We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Gambia is a small, long and thin country in West Africa which follows the winding course of the Gambia River. The Kalahari is the sixth biggest desert on Earth and the second-largest in Africa after the Sahara desert. It is capable of subsisting in waterless landscapes where few other ungulates can survive. One of the unique facts about the Kalahari is that most of the desert is not considered a real desert, due to the amount of rainfall the area receives. An archaeologist / historian’s quest was organised to after his findings to discover these ruins but nothing was ever found, even to this day. The dry season at Kalahari Desert lasts for either 8 or more than 8 months. Most visitors to the Kalahari tend to go to Central Kalahari Game Reserve in Botswana. Each region provides a unique experience with excellent sightings of antelope species, big cats and incredible birdlife that have adapted to survive the harsh conditions. Whilst high temperatures can be scorching, cooler temperatures in the winter / at night can drop to below zero! Restaurants in Kalahari Desert. One of the most fascinating facts about the Namib Desert is that some areas of it are among the driest places on the planet.. The desert has an area of around 360,000 square miles. The Botswana desert is an incredible place to glimpse stalking leopards, huge herds of elephants and zooming cheetahs. With their depth of knowledge of the local area and their hunter-gatherer lifestyle, to learn about their cultures and traditions is a must. The vast size of the desert makes it a diverse and interesting landscape and it crosses over Botswana, Namibia and South Africa. The Kalahari is located in South Africa and covers parts of Botswana and Namibia with a total span of 900,000 square kilometers. Blog Accommodation in the Kalahari Desert spans over three countries, but our favourite place to visit is the Tswalu Kalahari game reserve in South Africa. Please email info@signatureafricansafaris.com or call +44 (0)1342 811787 and someone will get back to you as soon as possible. AU ... You Visit: Windhoek (Start), Kalahari Region, Sossusvlei (Sand Dunes), Swakopmund (City), Damaraland, Etosha NP, Erongo (Mountain Range), Windhoek (End) Wayfairer Travel 5.0/5 – 73 Reviews. Surprisingly, all three African big cats are found in the Kalahari Desert including cheetah, leopard and the famous desert lions. Here are some fun facts about the Kalahari Desert: Given how everybody calls it a desert, you might be shocked to find out that Kalahari is not a real desert. Additionally, the country has a density of 1.28 elephants per square km, which is the highest elephant concentration in Africa. Not only can diamonds be found in the Kalahari, but this semi-arid desert is also rich in other valuable minerals such as nickel, copper and coal. It's about 3000 feet above Sea level. Botswana boasts of diamonds, beautiful sunsets, wildlife, golden sands of the Kalahari desert and much more. Interesting Facts for Kids 9:-10 Facts about the Kalahari DesertFact 1: The Kalahari Desert consists of undulating sandy plains 3,000ft above sea level. The hoodia cactus, which has been used to ease hunger and thirst by the San people for thousands of years, grows in this region. Kruger National Park With somewhere between 12-25 centimetres of rains, the Kalahari Desert has a higher amount of rainfall than other deserts.  The name of the Kalahari means large thirst in Tswana language. Kalahari Desert Facts: The semi-arid desert which appears to be endless got its name from the local Tswana word Kgala, which means "the great … Despite the name given to the Kalahari Desert, it is does not have desert conditions due to the fact that it receives heavy rainfall that is between 5 to 10 inches per year. On average, males weigh 190kg and fe. 27. Africa is full of deserts. Despite the fact that the Kalahari desert is semi-arid, it supports various kinds of plants. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Interesting Kalahari Desert Facts Here are some fun facts about the Kalahari Desert: Given how everybody calls it a desert, you might be shocked to find out that Kalahari is not a real desert. Learn some interesting facts about the Kalahari Desert. However any rain filters rapidly through the vast expanses of sand, leaving nothing on the surface, turning the Kalahari … In some parts of the desert, vegetation is seen to be dense and the core vegetation happens to be grasses, shrubs and some trees. The first diamonds found in this mine went on sale on Valentine’s Day in 2015 – although there was much controversy at the time due to the local bushmen facing illegal eviction from the diamond mining industry. Most speakers of this unique Khoisan language currently live in Botswana and the roots of this native tongue arise in the Kalahari Desert population. The Kalahari is the southernmost desert in Africa. In some parts of the desert, particularly the north, vegetation is dense and has adapted to surviving in the desert. The Kalahari Desert, a vast expanse of arid grassland, occupies parts of South Africa, Namibia, and Botswana in Southern Africa. Kalahari Desert Facts: 21-25 21. Contact Many parts of the Kalahari receive significant rainfall (over 9.8 inches / 250 mm annually) and have quite a bit of vegetation. rain or snowfall). The Kalahari Desert is not a completely arid landscape. All Destinations, Phone: 0027 21 713 4749 2. The driest places only receive about 2 millimeters (0.079 in) of annual precipitation, while the “wetter” places receive 200 millimeters (7.9 in). Interesting Kalahari Desert Facts. This plant grows only in Southern Africa and the Kalahari Desert region and it is said that the San people can go 24 hours without feeling any hunger after consuming it. The Kalahari also features in the movies The Lion king and The Gods Must be Crazy. The drier south of the Kalahari has few trees and large bushes scattered throughout the landscape. Meerkat Manor was filmed in the Kalahari Desert. Having spent 9 years living in South Africa, she was fortunate enough to travel extensively in the region and has visited Botswana, Zambia, Kenya, Mozambique, Zanzibar and Seychelles amongst others. It crosses the borders of three countries including, the eastern region of Namibia, a large portion of Botswana and the Northern Cape Province in South Africa. Namibia’s rich tapestry of people and diverse cultural expression is manifested in the food. 1. Kalahari desert is located in Africa according to the Kalahari desert facts in geography. Here are some facts about the Kalahari Desert. The Kalahari desert is a semi-arid desert, covering parts of Namibia, South Africa and Botswana. 26. From the 1965 film, Sands of the Kalahari several grouped plane crash survivors make an effort to survive in the desert. However, because the sand retains water better than some other deserts, there is a variety of plant life. Simple life. ⁠ When travelling to the South African desert, safari-goers can visit the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park which also spills over into Botswana. Here are some interesting facts about the Kalahari Desert. Kalahari Desert Facts: 26-30. This town offers regular flights to and from other key destinations such as Johannesburg and Cape Town and there are easy transfers to safari campsites. The Kalahari Desert is home to one of the biggest diamond mines in the world. Many parts of the Kalahari receive significant rainfall (over 9.8 inches / 250 mm annually) and have quite a … Kalahari has a long chain of sand dunes that create lanes between them. In the wetter north, there are woodlands made up of camelthorn trees. We would like to thank all our partners for allowing use of images especially Wilderness Safaris, &Beyond, Desert & Delta Safaris, Nomad Tanzania, Sanctuary Lodges, Norman Carr / Time & Tide, Robin Pope Safaris, Great Plains Conservation, Uncharted Africa, and Central Africa Wilderness Safaris. Stretching around 360,000 square miles across Botswana, Namibia and South Africa, the Kalahari Desert is not a desert in the strictest sense of the word. The Sport & Travel Group St Andrews House Cinder Hill Horsted Keynes West Sussex RH17 7BA UK, ATOL : 5865 | ABTA : Y1665 UK Office : 01342 811787 US Toll Free : 1-855-413-7422. Privacy Policy, Cape Town April 30, 2020 August 28, 2020 1 Minute 130 Views Interesting facts about the Kalahari Desert. Because the Kalahari’s sand and soil can retain water much better than most desert environments, plant life is rich, particularly in the North. This tree produces nutrients that encourage other plants to grow and provides shade for animals in extreme temperatures. Whether you’re an explorer or just a curious reader, here’s 32 interesting facts about the Kalahari Desert … The Kalahari is not really a desert it’s a large semi-arid sandy savannah. To find out more information on travelling to the Kalahari Desert and the Central Kalahari Game Reserve in Botswana, please do not hesitate to contact our team at Signature Safaris. In order to survive in the scorching desert conditions, all plant life in the Kalahari has evolved to incorporate deep roots which can reach deep into the ground in order to absorb water. And in South Africa, there are the Severn, the Noenieput and the Rietfontein. The Kalahari Desert was formed millions and millions of years ago, over 60 million years to be more precise. 28. The earliest inhabitants of the region were the Khoisan people. The main reason is that it’s unique in its features and travellers can’t feel the same enjoyment at any other desert in the world. Have you been to the Kalahari Desert or have an exciting story to share? So it is understood that the explorer saw some natural rock formations in the desert and was completely mistaken. Many parts of the Kalahari receive significant rainfall (over 9.8 inches / 250 millimeters annually) and have quite a bit of vegetation. Namibia is the old home of Bushmen, some of whom still live in the desert. The wildlife found in the Kalahari has adapted to survive the arid conditions of the desert. The Okavango is the fourth longest river in Southern Africa and the Okavango Delta in Botswana also forms the world’s largest inland river delta. Of we know the Kalahari region receives enough rainfall for a to sustain plantlife and some tree species and of course is home to amongst others the San bushmen who make up the Kalahari desert population so the name can be a little misleading. Sign up for travel tips and news from Africa delivered straight to your inbox! Many years ago, there were several large lakes in the Kalahari which helped to create a healthy ecosystem and vibrant habitat for insects, plants and animals. The altitude of Kalahari Desert is around 600 to 1600 meters and is cooler than Sahara or Sahel region. 10 Best Kalahari desert facts-The Kalahari Desert is one of the large semi-arid regions that are dominated by sand savannah landscape in South Africa. The wetter north in Botswana has a greater variety of wildlife than the drier south.
2020 kalahari desert interesting facts