The South African Kalahari is a semi-desert region of red dune veld spanning the northern reaches of Northern Cape province, not a municipality in its own right. Its territory is covered today by municipalities in the ZF Mgcawu District (formerly Siyanda) and the John Taolo Gaetsewe District.
The region runs from the Orange River at Upington north to the Botswana and Namibia borders, taking in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park and the cattle- and game-farming country around Van Zylsrus and Rietfontein.
Municipalities Covering the Kalahari
| Municipality | District |
|---|---|
| Dawid Kruiper | ZF Mgcawu |
| Joe Morolong | John Taolo Gaetsewe |
| Ga-Segonyana | John Taolo Gaetsewe |
| Gamagara | John Taolo Gaetsewe |
Main Towns
- Upington (Dawid Kruiper) — river oasis, gateway to the Kalahari
- Kuruman (Ga-Segonyana)
- Kathu (Gamagara)
- Van Zylsrus (Joe Morolong)
- Hotazel (Joe Morolong)
- Askham (Dawid Kruiper, former Mier area)
- Rietfontein (Dawid Kruiper, former Mier area)
- Noenieput (Dawid Kruiper, former Mier area)
Geography
Red Kalahari dunes and sparse grassland cover the region, with rainfall increasing slightly from west to east. The Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, shared with Botswana, sits in the region’s northwest corner around Twee Rivieren. Further east, the land rises toward the Ghaap Plateau around Kuruman.
Economy and Local Life
Cattle and game farming, plus safari tourism linked to the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, dominate the western Kalahari around the former Mier area — farms here are large, often tens of thousands of hectares, to support livestock on sparse grazing. Iron-ore and manganese mining around Kathu, Sishen and Hotazel drive the eastern side of the region, among the richest such deposits in the world, alongside Orange River irrigation farming at Upington, which supplies the region’s fresh produce and wine grapes.
San and Khoe communities have deep roots across the western Kalahari, and Dawid Kruiper Local Municipality is itself named for a San traditional leader, reflecting the area’s indigenous heritage.
History
European settlement in the Kalahari lagged behind the rest of the Cape Colony well into the 20th century, given the region’s aridity and distance from the coast. The Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, proclaimed jointly with Botswana in 2000 from earlier national parks on both sides of the border, formalised decades of informal cross-border conservation. Iron-ore mining at Sishen, discovered in the 1940s, later turned Kathu from a farm siding into a mining town.
FAQ
Is the Kalahari a municipality?
No. It is a desert region covering parts of the ZF Mgcawu and John Taolo Gaetsewe districts.
What is the main town of the South African Kalahari?
Upington, on the Orange River, is the largest town and main gateway.
What is the Kalahari region known for?
The Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, cattle and game farming, and iron-ore and manganese mining further east.
Which municipalities cover the Kalahari?
Dawid Kruiper, Joe Morolong, Ga-Segonyana and Gamagara.