The Kalahari Desert
The Kalahari Desert is a vast arid desert area in southwestern sub-Saharan Africa, extending 900,000 kilometres squared and covering three quarters of the whole land area of Botswana, as well as parts of Namibia. It is one of the largest areas of desert in the world.
Despite its aridity, the Kalahari supports a variety of fauna and flora. The native flora includes acacia trees and many other herbs and grasses. Some of the areas within the Kalahari are seasonal wetlands, such as the Makgadikgadi Pans of Botswana. Nature also protects itself because game is most plentiful after the rains when the tracks and trails across the desert are wet and treacherous, deterring the tourists. In the first few months of the year the rains attract thousands of springbok, gemsbok and wildebeest followed by lions and cheetah.