Traditional Diet of the San People (Bushmen)

The San (or Bushmen) of southern Africa’s Kalahari Desert are among the world’s last hunter-gatherer societies. Their diet reflects deep ecological knowledge and seasonal mobility.

Primary Food Sources

1. Wild Game (Protein & Fat)

• Antelope (springbok, gemsbok, kudu, duiker, steenbok)
• Small mammals (hares, springhares, porcupines, ground squirrels)
• Birds (guineafowl, francolin, sandgrouse)
• Reptiles (tortoises, lizards, snakes)
• Hunting: Poison-tipped arrows (from beetle larvae), persistence hunting, traps.

2. Insects & Larvae (High-Quality Protein)

• Mopane caterpillars (Gonimbrasia belina) – seasonal staple, dried/traded.
• Termites (alates), locusts, beetles, ants – collected, roasted, eaten whole.

3. Wild Plants (Carbs, Vitamins, Medicine)

• Roots/Tubers: !Kung “!naba” (Cyperus esculentus), “||gam” (Dioscorea), “tsin” (Raphionacme).
• Fruits/Berries: Tsamma melon (Citrullus lanatus – wild watermelon, vital water source), marula (Sclerocarya), grewia, berries.
• Nuts/Seeds: Mongongo (Ricinodendron) – high fat/protein, staple.
• Gums/Resins: Acacia, Commiphora – chewed for nutrients.

4. Honey (Energy, Medicine)

Honeyguides (Indicator indicator) lead hunters to hives; honey and brood consumed; wax used for arrow hafting.

5. Ostrich Eggs

Rare but prized; 1 egg = 24 chicken eggs; shells used as water containers.

Seasonal & Regional Variation

Diet shifts with rainfall, location, and group. Some San now supplement with government rations, goats, or store-bought food, but traditional knowledge persists.