The huge Kalahari Desert spans seven different countries in Southern Africa. It’s the subject of much debate as to what the Kalahari actually is and what defines its borders – indeed, Kalahari sand extends all the way up into the Congo.

Kalahari Safari

Whatever the debate, the Kalahari is a region of incredible beauty and infinite vastness. For those who want to experience a Kalahari Safari try the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park (administered by both South Africa and Botswana), or Botswana’s enormous Central Kalahari Game Reserve.

Although it is called a desert, the landscape is surprisingly well-vegetated and most of the region receives a measure of annual rainfall that pushes it beyond the claim of being a true desert. In springtime the undulating, sandy plains are covered in carpets of flowers and green grass while the summer rains transform most of the Kalahari into a verdant park. Acacias and other dry area specialists line ancient water courses and there are great tracts of dry woodland.

In the protected areas game tends to be very good: lion, cheetah and leopard prey on the arid area species like springbok, gemsbok and red hartebeest. Bird watching can be amazing: look out for great raptors all year round and an influx of interesting migrants in the wet summer months.