Waterholes & places of the Hai||om

An alternative journey through Etosha: Waterholes as cultural sites

Before the Hai||om had access to drilled boreholes, hunter-gatherers were profoundly reliant on natural water sources, so it is not surprising that the Hai||om distinguish between two permanent sources and three temporary ones: an |aub is an open fountain; a tsaub is more of a well, which must periodically be dug open and cared for to ensure that the water remains easily accessible. Other sites provide water only seasonally: a !khubib is a vlei, or pan, where water collects for quite a while after the rains. Depending on the amount of rain, for some days and weeks, or even months, water can also be found in potholes in rocks or caves, called ||garugu. The water also collects in hai‡khadi, holes in trees; it can be scooped up or, if access is restricted, sucked up with reed straws.

The Hai||om built their permanent settlements in the vicinity of waterholes where water was available the whole year round (|aub or tsaub). Thus, the waterholes which are nowadays frequented only by thirsty animals and observant visitors were important “centres” in the lives of the former hunter-gatherer inhabitants. Besides being reliable places for obtaining water for own-consumption, the waterholes also attract game, and were therefore popular places to hunt. The hunters hid in shelters nearby the water (!goas), waiting for the animals to arrive, mostly in the early morning hours.

So as not to disturb potential quarry animals, the settlements at waterholes where hunting took place were always located at least a hundred metres away from the water.
Many of the waterholes which were once used by the Hai||om have subsequently dried up, and those which required regular maintenance to remain open have fallen into disrepair, and are no longer visible.