The Kalahari is an arid region with a rainfall of 200 mm per annum, mainly between January and April. In some years, rainfall was less than 100 mm. In summer, day temperatures can easily exceed 40°C. Winter days are sunny with night temperatures often below zero.

Despite the arid conditions, the Kalahari is a biotope for a fauna of great variety. More than 58 mammal species live here, amongst them the majestic Kalahari lion which is well adapted to the desert conditions.

The park is famous for its large antelope herds. Quite frequently one can see hundreds of graceful springbok, orx or gemsbok and blue wildebeest moving about grazing through the softly rustling veld.



Top: lion sleeping in the shade of a tree. Centre: dry Camelthorn tree and fruits of this acacia species.
Left: grazing springbok antelopes.

Kgalagadi Transfrontier
National Park
Ecosystem

In the dry beds of the Nossob and the Auob rivers, huge Camelthorn trees are growing. Their oblong fruit is a welcome and vitamin-rich variation in the diet of many animals. The trees - they belong to the Acacias - have a wide-spread, deep root system, which enables them to grow to a considerable height even under desert conditions. In the midday heat the animals love to rest in the cooling shade of these trees.