What is the Kalahari Desert?

The Kalahari Desert is a large, basin-like plain on the interior plateau of Southern Africa occupying almost all of Botswana, the eastern third of Namibia, and the northernmost part of Northern Cape province in South Africa. The Kalahari's north–south extent is roughly 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometers), and its east–west distance is about 600 miles, with an estimated area of some 360,000 square miles (930,000 square kilometers). The region is inhabited primarily by Bantu and Khoisan-speaking San, with a small number of Europeans. The southwestern Kalahari qualifies as a desert, while the northeastern part receives more rainfall and does not climatically qualify as a desert. The landscape is mainly a gently undulating, sand-covered plain, with kopjes (low, vertical-walled hills), sand sheets, longitudinal dunes, and vleis (pans) characterizing the terrain.

Where is the Kalahari Desert located?

The Kalahari Desert is a large basin-like plain located on the interior plateau of Southern Africa. It covers almost all of Botswana, the eastern third of Namibia, and the northernmost part of Northern Cape province in South Africa. The Kalahari merges with the Namib, which is the coastal desert of Namibia, in the southwest. The desert extends roughly 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometers) north to south, and its greatest east-west distance is about 600 miles, covering an estimated area of some 360,000 square miles (930,000 square kilometers).

What kind of climate does the Kalahari Desert have?

The Kalahari Desert's climate varies, but it's generally defined by its aridity. The southwestern part meets traditional desert criteria, receiving less than 10 inches (250 mm) of rain annually, with a potential evaporation rate twice as high as precipitation. The northeast gets more rain (over 20 inches annually), but the deep sands create an edaphic drought , where water drains away, leaving the soil dry. Most rainfall occurs as summer thunderstorms, varying significantly by location and year. Winters are very dry, with low humidity and no rain for six to eight months. Temperatures fluctuate widely daily and seasonally due to the high altitude and clear, dry air, reaching 110–115 °F (43–46 °C) in summer days but dropping to 70–80 °F (21–27 °C) at night. Winter nights often freeze, potentially dropping to 10 °F (-12 °C).

What types of plants and animals live in the Kalahari Desert?

The Kalahari Desert is home to diverse plants and animals, with more variety in the north than in the south. Plant Life Due to the deep sand cover, plants with deep roots thrive. Southwestern Kalahari Few trees, xerophytic shrubs, and short grasses Central Kalahari Scattered acacia trees, shrubs, and grasses Northern Kalahari Open woodlands, palm trees, thorn brush, and forests with evergreen and deciduous trees, including the baobab Okavango Swamp Reeds, papyrus, pond lilies, and other water-loving plants Animal Life Even in the arid south, many animals stay for long periods without surface water.

Who are the San people and how have they adapted to life in the Kalahari?

The San are an indigenous people of southern Africa, related to the Khoekhoe, who primarily inhabit Botswana, Namibia, and southeastern Angola. They are also referred to as Bushmen, though this term is sometimes considered offensive. Traditionally, the San were hunter-gatherers who lived in bands of 25 to 60 people. They construct lightweight, portable shelters from branches, twigs, and grass. They use bows and poisoned arrows, snares, and spears to hunt game, and they gather wild vegetables, fruits, nuts, and insects for food. The Kalahari diet is based on several species of edible plants, supplemented by the meat of antelopes and other mammals, tortoises, reptiles, and birds. The San have adapted to the Kalahari's harsh climate by moving from camp to camp in search of food and water. They construct open windbreaks during the dry seasons and domed, rainproof structures during the rainy periods. They are known for their tracking skills, their knowledge of edible plants, and their ability to find water in the desert.

How does the Kalahari Desert affect the surrounding regions and countries in Africa?

The Kalahari Desert, a large basin-like plain in Southern Africa, spans Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa. The desert impacts the climate of the surrounding regions with its high altitude and dry air, causing significant temperature variations between day and night. The desert is primarily inhabited by Bantu and Khoisan speakers. Water scarcity limits settlement to areas near wells, impacting where people can live. Cattle herding, central to the economy, suffers from destructive grazing practices that threaten the ecology through pasture loss and desertification. The northern Kalahari features a unique drainage system where rivers from Angola feed into swamps in Botswana, creating a paradoxical situation of water excess in a dry region.

Kalahari Desert

References & Edit History Related Topics

Images

Physical map of southern Africa showing elevation with color shading, major rivers including the Orange River, national boundaries, cities, mountain ranges, deserts such as the Kalahari, and features like salt flats, swamps, and waterfalls. Surrounding countries include Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Zambia, Angola, South Africa, Lesotho, and Eswatini. An inset locator map highlights the region within the African continent.

Map of southern Africa highlighting the Kalahari Desert in orange, spanning parts of Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa, with surrounding countries and major bodies of water labeled for geographic context.

Five springbok (Antidorcas marsupialis) stand together on sandy ground in the open, arid landscape of the Kalahari.

A lioness lies on the ground licking one cub while another cub sits nearby in the Kalahari desert, South Africa.

Historical map of the southern part of Africa from 1902, showing colonial territories including German Southwest Africa, Bechuanaland, Transvaal Colony, Orange River Colony, Cape Colony, and Natal. The map includes detailed insets of Cape Town, Johannesburg, and Ladysmith, with colonial boundaries and major towns marked.

Two springboks (Antidorcas marsupialis) with slender bodies and curved horns stand on dry, open ground in the Kalahari, South Africa.

Two springbok antelopes with heads lowered and horns locked in combat on dry ground in the Kalahari Desert, South Africa.

At a Glance

Kalahari summary

Kalahari Desert

desert region, Africa

Written by

George Bertrand SilberbauerAll

Fact-checked by

Britannica Editors

Last updated

Nov. 9, 2026 •History

Top Questions

What is the Kalahari Desert?
The Kalahari Desert is a large, basin-like plain on the interior plateau of Southern Africa occupying almost all of Botswana, the eastern third of Namibia, and the northernmost part of Northern Cape province in South Africa. The Kalahari's north–south extent is roughly 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometers), and its east–west distance is about 600 miles, with an estimated area of some 360,000 square miles (930,000 square kilometers).

The region is inhabited primarily by Bantu and Khoisan-speaking San, with a small number of Europeans. The southwestern Kalahari qualifies as a desert, while the northeastern part receives more rainfall and does not climatically qualify as a desert. The landscape is mainly a gently undulating, sand-covered plain, with kopjes (low, vertical-walled hills), sand sheets, longitudinal dunes, and vleis (pans) characterizing the terrain.
2 Britannica Sources
1. Namibia: Plant and animal life
2. Kalahari Desert
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Where is the Kalahari Desert located?
The Kalahari Desert is a large basin-like plain located on the interior plateau of Southern Africa. It covers almost all of Botswana, the eastern third of Namibia, and the northernmost part of Northern Cape province in South Africa. The Kalahari merges with the Namib, which is the coastal desert of Namibia, in the southwest. The desert extends roughly 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometers) north to south, and its greatest east-west distance is about 600 miles, covering an estimated area of some 360,000 square miles (930,000 square kilometers).
1 Britannica Source
1. Kalahari Desert
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
What kind of climate does the Kalahari Desert have?
The Kalahari Desert's climate varies, but it's generally defined by its aridity. The southwestern part meets traditional desert criteria, receiving less than 10 inches (250 mm) of rain annually, with a potential evaporation rate twice as high as precipitation. The northeast gets more rain (over 20 inches annually), but the deep sands create an edaphic drought, where water drains away, leaving the soil dry.

Most rainfall occurs as summer thunderstorms, varying significantly by location and year. Winters are very dry, with low humidity and no rain for six to eight months. Temperatures fluctuate widely daily and seasonally due to the high altitude and clear, dry air, reaching 110–115 °F (43–46 °C) in summer days but dropping to 70–80 °F (21–27 °C) at night. Winter nights often freeze, potentially dropping to 10 °F (-12 °C).
2 Britannica Sources
1. Köppen climate classification: System
2. Kalahari Desert: Climate of the Kalahari Desert
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
What types of plants and animals live in the Kalahari Desert?
The Kalahari Desert is home to diverse plants and animals, with more variety in the north than in the south.

Plant Life

Due to the deep sand cover, plants with deep roots thrive.
- Southwestern Kalahari Few trees, xerophytic shrubs, and short grasses
- Central Kalahari Scattered acacia trees, shrubs, and grasses
- Northern Kalahari Open woodlands, palm trees, thorn brush, and forests with evergreen and deciduous trees, including the baobab
- Okavango Swamp Reeds, papyrus, pond lilies, and other water-loving plants
Animal Life

Even in the arid south, many animals stay for long periods without surface water.
- Southern Kalahari Springbok, gnu (wildebeest), hartebeest, gemsbok (oryx), eland, kudu, steenbok, and duiker
- Northern Kalahari Giraffes, zebras, elephants, buffalo, antelopes (roan, sable, tsessebe, and impala), lions, cheetahs, leopards, wild hunting dogs, foxes, jackals, hyenas, warthogs, baboons, badgers, anteaters, ant bears, hare, porcupines, rodents, snakes, lizards, and birds
2 Britannica Sources
1. Namibia: Plant and animal life
2. Kalahari Desert: Animal life
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Who are the San people and how have they adapted to life in the Kalahari?
The San are an indigenous people of southern Africa, related to the Khoekhoe, who primarily inhabit Botswana, Namibia, and southeastern Angola. They are also referred to as Bushmen, though this term is sometimes considered offensive.

Traditionally, the San were hunter-gatherers who lived in bands of 25 to 60 people. They construct lightweight, portable shelters from branches, twigs, and grass. They use bows and poisoned arrows, snares, and spears to hunt game, and they gather wild vegetables, fruits, nuts, and insects for food. The Kalahari diet is based on several species of edible plants, supplemented by the meat of antelopes and other mammals, tortoises, reptiles, and birds.

The San have adapted to the Kalahari's harsh climate by moving from camp to camp in search of food and water. They construct open windbreaks during the dry seasons and domed, rainproof structures during the rainy periods. They are known for their tracking skills, their knowledge of edible plants, and their ability to find water in the desert.
3 Britannica Sources
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
How does the Kalahari Desert affect the surrounding regions and countries in Africa?
The Kalahari Desert, a large basin-like plain in Southern Africa, spans Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa. The desert impacts the climate of the surrounding regions with its high altitude and dry air, causing significant temperature variations between day and night.

The desert is primarily inhabited by Bantu and Khoisan speakers. Water scarcity limits settlement to areas near wells, impacting where people can live. Cattle herding, central to the economy, suffers from destructive grazing practices that threaten the ecology through pasture loss and desertification.

The northern Kalahari features a unique drainage system where rivers from Angola feed into swamps in Botswana, creating a paradoxical situation of water excess in a dry region.
1 Britannica Source
1. Kalahari Desert: Climate of the Kalahari Desert
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Kalahari Desert, large basinlike plain of the interior plateau of Southern Africa. It occupies almost all of Botswana, the eastern third of Namibia, and the northernmost part of Northern Cape province in South Africa. In the southwest it merges with the Namib, the coastal desert of Namibia. The Kalahari’s longest north–south extent is roughly 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometres), and its greatest east–west distance is about 600 miles; its area has been estimated at some 360,000 square miles (930,000 square kilometres).

Physical features

Physiography and geology

The Kalahari Desert is a featureless, gently undulating, sand-covered plain, which everywhere is 3,000 feet (900 metres) or more above sea level. Bedrock is exposed only in the low but vertical-walled hills, called kopjes, that rarely but conspicuously rise above the general surface. Aside from the kopjes, three surfaces characterize virtually all of the Kalahari: sand sheets, longitudinal dunes, and vleis (pans).

The sand sheets appear to have been formed during the Pleistocene Epoch (about 2,588,000 to 11,700 years ago), and they have been fixed in place since then. In some areas they appear to have been of fluvial origin, the result of sheet flooding in times of much greater precipitation, but by far the greater part of them were wind-formed. The sheets occupy the eastern part of the Kalahari. Their surface elevation varies only slightly, with relief measured in tens of feet per mile. The depth of the sand there generally exceeds 200 feet. In many areas the sand is red, the result of a thin layer of iron oxide that coats the grains of sand.

By clicking “Sign Up”, you consent to the Britannica Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

The entire western Kalahari Desert is characterized by long chains of dunes, oriented roughly to the north or northwest. The dunes measure at least 1 mile in length, several hundred feet in width, and 20 to 200 feet in height. Each dune is separated from its neighbour by a broad parallel depression locally called a straat (“street,” or “lane”), because each constitutes the easy way to travel.

Vleis, or pans, are the terminal features of desert drainage systems, the “dry lakes” at the end of ephemeral streams. Many are remnant features from an earlier period of greater precipitation. Very little water ever flowed to the sea from the Kalahari. Rather, each stream ended its course in a slightly lower depression from which there was no outlet. There, as the stream dried up, the fine silt particles carried in suspension by the sluggish stream were deposited along with soluble calcium minerals and salts precipitated out of the evaporating water. The results are pans—flat surfaces devoid of vegetation that are gleaming white when dry, hardened by the cementing action of the soluble minerals, and, on occasion, covered by a shallow layer of standing water. Where the salt content is low, pans may become covered with grasses after a rain.

Arabian Camel (Camelus dromedarius) in the Sahara Desert sand dunes. (pack animal; sand; Morocco; Africa; African desert; mammal; dromedary; drought)

Britannica Quiz

Quick Quiz: Deserts

Drainage

In the southern and central parts of the Kalahari Desert, surface water is found only in small, widely scattered waterholes, and surface drainage is nonexistent. Nearly all of the rain that falls disappears immediately into the deep sand. Some is absorbed by the underlying rock strata; some is drawn to the surface by capillary action and evaporated into the air; and some, lifted from the depths by tree roots, is transpired from leaf surfaces. A small amount, landing on nonsandy surfaces, may flow short distances into pans, but this occurs only immediately after the infrequent rains. In some parts of the central and southern Kalahari, extensive ancient drainage systems have been detected—some on the ground and others by way of aerial photographs. None of these operate today, even in the wettest of years.

In the northern Kalahari an extraordinary drainage system prevails. During the summer heavy rains fall on the uplands of central Angola, far to the northwest of the Kalahari. Large amounts of runoff water feed a number of south-flowing streams, which merge to form the Okavango and Cuando (Kwando) rivers. The Okavango flows to the southeast and into the northernmost portion of the Kalahari, eventually breaking up into a number of distributary channels and feeding the vast area of swamps in northern Botswana. After an abnormally wet rainy season in Angola, excess water fills the swamps and overflows, filling Lake Ngami farther to the south, and flows eastward through the Boteti River into Lake Xau and the Makgadikgadi Pans. Similarly, the Cuando River flows south from Angola and partly into a northeastern extension of the same swamps. Thus is created the paradoxical situation of an area with an extensive excess of water in a region chronically short of water.

Explore Britannica Premium!

The trusted destination for professionals, college students, and lifelong learners.

Soils

Soils in the Kalahari Desert are largely based on sand, are reddish in color, and are low in organic material. Chemically, they are relatively alkaline, and they are extremely dry. In and near the pans, the soils tend to be highly calcareous or saline, and frequently they are toxic to most vegetation.

Kalahari Desert

Plant Life

Animal Life

Physical features

Physiography and geology

Thank you for signing up!

Drainage

Soils