The word Kgalagadi is derived from kgala, meaning “to dry up” or “to thirst”, and gadi, meaning “place of”. Together, Kgalagadi describes the vast semi-desert region stretching across Botswana, South Africa and partly bordering on Namibia – a landscape defined by red dunes, ephemeral rivers and an enduring scarcity of surface water; a land of thirst. Much has been written about the Kgalagadi: home of ancient hunter-gatherers, a vast wilderness and a land of silence and survival. For thousands of years, the San and later the Khoikhoi roamed the Kgalagadi’s red dunes and dry riverbeds, living in harmony with its harsh beauty. Their ancient tracks, stories and rock art mark the desert as one of humanity’s oldest homelands.
