| The Super LakeSome 40 000 years ago the remnant makgadikgadi were the largest inland lakes in Africa. Research indicates that climatic developments and earth movements over thousands and thousands years which caused dramatic changes to take place led to fracturing and tilting of the earth surface which turned the out flow of the major rivers supplying the lake to flow eastwards to Indian ocean via Zambezi flat live. Recession of water in the lake was followed by drier conditions which occurred and enhanced the blowing of strong winds. The wind blew in sand deposits into the lake surface and filled it to the present day as a dry flat open land. |
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History of Lekhubu (Kubu)
Lekhubu is a rock out crop which was sometime submerged in the water of the lake. Kubu is a setswana name for a hippopotamus while lekhubu means a rock outcrop. This rock outcrop is engulfed by the white sea of salt, making it to remain as an island jutting in the middle of the flats.
There is a pre-historical wall on the southern side of the lekhubu rocky outcrop which post dates the post great Zimbabweans. The wall is related to the great Zimbabwe ruins though the workmanship is not a distinctive to the great Zimbabwe ruins. The ruins are said to have been an initiation centre for initiation schools for males. The wall was 1.2m in height though much of it has now collapsed due to wild animals and water pressure running down the rocks. The wall used to have 24 loop holes which are not explained why they are there, now only 2 still exist.
Generally on the spine of the rock are some stone cairns which are 450 500 much of these cairns have deflated. This cairns are said to be markers of those initiates. On the north eastern side of the rock is an elevation protruding higher than the other elevations. This is the part where the local people have maintained their shrine. For quite sometimes the basarwa have been coming here for their prayers and offerings.
Pottery sheds are found on the site and ostrich eggshell beads. There are three traditional taboos governing the use of the island, this taboos are no hunting of wild animals, collection of wild fruits and taking away some rocks.