Kalahari
The Kalahari Desert is not a true desert but a semi-arid zone in southern Africa. The seemingly endless expanse is 900,000 square kilometers and covers 70% of Botswana, the eastern part of Namibia and the northernmost part of the Northern Cape province of South Africa. The term Kalahari is derived from the local word for "the thirsty land. The landscape consists of red sand dunes, salt pans, grasslands, riverbeds, fossil dunes and bushy acacias. You will not soon forget the views of this immense plain, the deep red and yellow colors and the beautiful pitch-black starry sky. Despite the harsh conditions, this area is also home to a wide variety of animals. Especially during the rainy season from November to March, when rainfall turns the hard, sun-baked earth into lush grasslands. You will find in the Kalahari, among others, the Kalahari lion which has black mane, the brown hyena, several species of antelope and special species such as the aardwolf, the big-eared fox and honey badgers. Besides being an excellent place to see wildlife, the Kalahari is also home to the San bushmen.
Highlights of the Kalahari
Deception Valley
Deception Valley is located in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve, the largest nature reserve in Africa. This area was formed by a river thousands of years ago and consists of a beautiful landscape of golden grasses, rolling hills and characteristically shaped trees. The name Deception, comes from the mirage that the dry surface of the pan creates. This makes it seem as if the pan is full of water, until the edge is reached and it is discovered that it is an illusion. The valley is known for its high concentration of animals, including kudu, red hartebeest, springbok, eland, caracal, Cape fox, lion and cheetah. The main attraction is the large group of brown hyenas found in the area. Mark and Delia Owens once did their famous research on the brown hyena here and wrote the book "Cry of the Kalahari" about it. Camping is available at two campsites located near the junction between the road to Matswere and the road to Manong and Tau Pan. The campsites are about 11 to 14 kilometers from the turnoff to Deception Valley.
San Bushmen
The Kahalari is home to the San Bushmen. The San are the original inhabitants of all of southern Africa and their existence in the region dates back at least 20'000 years. The San are world famous for their rock paintings and survival techniques in the dry wilderness of the Kalahari. Today, only a small number of the San still follow their traditional way of life in the Kalahari. 19 kilometers north of Ghanzi, on the way to Maun, is the small village of D'kar. Here the Bushmen have set up an art gallery, cultural center and museum. It is the place to learn about the culture, utensils and art of the San. You can spend the night at the campground of the nearby Dqae Qare San Lodge which is run by the San.
Kgalagdi Transfrontier NP
The Kgalagadi Transfrontier National Park is an amalgamation of the Mabuasehube Gemsbok National Park located in Botswana and the adjacent Kalahari Gemsbok National Park located in South Africa. The landscape consists of rolling rust-red sand dunes, solitary trees, dry riverbeds and here and there some grasses, which combine to create an amazing color contrast. For lovers of rugged untamed Africa, there is much to experience here. Huge herds of antelope, gemsbok, springbok, eland and wildebeest often gallop across the sandy plains and dunes. They are followed in their footsteps by predators such as lions, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, jackals and wild dogs. Kgalagadi is also one of the best areas in southern Africa to see raptors AND the only place in the Kalahari where you can see "walking" sand dunes. To enter the park you will need a 4wd motorhome and campsites must be booked in advance.
Khutse Game Reserve.
The 2,500 km² Khutse Game Reserve borders the southern side of the Central Kalahari Game Reserve. The reserve consists of a diverse landscape of grasslands, riverbeds, fossil dunes and grass and salt pans. Kutse means "where one kneels to drink," so the area was part of a now-dry river system. Although there are no large concentrations of wildlife to be found, around both artificial and picturesque natural water pans, you have a good chance of seeing wildlife. Giraffes, gemsbok, red hartebeest, eland, kudu, wildebeest, springbok, steenbok, gray duikers, lions, leopards, cheetahs, brown hyenas and black-backed jackals are regularly spotted in the reserve. The wide variety of birds, from the ostrich and kori buzzard to the smaller species, makes the area popular with bird lovers. There are 25 camping sites within the park, all of which have no gas stations, water facilities or stores.