The Kalahari is an exceptionally beautiful living desert: a large semi-arid sandy savanna draped over a gently rolling inland sea of sand covering most of Botswana and large parts of Namibia and South Africa.

In South Africa, the Kgalagadi Transfrontier park is well worth a visit especially in the winter months (May to September). In the heat of the day, desert-adapted black-maned Kalahari lions shelter beneath shady bushes and leopards take refuge in the branches of camelthorn trees. It is also home to cheetah, hyena and immense herds of springbok, gemsbok, red hartebeest, blue wildebeest and eland. Nowhere in South Africa are you more likely to see cheetah than in the dry river beds of the Kgalagadi park - glorious in late summer and autumn, when the thorn bushes and shepherd trees are green and the grasses golden yellow.

The red sand dunes, sparse vegetation and the dry riverbeds of the Nossob and Auob show off its antelope and their predators to spectacular advantage. The open terrain of the Kgalagadi Park is heaven for wildlife photographers. Particular specials of the park include suricate (also known as meerkats - hyperactive little omnivores have a wonderfully intricate family structure; black-maned Kalahari Lions and sociable weaver birds. These busy little birds construct huge communal nests seen all over the reserve.

The Kalahari Desert in general is also one of the finest areas in South Africa for viewing birds of prey. One special is the pygmy falcon, the smallest falcon in Africa and often to be seen around the Sociable Weaver colonies preying on the birds.