Kalahari Wildlife

As a highly specialised environment, the Kalahari has many unique plant and animal species.

One of the most famous residents is the black maned lion, which can only be found in the Kalahari and is the area's top predator. Although not officially a different species, the black maned lion is distinct from other lions above the Sahara and in east Africa because of its long and heavy mane. The mane is black around the shoulders with a lighter fringe around the face as well as black tips on the ears.

The Gemsbok of the Kalahari have longer horns and more rounded ears than their northern relatives and are part of the African antelope family. Gemsbok are superbly adapted to Kalahari living as they do not need to drink. Instead, they get all the moisture they need from eating grass and other vegetation.

The ugly hoodia cactus may have the key to making people beautiful. The cactus has a chemical compound that tricks your brain into believing you are full – making it a potential million dollar combatant of obesity. The cactus has been used by the San bushmen of the Kalahari for thousands of years to suppress hunger during long hunting trips.

The Bushmen