Page 91 - Discover Botswana 25th Edition - 2025

DISCOVER BOTSWANA 25TH EDITION 91
KALAHARI
The Kalahari Desert, an expanse of varied
ecosystems that stretches across Botswana,
Namibia, and South Africa, is truly a
place of paradoxes. Despite its title as a
desert, this is no barren wasteland. The
Kalahari teems with life, its ephemeral
nature shaping a unique array of adaptations, in tune
with the pulse of desert life. It spreads right across central
and southern Botswana, with its hidden valleys, and the
shimmering haze of the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans.
Deception Valley is most famous amongst the valleys
of the central Kalahari. Alongside others it provides a
refreshing break in the relentless rolling bushveld. Part
of an ancient water system, the valleys offer nutrient rich
grassland during the summer rains. Fields of grass fill with
striking oryx while giraffe wander between acacia trees.
Insects buzz, flowers nod to the gentle breeze and the cloud
heavy skies welcome migrant birds to their summer home.
The desert is vibrant with life and colour, every living being
maximising this bountiful window before it closes. This is
after all a desert and the dry will always return.
Predators follow where the herds lead. In the summer,
the Kalahari lions are no different - the prides come
together and have no need to move far out of the herd
Previous pages: On a cool and wet morning on the grasslands, a lioness comes alive
with focus when a herd of zebra drift into view..
Facing page: Dust bathing plays an important role for elephants. Due to the white clay
nature of the soils around the salt pans, one finds strangely ghost-like figures wandering
around the plains.
Above: A dominant and beautiful male lion moves towards shade as the morning heat
intensifies, he keeps a close eye on happenings around the Nxai Pan water hole.
Below: The glory of mud! One can almost taste the joy felt by huge elephants as they
lower themselves into mud baths for their daily ritual.