Central Kalahari National Park
Larger than Denmark or Switzerland, and bigger than Lesotho and Swaziland combined, the 52,800 square kilometre Central Kalahari Game Reserve, which was set up in 1961, is the second largest game reserve in the world. Situated right in the centre of Botswana, this reserve is characterised by vast open plains, saltpans and ancient riverbeds. Varying from sand dunes with many species of trees and shrubs in the north, to flat bushveld in the central area, the reserve is more heavily wooded in the south, with mophane forests to the south and east. Rainfall is sparse and sporadic and can vary from 170 to 700 millimetres per year.
Formation of the Kalahari
A Great part of Africa was uplifted and three major basins were formed:Chad basin, Congo basin & Kalahari Basin. 40 million years ago high areas were worn down by ice, water, heat and wind and the Kalahari basin filled up with erosional debris and windblown sands. The Kalahari is the largest continuous stretch of sand in the world covering some 2500km from the Orange River to the tropical forests of Zaire.
Protruding rocks of the Kalahari
Karoo sediments, covered by basaltic lavas underline most of the Kalahari sands. Tectonic movements and uplifting of the belt caused Tsodilo to protrude above the Kalahari basin.
