About us

Derived from the Tswana word Kgala, meaning “the great thirst”, or Kgalagadi, meaning “a waterless place”, the Kalahari has vast areas covered by red sand without any permanent surface water.

The Kalahari Desert (in Afrikaans: Kalahari-woestyn) is a large semi-arid sandy savannah in southern Africa extending 900,000 square kilometres (350,000 sq mi), covering much of Botswana, parts of Namibia (previously South West Africa), and South Africa. A semi-desert, with huge tracts of excellent grazing after good rains, the Kalahari supports more animals and plants than a true desert. The Kalahari is not officially regarded as a desert due to the precipitation it receives.

The Kalahari is probably most famous for it’s stunning red sand dunes. These dunes are covered with a relative abundance of vegetation, including grass tussocks, shrubs, and deciduous trees that have evolved to make use of the area’s infrequent precipitation and wild swings in temperature. In summer, the heat can top 45 degrees Celsius (115 degrees Fahrenheit); on winter nights, lows can drop to -15 degrees Celsius (seven degrees Fahrenheit).

In the wetter north and east, where open woodlands exist, the area is made up mainly of a type of acacia known as the camelthorn tree. Endemic to the Kalahari, the camelthorn is a crucial part of the desert ecosystem, manufacturing nutrients that encourage other plants to grow around its base and providing shade for animals. Zoutpanputs Game Lodge is set around a beautiful example of the camelthorn tree.

The natural trees, shrubs and fauna of the Kalahari offer the wildlife lover a sight seeing paradise with large varieties of birds and mammals living in their natural habitat.

Zoutpanputs offers guests viewing hides to observe nature. For those wanting to explore further, 4×4 game drives can be arranged. Many visitors have arrived at Zoutpanputs not only in 4×4 vehicles but also touring bikes.