The Kalahari is vast and largely devoid of permanent water, giving rise to its original name of Kgaligadi or thirstland. Occupying most of Botswana, part of Namibia and some of South Africa, this isn’t a conventional desert as you'd probably imagine it. Salt pans, mopane woodland, savannah grassland, acacia scrub and old river beds feature to a greater or lesser extent throughout the Kalahari.

Despite the lack of water, though, the Kalahari somehow manages to support a rich array of wildlife which is primarily to be found in the northern reaches of the Central Kalahari Game Reserve and the peripheral conservancies. In these grassy valleys, especially during the late rains, large numbers of gemsbok, springbok, wildebeest, steenbok and red hartebeest congregate. This is ideal high-speed hunting ground for cheetah and one of the best places, too, to see the handsome black-maned lion. There are also a few rare treats here; brown hyena, leopard, meerkat, honey badger and caracal...though like all good things, there’s no guarantee and you have to work hard to see ‘em.