khwa ttu will be a moving experience.
Because, in the words of Dr Chris Low, “The
San’s story is a story of human origins, of
beginnings. As such, it is your story too.” ■
Map reference F2 see inside back cover!Khwa ttu is open daily 09h00 to 17h00
022 492 2998, [email protected]
http://www.khwattu.orgABOVE AND ABOVE RIGHT: Twice-daily conducted tours and regular children’s programmes
give fascinating insight into the culture, heritage, knowledge, skills and contemporary life of
the San. RIGHT: Boards identify the indigenous and medicinal plants significant to people in this
region for thousands of years. BOTTOM: !Khwa ttu is only an hour’s drive from Cape Town, and
has a guest house and tented accommodation if you want a tranquil escape.
http://www.countrylife.co.za 039 September 2019