The Kalahari Desert is a part of the largest continuous area of sand in the world. Its sand plains cover nine African countries: Gabon, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo (in the north), Angola, Zambia and Zimbabwe (in the centre), Botswana, Namibia and South Africa (in the south). The area covers approximately 2,5 million square kilometres and the sand is sometimes well over 100 metres deep. Today, the Kalahari Gemsbok National Park forms Africa's first transfrontier park with the Gemsbok National Park in Botswana, facilitating the seasonal migration of wildlife in search of water, and the movement of free-roaming predators. The new 38000 km2 park, known as Kgalagadi ('land of thirst'), represents an increasingly rare phenomenon in the world: a vast ecosystem relatively free of human influence. 

Seasons: Annual rainfall is 200mm mainly between January and April. Summer daytime temperatures may exceed 40 degrees Celsius. The best time to visit is in winter (April-August) - days are mild and sunny. 

Wildlife: No fewer than 215 bird species over 400 plant species have been recorded. You should see: Kalahari lion, gemsbok, blue wildebeest, eland, springbok, red hartebeest, duiker, steenbok, spotted hyaena, black-backed jackal, Springhare, meerkat You may see: African Wild Cat, African Wild Dog (Painted Wolf), Antbear (Aardvark), Bat-Eared Fox, Caracal, Cheetah, Honey Badger, Leopard, Pangolin, Porcupine, Silver (Cape) Fox, genet and Steenbok. 

History: The Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park (KTP) has been in de facto existence for more than half a century. It has enabled Botswana and South Africa to manage this vast area, located in the southern Kalahari, as a single ecological unit. In recognition of this agreement, no barriers to wildlife movement exist along the international boundary that separates the 9,591 km2 Kalahari Gemsbok National Park in the Republic of South Africa and the 28,400 km² Gemsbok National Park in Botswana.