By hennie | March 19, 2022 | Featured, Uncategorized
Green Kalahari is the time of year when the rainy season brings life to the Kalahari. The Kalahari is a semi-desert with extreme weather conditions. Toward the end of every year, the dry season lingers before the rains arrive. It is not every year that the Kalahari receives good rains. October is the suicide month, with extreme heat and temperatures soaring to 50 degrees. It is dry, has scarce vegetation, and has severe heat waves. November is usually the start of the build-up towards the first rains.
The building of static electricity and humidity are the first signs of the potential rainy season. In general, the moisture comes from the Okavango and the north of Botswana; the Northwest is the direction of the heavy weather building towards the Kalahari. The saying goes, the more it rains, the more it rains. Once the first water has fallen, the moisture builds up, and along with the evaporation and pressure zones during November and onwards, the cycle will start.
The smell of the dry earth is unique and brings life to all in nature. The tiny creatures arrive, the months, butterflies, scorpions, and even the birds are quenching the dry season thirsts. Thunderstorms and electrical storms surround the low areas of the Kalahari. These storms seem near the ground at a mere 850 – 1100 meters above sea level. Often, lightning strikes trees, and veld fires occur during and before the rainy season. Antelopes start gathering during the rainy season, and it is also a time for calving to take place. As soon as the grass grows, herds form, youngens appear, and energy is missing during the dry months. It is as if the desert wakes up after being dormant. Migrating birds are appearing to visit this area. Predators are more active, and the tiny creature is visible.
The thunderstorms bring spectacular blood-red skies with green grass, red sand, and vast landscapes. The nocturnal activities pick up, and hearing the lions roar from a distance becomes evident nightly.
The rainy season is from November to March. However, it can start in October and still rain in May. Visiting the remote parts and wild areas of the Kalahari requires some preparations. These parts are best accessible with 4 x 4 vehicles, and camping and remote living are necessary to endure these parts of the Kalahari.
Join our team on a Green Kalahari Expedition and experience the power of this semi-desert region of southern Africa
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