As lumi­nous clouds of dust swirl through the ancient land­scape, a tor­toise patient­ly wan­ders in search of suc­cu­lent morsels; a lizard basks in the sun while gems­bok and red har­te­beest share the arid plains with mon­goose, orb-web spi­ders, skinks and leg­gy tok­tokkies.