Kalahari

The huge Kalahari Desert spans seven different countries in Southern Africa. It's the subject of much debate as to what the Kalahari actually is and what defines its borders - indeed, Kalahari sand extends all the way up into the Congo.

Whatever the debate, the Kalahari is a region of incredible beauty and infinite vastness. For those who want to experience the Kalahari try the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park (administered by both South Africa and Botswana), or Botswana's enormous Central Kalahari Game Reserve.

Although it is called a desert, the landscape is surprisingly well-vegetated and most of the region receives a measure of annual rainfall that pushes it beyond the claim of being a true desert. In springtime the undulating, sandy plains are covered in carpets of flowers and green grass while the summer rains transform most of the Kalahari into a verdant park. Acacias and other dry area specialists line ancient water courses and there are great tracts of dry woodland.

In the protected areas game tends to be very good: lion, cheetah and leopard prey on the arid area species like springbok, gemsbok and red hartebeest. Bird watching can be amazing: look out for great raptors all year round and an influx of interesting migrants in the wet summer months.

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