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Kalahari Sunrise

June 3, 2020
Breathe in the sonic beauty of South Africa’s Kalahari Desert at sunrise
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In this week’s episode of Sound Escapes, experience dawn in the Kalahari Desert as the sun rises over the sandy savannah of southern Africa. It’s nearly level at this part of the Kalahari Desert. The trees are widely spaced. There’s almost no available water. You cannot see very far — the heat itself ripples the horizon. "It's a place that's hard for me to imagine any animal being at home," says Gordon Hempton. "But of course they certainly sound like they are."

Let’s listen… 

  • Full Transcript
  • Credits

Gordon Hempton: BirdNote Presents.

     [Lap Guitar Plays]

You're listening to Sound Escapes. I'm Gordon Hempton, the Sound Tracker.

In this episode we'll listen to one of the Earth's oldest deserts, the Kalahari of South Africa.

It's nearly level at this part of the Kalahari desert. The trees are widely spaced. There's almost no available water. You cannot see very far — the heat itself ripples the horizon.

It's a place that's hard for me to imagine any animal being at home, but of course they certainly sound like they are.

Let's listen…

     [Lap Guitar Fades]


     [Soundscape of the Kalahari Desert]


Gordon Hempton: This has been the sound of sunrise across the Kalahari Desert of South Africa.

     [Lap Guitar Plays]

Sound Escapes is produced by Mark Bramhill and John Kessler. Ashley Ahearn is our editor. Be sure to check out our website, BirdNote.org, to see photos.

This podcast is made possible by Jim and Birte Falconer of Seattle.

In our next episode, Pipestone Canyon located in Eastern Washington introduces us to what I call the poetics of space.

We're going to hear not just echos, but multiple echos as sound bounces back and forth between the rock walls.

I'm Gordon Hempton. I hope you'll join me.

     [Lap Guitar Fades]

 

Gordon Hempton
Narrator
Mark Bramhill
Writer Producer
Ashley Ahearn
Writer
John Kessler
Producer

Related Resources

ID the birds in this episode: Kalahari Sunrise Bird List

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Birds connect us with the joy and wonder of nature. By telling vivid, sound-rich stories about birds and the challenges they face, BirdNote inspires listeners to care about the natural world – and take steps to protect it.

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