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Situated in central Southern Africa, the Kalahari region is an ancient and pristine biome. Formerly inhabited by the San or Bushmen, much of the land is now occupied by sheep and cattle farmers, but large areas have been set aside for conservation and tourism. This vast but sparsely populated world is fast becoming a playground for adventurous spirits and seekers of the extreme who wish to participate in the conservation of this magnificent region.
Plant and animal species that have adapted to the rigorous conditions of this semi-arid region are vulnerable to the pernicious effects of environmental degradation. Existing conservation areas do not extend to all elements of this great biome, and if the Kalahari’s biodiversity is to be saved, more land must come under some form of conservation umbrella.
Participants in new conservation programmes may expect to receive valuable guidance and advice from managers and professional personnel working in established conservation areas. They will also benefit from the great knowledge and experience of environmental conditions gained by local farmers.
The Kalahari is not a place to simply visit for it has just too many secrets. It is a place you have to experience with all your senses. You must see the endless horizons, feel the remoteness, hear the silence, smell the desert and awake in the early morning and drench yourself like a meerkat in Kalahari sunshine.
While one cannot do justice to this great land with mere facts, following is a general description of the Kalahari with some of its major features and attributes.
The area is characterized by red sands, parallel white dunes, and rolling grasslands dotted with camel thorn trees. Despite its aridity, it is home to the world’s sixth largest waterfall.
This semi-arid environment has a highly variable rainfall of up to 400 mm annually. It is a summer rainfall region with temperatures in January rising to 33-40˚C. Winters are sunny and mild with light frost.
The vast expanses of sandy deserts and grassy plains are populated by roaming ungulates such as gemsbok, springbok, blue wildebeest and eland. Large predators include leopard, cheetah, and the stately black-maned Kalahari Lion. The area is home to the world’s largest land bird, the ostrich, as well as its heaviest flying bird - the kori bustard. It is also a site of global significance for large raptors, showcased by the Kalahari Raptor Route.
The largest conservation area in the Kalahari - the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park - covers 3.7 million hectares, making it one of the world’s largest wilderness areas. An unbroken tract of land sprawling across three countries - South Africa, Namibia and Botswana – the Kgalagadi was the first transnational park to be proclaimed in Africa. Two major ecosystems dominate the Kgalagadi: semi-desert and dry savannah. The wildlife regime consists of 298 species of birds (including more than 50 species of raptor), 58 species of mammal, 55 species of reptile, and countless insect and plant species.
A new kind of conservation initiative that will link private lands to existing parks and reserves is underway as well as the establishment of new conservation nodes. If you are interested in obtaining more information, or viewing some of the properties, contact the Nature Office - see details below.
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