Kalahari Desert: Location, Topography & Temperature Extremes

The **Kalahari Desert** is a vast **semi-arid sandy savanna** (not a true desert) covering ~900,000 km² in southern Africa.

Location

• Countries: **Botswana** (majority), **Namibia** (east), **South Africa** (Northern Cape).
• Coordinates: ~20°–29°S, 20°–27°E.
• Part of the larger **Kalahari Basin** (2.5M km²) including Okavango Delta, Makgadikgadi Pans.

Topography

• Elevation: ~900–1,100 m (3,000–3,600 ft) average — gently undulating plateau.
• Surface: Deep **Kalahari Sand** (up to 300 m thick) — aeolian (wind-blown) origin, red from iron oxide.
• Features: Linear dunes (vegetated, fossil), **pans** (clay-floored depressions — fill seasonally), dry valleys (omuramba), isolated rocky inselbergs (kopjes).
• Drainage: Almost entirely internal; no permanent rivers. Fossil rivers (e.g., Deception Valley).

Temperature Range

• Annual Mean: 20–26°C (68–79°F).
• Summer (Nov–Mar): **Day: 35–45°C (95–113°F)**; peaks >45°C. Nights: 20–25°C.
• Winter (Jun–Aug): **Day: 20–25°C (68–77°F)**; **Nights: -5–5°C (23–41°F)** — frequent frost, occasionally -10°C.
• Diurnal Swing: Extreme (20–25°C daily range).

Rainfall

• 100–500 mm/yr (highly variable, summer convective).
• Increases north/east; decreases south/west.

The Kalahari supports surprising life (gemsbok, springbok, meerkats, Kalahari lions, San people) adapted to its rhythmic extremes.