The immersive experiences are authentic facilitated opportunities for visitors to immerse themselves in the hunter gatherer culture, and to interact with genuine Bushmen. Bushmen host groups are generally comprised of family groups in order to create a realistic cultural experience. 

Here it must be stressed that 'authentic' does not refer to traditional Bushmen still living in some remote location as yet unaffected by modernisation, a scenario which in all likelihood no longer exists. Instead, 'authentic' applies to today's realities, but involves Bushmen carefully selected to best demonstrate the hunter gatherer culture of their ancestors. 

The modus operandi adopted by ‘Sansense’ is to provide context for each interaction after which guests are introduced to their Bushmen guides and mentors. Whilst guests are with the Bushmen, facilitators play an observation role only thus allowing the Bushmen/guest interactions to proceed naturally.  This allows for the making of lifetime memories. 

The activities which occur during times of interaction can include: foraging, plant identification/uses, hut building, spoor identification, tracking, trapping, fire-making, cooking, craft making, traditional games, story-telling, and dance. 

Locations

Typical of those originally inhabited by Africa’s San people where they can still be at one with nature. 

Duration

It is suggested that experiences last for a minimum of 4 nights. This gives guests a chance to acclimatise and to form relationships with their Bushmen hosts. This also gives guests time to direct questions directly at their hosts in order to try and establish the ‘unfiltered truth’, something which is largely absent from the modern world today. 

Spiritual Exposure

The immersive experience provides an opportunity for guests to have special ‘energy exchanges’, which will vary from person to person. These include the inner changes which can occur when guests begin to ‘remember’ past relationships with community, nature, and the inner self.

For many guests their energy experience reaches a climax when participating in a dance ritual. The English language has proved to be inadequate in its ability to describe the energy exchanges which can occur during such rituals 

When

To avoid severe heat, and rainy months, April to September, are the most suitable months for guests. 

Special Requests

Guests can, within reason, request longer experiences and decide on the level of immersion preferred. This can influence the choice of location and the level of facilities. 

Price

Price can be provided on request when guests share their special requests. For this reason, it is most ideal if guests create their own guest groups.

It must be understood that provisions for such experiences are costly. This is due to the cost of providing even the most basic facilities in remote locations. Transport, for establishment of such facilities, plus guest transport to such locations, are major contributors to overall costs.

Prices do not however match those asked for at most safari lodges in Botswana. 

Sansense Goals

A primary goal for the establishment of the Sansense Immersive Experiences, is to expose guests to the culture described by many anthropologists as the most successful culture in human history. 

Comment

“Clive Horlock was the inspiration for our adventure, and our guide and mentor. His decades of experience working to conserve the culture of Bushmen provided an enriching context for our encounters. Interspersed amongst the field trips, Clive led discussions asking the questions: what can we learn of value to our broken, materialist culture from the ways of the Bushmen? And how do we integrate their values and norms, founded on empathy and humility, into our culture?

I can say without reservation that my experience with the Bushmen under Clive’s guidance was the most interesting and rewarding tourism event of my life”. 

Prof RM Cowling                                                            Exraordinary Professor

Distinguished Emeritus Professor                                  Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology

African Centre for Coastal Paleoscience                       Stellenbosch University

Department of Botany                                                    Member.  Heterodox Academy