The Kalahari

Dating back 40 to 60 million years, Namibia’s Kalahari is a world of rust-red dunes, grassy plains and surprisingly abundant life. Unlike the towering dunes of the Namib, its lower, sweeping dunes are dotted with hardy vegetation and turn green after the rain. Oryx, giraffe, meerkats and even the black-maned Kalahari lion roam the region, while the San have called this ancient landscape their home for around 20,000 years. Add in spectacular sunsets, star-filled skies and an almost endless sense of space, and this quieter corner of Namibia makes a compelling detour from the desert classics.