This
is not a true desert area.
The Kalahari, Karoo, Namaqualand, Damaraland and Kaokoland
all fall within the arid zone.
The
general vegetation consists of acacia trees, woody shrubs,
grass and succulents. Opportunist spring flowers burst masses
of colour and variation if the rains do fall.
The
climate is harsh, with extreme
temperature ranges and mean annual rainfall below 300mm per
year.
Many
of these areas are veined with river courses that support
lush riverine vegetation.
Large
herds of springbok, red
hartebeest, blue wildebeest,
blesbok, eland
and burchell’s zebra
flourish in the arid zone. |
