The Kgalagadi has very quickly become my favorite destination in South Africa. It’s a place that keeps you interested and throws many surprises at you, as you explore the enormity of its landscapes.
Derived from the Tswana word “kalagare”, the name says it all and describes the Kgalagadi perfectly as “the place of great thirst”. This vast and desperate landscape of 37,256km2 spans between South Africa in the South-west and Botswana in the north and east, and is characterized by Fossil rivers, Duneveld and large salt pans.The Kgalagadi has been an inland desert since the end of the Cretaceous period (65 Million years ago), going through times of drier and wetter spells. These wetter spells caused the salt pans to form, as the minerals in the soils are pulled to the surface by evaporation. These mineral rich surface soils are eaten by the park’s herbivores to replace missing minerals in their diets.
The 2 Fossil rivers that cut their way through the Kalahari sands are the Auob river and the Nossob river, both originating in the dry wilderness of Namibia.They only flow once a century, for a very short while. Huge Camelthorn trees and grassy plains characterize these ancient river beds, the plants taking advantage of the high water table within the river beds. Many of the herbivores (Oryx, Springbok, Red Hartebeest and Blue Wildebeest) in the Kgalagadi move down into the river valleys in the dry season, before moving into the dunes in the “wet” season, where a number of flowering species sustain them until the dry starts to set in again. Predators such as Lion, Leopard, Cheetah and Hyena use the vantage points of the dunes above the river beds, to spot prey and use the cover of the dunes to get as close as possible to their next meal. Some of the largest birds in Africa are to be found in fairly large numbers in the Kgalagadi! Kori Bustards (the world’s heaviest bird), Secretarybirds and Martial Eagle all hunt the river beds, and the dunes. Another record breaker is the Sociable Weaver, which makes the world’s largest nests.
The desperation of the Kgalagadi means that opportunities are sparse, but taking full advantage of when they occur. In the last 2 years, the Kgalagadi has received a record wet season in 2022 and a much drier year this year. Last year there was a glut of juvenile Mole Snakes, and all the birds of prey took advantage, and we witnessed no less than 3 hunts and kills of Mole Snakes taking place. This year it was the termites that created the spectacle. Wherever you looked there were Lanner Falcons feeding on the termites.
So what makes the Kgalagadi such a phenomenal photographic destination? It’s a combination of a good deal of Wildlife, concentrated around a relatively small area. The open nature of the area makes for great backgrounds that are clean. Landscapes vary and are dramatic, but mostly it’s the small dramas that play out all the time. The desperation of the Kgalagadi means that the toughest survive and the competition is there for all to see.
I can arrange an 8 day safari to this incredible destination on a private safari basis, spending time in the northern and southern Nossob Valley at 2 separate camps in an area famed for its big cats. Get in touch with me for more info on this incredible opportunity.
All the best and chat soon
Darren
Oooh Dazza,
I’m loving the high key, especially that cheetah!
Thanks Karen. I’m glad you like them. The Kalahari is so good for high and lowkey images.