Kalahari - Africa s Greatest Saved Secret

The Kalahari sands prolong throughout Botswana from southern Angola to the northern Cape in South Africa. This dry, arid area generally known as the Kalahari Desert receives less than 10 inches of rain annually. Geologically, it is an immense, flat, sand-stuffed basin within the heart of Africa. Much of this can be a wilderness region populated by wild animals and the San people (also known as Bushmen).

However, in the midst of the Kalahari is the Okavango Delta, an enormous inland river delta. This delta exists because of the Okavango river which flows down from the highlands of Angola. Rainfall is plentiful in these highlands so there is a 12 months spherical circulation within the Okavango river which peaks as flood a couple of month after the heavy rains in Angola. When the river reaches the flat Kalahari Sands it spreads out as an incredible inland delta which is blocked by a low ridge caused by the Kunyere Fault. It then disappears into the sand just north of the city of Maun. There many waterways within the delta and it is a verdant oasis in the middle of the Kalahari desert. In years previous the waters have spilled over a low ridge at Maun and have reached Lake Xau and the Makarikari Salt Pans about 70 miles south-east of Maun.

The Oryx and the Springbok are both antelope that make their house is the broad flat plains of the Kalahari savannah. The Oryx (or Gemsbok as it is usually identified) has long straight horns that if seen in profile could also be mistaken for the legendary unicorn. The Springbok is so-called because if its distinctive leaping behavior whereas running.

The tiny Meerkat (all of 12 inches long) is a mammal of the mongoose family that lives in clans of about twenty in underground warrens throughout the Kalahari. Each clan survives in this hostile atmosphere by working together as an in depth-knit household group.

Among the wildlife is unique to the delta, together with the Red Lechwe, the splay-toed, massive haunched antelope and the Sitatunga which are at home within the papyrus swamp.

There are additionally many other animals corresponding to Cape buffalo, hippo, crocodiles, kudu, sable antelope, impala, baboon, cheetah, water buck, elephant and ostriches.

The Kalahari teems with wildlife and Botswana has done a superb job of conservation making this area probably the greatest places to view wildlife in Africa. Wildlife tourism is encouraged by the federal government and there are various lodges and game camps where you can see these animals of their natural state.