Embark on an inspiring journey to the Kalahari Desert, a vast and captivating landscape in southern Africa. Often called simply the Kalahari, this remarkable region is more accurately described as a large semi-arid sandy savannah rather than a true desert. It receives more rainfall than a typical desert, but the water filters rapidly through the deep sands, creating the impression of a ‘thirstland’.

Where is the Kalahari Desert Located?

The Kalahari Desert is in southern Africa, covering a significant area across several countries. It extends across much of Botswana, the eastern third of Namibia, and the northernmost part of the Northern Cape Province in South Africa. To understand its vastness, you can refer to a kalahari desert map and see its location on an africa map or even a world map. If you’re wondering where is the kalahari desert in africa, it occupies a significant portion of the southern part of the continent.

The Kalahari Basin, a larger area encompassing the desert and other wetter regions like the Okavango River Delta, covers virtually all of Botswana and more than half of Namibia.

Why Isn’t it a “True” Desert? Interesting Kalahari Desert Facts

One of the most interesting facts about the kalahari desert is that it isn’t a desert in the strictest sense. Here are some more fascinating facts:

• The kalahari meaning comes from the Tswana word Kgala, meaning ‘the great thirst’, or Kgalagadi, meaning ‘a waterless place’.
• It receives between 5 and 20 inches of rain annually, which is more than the typical definition of a desert (less than 10 inches).
• However, the rain filters rapidly through the vast expanses of sand, leaving little to no surface water.
• The Kalahari sands form the largest continuous expanse of sand on earth, even though the Sahara Desert is larger overall. This is because sand dunes make up only about 15% of the Sahara.
• The Kalahari Desert covers approximately 900,000km² (350,000mi²), making it the sixth biggest ‘desert’ by area on Earth and the second biggest in Africa after the Sahara. So, does africa have a desert? Yes, many, including the Kalahari.

Climate and When to Visit the Kalahari

The climate of kalahari desert is characterised by extreme temperatures, with very hot summers and winters where temperatures can drop below freezing at night.

• In summer, temperatures can reach as high as 45 °C (115 °F).
• On winter nights, lows can plummet to –15°C (7°F).
• This wide temperature range is due to the Kalahari’s relatively high altitude and predominantly clear, dry air.
• The driest areas receive between 110–200mm (4.3–7.9in) of rain per year, while the wettest can receive over 500mm (20in) in very wet years. The southwestern Kalahari is the driest area.
• The dry season typically lasts from April to September, which are the coldest six months. The wet season occurs during the summer months, often with heavy thunderstorms.

For those planning to visit a kalahari game reserve, the best time to go would likely be during the dry winter months (May to September). At this time, the temperatures are milder during the day, and wildlife is often concentrated around waterholes, making for better viewing. However, be prepared for very cold nights.

POPULAR TOURS TO THE KALAHARI

13 Day Kalahari Treasures: Botswana Safari (Inclusive) (Camping)

8 Day Botswana’s Wild Heart: Untamed Kalahari (Camping)

The Diverse Vegetation and Flora of the Kalahari

Despite its arid nature, the Kalahari supports a surprising variety of kalahari plants and vegetation.

• The dryer southwestern Kalahari has few trees or large bushes, mainly scattered drought-tolerant shrubs and grass tussocks.
• Here, the Hoodia cactus grows, used for centuries by the San people to ease hunger and thirst. Other edible plants include tsamma melons and gemsbok cucumbers.
• The central Kalahari receives more rain and features scattered trees (like acacia species) and more shrubs and grasses.
• In the wetter north and east, there are woodlands mainly made up of camelthorn acacias.
• The camelthorn is endemic to the Kalahari and is a crucial part of the ecosystem, providing nutrients and shade.
• Other trees include shepherd’s tree, blackthorn, and silver cluster-leaf.
• The Kalahari has a relatively low plant species to area ratio but is densely covered with grasses, shrubs, and trees.

Amazing Kalahari Desert Wildlife: Animals of the Desert

The kalahari desert wildlife is a major attraction, with many animals in kalahari desert and animals of kalahari desert uniquely adapted to the arid conditions.

• Predators include the famous black-maned Kalahari lions, as well as cheetahs, leopards, spotted hyenas, brown hyenas, and endangered African wild dogs.
• Herbivores adapted to survive with little water include springbok, gemsbok (oryx), wildebeest, kudu, steenbok, eland, giraffe, and zebra. In the wetter north and east, even elephant and rhino can be found.
• The Kalahari is home to desert specialties like meerkat, bat-eared foxes, cape fox, and brown hyena.
• Birdlife is abundant, including the secretary bird, Kori bustard, ostrich, and various birds of prey like eagles, owls, falcons, and kites. The large nests of sociable weavers are a common sight.
• Many reptiles like Cape cobras, puff adders, and numerous lizard species also thrive here. Remarkably, some amphibians, such as the bushveld rain frog and the tremolo sand frog, can survive.

Experiencing the Wild Kalahari: Protected Areas

The Kalahari is home to several protected areas offering incredible wildlife viewing opportunities. These include:

• Central Kalahari Game Reserve and adjacent Khutse Game Reserves in Botswana.
• The Makgadikgadi Pans and Nxai Pan National Parks in the north.
• The Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Africa’s first Peace Park, combining South Africa’s Kalahari Gemsbok National Park and Botswana’s Gemsbok National Park.
• Tswalu Kalahari in South Africa.

These reserves offer a chance to witness the unique wild kalahari and its fascinating ecosystems.

The People of the Kalahari: The San

The San people are a diverse collection of nomadic hunter-gatherers who have lived in the Kalahari Desert for more than 20,000 years, and are believed to be the oldest continuous residents of southern Africa. Their deep and traditional knowledge has enabled them to survive in this challenging environment.

Traditionally, the San relied on hunting wild game with bows and poisoned arrows and gathering edible plants such as berries, melons, and nuts, as well as insects. They have a remarkable ability to obtain most of their water requirements from plant roots and desert melons found on or under the desert floor. They even developed methods to store water in the blown-out shells of ostrich eggs. Their dwellings were traditionally huts built from local materials, with frames made of branches and roofs thatched with long grass. Many of their hunting and gathering techniques are replications of pre-historic tribal methods. The Hoodia cactus, which grows in the drier southwestern Kalahari, has been used by the San for thousands of years to ease hunger and thirst during long hunting trips. Other edible plants like tsamma melons and gemsbok cucumbers were used by both the San and animals.

The arrival of European settlers had a devastating impact on the San way of life. Many were killed or enslaved during various wars. Furthermore, the large-scale killing of wild animals that the San hunted and the grazing of wild edible plants by cattle severely undermined their traditional subsistence.

Today, the traditional way of life for the San has significantly changed, and few survive exclusively by hunting and foraging. Many have adopted sedentary lifestyles in towns. However, there are still around 100,000 members of this ethnic group living along the fringes of the Kalahari. A significant issue for the San has been the disputes with the Botswanan government over indigenous rights to hunt and live within the boundaries of national parks and protected areas. One San group, the Basarwa, won the right to live within the Central Kalahari Game Reserve in 2006. However, disputes have continued, particularly concerning water rights, such as accessing a well within the reserve drilled by De Beers.

The lack of permanent surface water in the Kalahari historically excluded permanent human settlement and agricultural activities before the 1940s. However, as technology for drilling boreholes improved, agricultural activities increased, leading to more fences that prevented animal movements and further impacted the San’s traditional hunting grounds.

The continued presence of the San and the desire of many to return to their traditional way of life highlight the deep connection they have with the Kalahari landscape and its resources. Their ancestral knowledge and history are integral to understanding the Kalahari Desert.

The Enduring Spirit of the Kalahari

The Kalahari Desert is a land of stark beauty, surprising biodiversity, and resilient life. It’s a place where the vastness of the landscape inspires awe, and the adaptations of its flora and fauna showcase the incredible power of nature. Whether you are fascinated by its unique climate, diverse wildlife, or the rich cultural heritage of the San people, the Kalahari offers an inspiring and unforgettable glimpse into the heart of Africa.