The man who turned the Kalahari into a global literary sensation

Food & Drink · Published 9 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Laurens van der Post was a polymath who transitioned from a soldier to a celebrated author. His fascination with the Kalahari Bushmen and Jungian psychology helped shape modern perceptions of the San people, though his legacy remains a complex tapestry of humanitarianism and intense personal controversy.

Born in 1906 in the Orange River Colony, van der Post was the 13th of 13 children. His multifaceted life included serving as a British Army captain during World War II, where he led 11,000 camels through mountain terrain in East Africa. During his time as a prisoner of war in Java after the Japanese surrender in April 1942, he worked to maintain prisoner morale by organizing a camp university and a camp farm to supplement nutritional needs.

In the post-war era, his interests shifted toward the psychological and the anthropological. In 1950, commissioned by the Colonial Development Corporation, he explored the potential for cattle ranching in Bechuanaland. This journey led to his first encounter with the Bushmen, or San people, whom he characterized as the 'lost soul' of mankind. This perspective contributed to the 1961 creation of the Central Kalahari Game Reserve to ensure their survival.

His literary success was significant, with works like 'The Lost World of the Kalahari' becoming highly influential. However, his reputation is not without shadow. Following his death in 1996, controversy emerged regarding claims that he had exaggerated his life experiences. Additionally, revelations surfaced concerning his involvement with a 14-year-old girl who had been under his care.

Despite these controversies, van der Post remained a figure of immense cultural intersection, maintaining relationships with figures as diverse as King Charles III and Margaret Thatcher. His work often bridged the gap between colonial exploration and deep psychological inquiry, heavily influenced by his acquaintance with Carl Jung.

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