Situated in the Kalahari Basin, the Northern Cape Kalahari forms part of a large arid to semi-arid area stretching over 2.5 million square kilometres. The name Kalahari is derived from the Tswana word Kgala meaning 'great thirst' although certain parts of the Kalahari can receive up to 250 millimetres of rainfall annually. This means that acacias and low grasses can grow and are able to support life including antelope, lions, hyenas, giraffe and jackals. Game farms and nature reserves make up a large percentage of the Kalahari including South Africa's first transfrontier park, the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park.
