Seven Things to do in the Kalahari Desert

Published on: 25//02/2025

Botswana Nxai Pan NP Baynes Baobabs

Photo title: Baines Baobabs

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Photo Credits: Ralf Ellerich – Wikimedia Commons

Wild and remote, the alien-like landscapes of the Kalahari boast fascinating geographical features, incredible wildlife and vegetation, and unique cultures. There are many things to see and do there. Here are just some of them.

1. See amazing wildlife

Spanning three countries, the Kalahari Desert offers safari experiences unlike any other place. Although it is not an easy place to survive in, it sustains a wide variety of wildlife and birdlife, who have adapted to these arid conditions. The Kalahari is home to predators like cheetahs, black-maned lions, and leopards, herbivores including elephants, rhinos and antelopes as well as over 200 species of birds. It’s also a great place to see meerkats. The wide-open landscapes make it easy to spot these wild creatures, who tend to hang around at waterholes or under the shade of trees. Game reserves and safari lodges throughout the Kalahari offer safari experiences.

2. Makgadikgadi Salt Pans

Once an ancient lake, the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans in the north-eastern part of Botswana are now the largest salt pans in the world, spanning an area of 16,000 square kilometres. Their appearance changes throughout the seasons so they should be seen during different times of the year. In winter the endless, parched plains shimmer in ethereal isolation while in summer they are transformed into verdant wetlands that attract wildlife and birdlife. The second-largest zebra migration in the world takes place here every year when over 25,000 zebras make the journey from the Okavango Delta.

3. Baines’ Baobabs

Named after 19th century explorer, Thomas Baines, these gigantic baobabs overlooking the Kaudia Camp Pan are sometimes referred to as the Seven Sisters or Sleeping Sisters. They are capable of storing up to 1,2 million litres of water in their massive trunks, which enables them to survive in the dry desert. Although the pans are dry for most of the year, during the rainy season the abundance of water beds creates spectacular scenes.

4. Eye of Kuruman

The Eye of Kuruman in the Northern Cape of South Africa is the largest natural fountain in the Southern Hemisphere, gushing out 20 to 30 million litres of fresh water a day. It supplies the Kuruman River, flowing into two irrigation canals and culminating in a lake in the centre of the oasis town of Kuruman, which was built around it. A natural source of potable water, it is a lifeline for animals, plants and people in the area.

Flamingo migration Makgadikgadi Pan

Photo title: Makgadigadi Salt Pans

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Photo Credits: Ed Glickman – Wikimedia Commons

5. Learn about the San culture 

One of the oldest tribes in the world, the San people have lived in the Kalahari for over twenty thousand years, developing incredible desert survival skills over time. Some of them are still hunter-gatherers. It is possible to go on guided walks with them, where you can learn about how they make fire, hunt and gather food. The iKhomani Cultural Landscape on the on the Kalahari Red Dune Route in South Africa is a living museum and a UNESCO World Heritage site where you can get first-hand insight into the culture and traditions.

6. Tsodilo Hills

Sometimes called the ‘Louvre of the Desert’, Tsodilo Hills in the north-west region of Botswana is home to over 500 rock art sites as well as caves, shelters and depressions. Approximately 4,500 rock paintings can be seen along the faces of these hills. Proclaimed a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001, it is also a significant area for the local tribes, and a resting place for their ancestors.

7. Explore the Kalahari Desert

The striking sand dunes of the Kalahari offer many opportunities for adrenalin-pumping desert activities that will satisfy any adventure lover, including sand boarding, quad biking, desert walks, hiking and 4×4 trailing.

Sara Essop

Sara Essop

Sara Essop is a travel blogger and freelance writer based in South Africa. She writes about family travel and experiences around the world. Her hobbies include taking the road less travelled and discovering fascinating places everywhere. Although she has been to 47 countries thus far, her favourite place to be in is the African bush.

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