Few place names are as evocative as "the Kalahari". This miss-spelt Anglicism has come to represent the vastness of Africa's outback with all the romantic undertones of nomadic hunter-gatherers, lions and golden grasslands gently waving under the canopy of a limitless blue sky.
The Kalahari Desert stretches west of the eastern hardveld, covering 84% of the country. The Kalahari extends far beyond Botswana's western borders, covering substantial parts of South Africa, Namibia and Angola.
'Desert', however, is a misnomer: its earliest travellers defined it as a 'thirstland'. Most of the Kalahari (or Kgalagadi, which is its Setswana name) is covered with vegetation including stunted thorn and scrub bush, trees and grasslands. The largely unchanging flat terrain is occasionally interrupted by gently descending valleys, sand dunes and large numbers of pans.
With little more than 100 to 200mm of rainfall per year, the fauna and flora in the Kalahari wages a daily struggle for survival. The Central Kalahari Game Reserve covering an area just under the combined size of Holland and Belgium, is truly immense, and the irony is that when it was declared in 1961 one of the primary purposes was not necessarily to protect the animals that lived in the area but to protect the people that lived there.
The Makgadikgadi is a relic of an ancient superlake that covered much of southern Africa, which dried up thousands of years ago. For a few months each year, the Makgadikgadi transforms into one of the most important wetland sites in Africa. When the rains come, the pans fill with water and they become the breeding ground for huge flocks of flamingo and other migratory birds. The rains also regenerate the grasses, which attract the last surviving migration of Zebra and Wildebeest in southern Africa.
The grasslands of the Kalahari together with the lunar expanse of the Makgadikgadi salt pans are in total contrast to the verdant, game-rich Okavango and Linyanti regions and are a must-see for all visitors to Botswana who are interested in the country’s diversity. The desert experience focuses on species unique to the area such as Brown Hyaena, Meerkats (Suricate), Gemsbok (Oryx), Springbok and the great black-maned Kalahari lion, as well as on the geology, archaeology and anthropology of the Kalahari and Makgadikgadi.
In the Makgadikgadi we focus on Jack's Camp and San Camp. Here we offer our guests the opportunity to explore and understand the Kalahari. A visit to the area is essential for anyone interested in evolution, the origins and the explanation of the Okavango Delta and Botswana’s big picture. For those who are prepared to travel off the beaten track and take a step back in time, a wealth of sensory experiences awaits you – from 1940’s safari style luxury to giant, ancient baobabs and prehistoric beaches
It makes sense to combine a trip to the Kalahari, with other areas of Botswana like the Okavango Delta, Linyanti, Chobe, Savuti. I would recommend a combination of a minimum of two safari camps but preferably three in different areas giving a really comprehensive safari experience. It also makes sense to add Victoria Falls to your itinerary as it is easily accessible and a truly magnificent experience.
Personal note:
"This was an unexpected highlight of our safari trip to Botswana in April. No-one could have prepared us for the awe inspiring Kalahari. The Makgadikgadi pans are something to behold. From the air, they stretch out in circles as far as the eye can see. Driving through the pans on game drive and on quad bikes (very exciting) gives you a whole new perspective on the concept of wide open spaces. This was a unique and highly recommended experience. Prepare to be surprised! Did I mention we walked with the Bushmen?? WOW!!" For more, or a travel itinerary tailored to suit you, please e-mail us at info@edgetravel.co.za
The Kalahari Desert stretches west of the eastern hardveld, covering 84% of the country. The Kalahari extends far beyond Botswana's western borders, covering substantial parts of South Africa, Namibia and Angola.
'Desert', however, is a misnomer: its earliest travellers defined it as a 'thirstland'. Most of the Kalahari (or Kgalagadi, which is its Setswana name) is covered with vegetation including stunted thorn and scrub bush, trees and grasslands. The largely unchanging flat terrain is occasionally interrupted by gently descending valleys, sand dunes and large numbers of pans.
With little more than 100 to 200mm of rainfall per year, the fauna and flora in the Kalahari wages a daily struggle for survival. The Central Kalahari Game Reserve covering an area just under the combined size of Holland and Belgium, is truly immense, and the irony is that when it was declared in 1961 one of the primary purposes was not necessarily to protect the animals that lived in the area but to protect the people that lived there.
The Makgadikgadi is a relic of an ancient superlake that covered much of southern Africa, which dried up thousands of years ago. For a few months each year, the Makgadikgadi transforms into one of the most important wetland sites in Africa. When the rains come, the pans fill with water and they become the breeding ground for huge flocks of flamingo and other migratory birds. The rains also regenerate the grasses, which attract the last surviving migration of Zebra and Wildebeest in southern Africa.
The grasslands of the Kalahari together with the lunar expanse of the Makgadikgadi salt pans are in total contrast to the verdant, game-rich Okavango and Linyanti regions and are a must-see for all visitors to Botswana who are interested in the country’s diversity. The desert experience focuses on species unique to the area such as Brown Hyaena, Meerkats (Suricate), Gemsbok (Oryx), Springbok and the great black-maned Kalahari lion, as well as on the geology, archaeology and anthropology of the Kalahari and Makgadikgadi.
In the Makgadikgadi we focus on Jack's Camp and San Camp. Here we offer our guests the opportunity to explore and understand the Kalahari. A visit to the area is essential for anyone interested in evolution, the origins and the explanation of the Okavango Delta and Botswana’s big picture. For those who are prepared to travel off the beaten track and take a step back in time, a wealth of sensory experiences awaits you – from 1940’s safari style luxury to giant, ancient baobabs and prehistoric beaches
It makes sense to combine a trip to the Kalahari, with other areas of Botswana like the Okavango Delta, Linyanti, Chobe, Savuti. I would recommend a combination of a minimum of two safari camps but preferably three in different areas giving a really comprehensive safari experience. It also makes sense to add Victoria Falls to your itinerary as it is easily accessible and a truly magnificent experience.
Personal note:
"This was an unexpected highlight of our safari trip to Botswana in April. No-one could have prepared us for the awe inspiring Kalahari. The Makgadikgadi pans are something to behold. From the air, they stretch out in circles as far as the eye can see. Driving through the pans on game drive and on quad bikes (very exciting) gives you a whole new perspective on the concept of wide open spaces. This was a unique and highly recommended experience. Prepare to be surprised! Did I mention we walked with the Bushmen?? WOW!!" For more, or a travel itinerary tailored to suit you, please e-mail us at info@edgetravel.co.za
