Traditional Diet of the Kalahari: Grains, Game, and Insects

Communities in the Kalahari rely on a diverse mix of cultivated and wild foods:

Grains and Legumes

Sorghum, millet, maize, Bambara groundnut, pumpkin leaves.

Animal Protein

Domestic: cattle, sheep, goats, poultry, fish. Wild: antelope, zebra, eland.

Fruits and Vegetables

Melon, beans, cucumbers, tomatoes, cabbage, onions, carrots, marula fruit.

Insects

Locusts, termites—important seasonal protein sources.

This diet reflects both agricultural practices and deep foraging knowledge of the arid environment.