Landscapes of the Central Kalahari, Botswana

The Kalahari Desert is a large semi-arid sandy savanna in Southern Africa extending for 900,000 square km, covering much of Botswana, and parts of Namibia and South Africa. Even where the Kalahari "desert" is dry enough to qualify as a desert in the sense of having low precipitation, it is not strictly speaking a desert because it has too dense a ground cover. The native flora includes acacia trees and many other herbs and grasses. The Kalahari is home to many migratory birds and animals. Previously havens for wild animals from elephants to giraffes, and for predators such as lions and cheetahs, the riverbeds are now mostly grazing spots, though leopards and cheetahs can still be found. The area is now heavily grazed and cattle fences restrict the movement of wildlife.