The Kalahari Desert is approximately 60 million years old. With the only permanent river that flows through the Kalahari Desert, the Okavango River, linking it from Botswana to South Africa. The Kalahari Desert covers large parts of Botswana, parts of north-west South Africa and eastern and Southern Namibia. The temperature fluctuates hugely from 40 degrees celsius in the day to zero degrees at night.
The Kalahari Desert has signature deep orange colour sand, it is mesmerizing. Contrary to its name the Orange River flows through part of the Kalahari and this area is named the Green Kalahari, they also grow vineyards in this area to make locally produced wine.
There is an incredible amount of wildlife in the Kalahari Desert. Home to the black maned lions, cheetah, springbok, oryx, elephants, ostrich and the African wild dog, even driving between lodges you can see animals in the wild.
From Namibia’s capital Windhoek, you can drive out towards the south-east and be at the Red Dunes Lodge in the Kalahari Desert within two hours. It is an excellent place to start your journey seeing the antelope on one of their sundowner game drives. They even bring along evening drinks and snacks. The Kalahari is the perfect place to start or finish your trip to Namibia.
Featured Property
Otjimbondona Kalahari, Namibia
Otjimbondona Kalahari is a delightful lodge consisting of a Manor House complete with 360 degree views… Read more
Best time to go
May – September (dry months), December & January (green season)
From here you head into the Kalahari, where the temperature and scenery dramatically changes. It is a safe and superb country to explore by road and this self-drive holiday gives you a chance...
If you have the opportunity, go out for a night under the stars camping in the Kalahari Desert, it makes for an unforgettable experience like no other
One special excursion is visiting the local Bushman living in the desert, if you spend a day visiting them you will feel enlightened. Their local language built on click is tricky to understand, but luckily the tours come with an interpreter
Take a sundowners game drive, there are few sunsets that will beat that of the sun going down over the Kalahari Desert
