One of the last untouched wild lands left in Southern Africa, the Kalahari Desert is a place of absolute desolate beauty and thrilling adventure. Those who travel here enjoy spectacular landscapes, stunning sunsets, and gorgeous rolling red sand dunes. Everything about the Kalahari Desert would easily lead travellers to believe that they are in another world.

The Kalahari stretches from South Africa, into Namibia and Botswana. Home to countless animal species, including desert elephants and black mane lions, along with all sorts of incredible plants, the Kalahari is one of those places you’ll fall in love with and never want to leave. The desert is best explored with a 4 x 4 tour, as some of the places are a little difficult to get to. 4 x4 tours are great for all sorts of reasons, including the fact that they include accommodation and will take you to those places you’ll want to see.

Before we get carried away with the numerous tours you can enjoy, we’re going to list some tips for travelling through the red sand landscape.

1. You’ll need to be self-reliant. If you are travelling on your own, you’ll need to take everything with you, even if you are travelling in a national park. If you are going to travel as a part of a tour group, you can expect that the company will provide the essentials as a part of the travel package.
2. Don’t forget to bring along your camera and your binoculars. You’ll want to have plenty of photos from your time spent here, especially of those glorious sun rises and sunsets. And binoculars are important for properly spotting birdlife as well as animals which might be a distance away.
3. Travel like the animals. This means that you should leave no trace of your time spent in the desert. Hold onto any litter you might have and deposit it correctly once you leave.
4. Give your eyes a break. Because the desert is so vast and oftentimes empty, you certainly wouldn’t be the first guest to constantly be on the lookout for birds and wildlife. Instead, relax and let your eyes lazily look out over the landscape and when something does come into sight, you can take full advantage of the sighting.
5. Keep cool. You’re in the desert, you are most certainly going to overheat at some point, even if it is the middle of winter, so it is important to stay hydrated and keep cool as much as possible. Pack a battery operated fan, sunglasses, a hat, sunscreen and something to sooth your lips.
6. Chat to those in the camps or who you come across on the road. For the latest sightings, it is generally a good idea to spark up a conversation with your fellow visitors.

For the most unforgettable experience in the Kalahari Desert, join Cross Over Africa for the trip of a lifetime through this ancient land.