Best desert destinations in Africa
Best desert destinations in Africa
Arid dune fields and ancient sandstone canyon paths in Africa
Africa's desert environments encompass some of the world's most significant and diverse arid landscapes, from the vast sand seas and ancient eroded plateaus of the Sahara and the ancient gravel deserts of the southwest to the semi-arid thornbush environments of the east and the unique succulent desert of the southern Atlantic coast. The continent contains the world's largest hot desert alongside some of its oldest and most ecologically distinctive arid environments.
The Sahara offers some of the most dramatic and historically significant desert landscapes on earth, with ancient caravan routes, rock art sites and nomadic cultures adding depth well beyond the physical environment. The ancient deserts of the southwest deliver a contrasting experience built around extraordinary endemic wildlife, vast dune systems and fog-fed ecosystems of remarkable ecological distinctiveness.
Heat, remoteness and navigation present serious challenges and guided access with experienced local operators is strongly advisable beyond established circuits. Seasonal timing is critical as summer temperatures reach dangerous levels across most Saharan zones. Your money goes a long way making extended desert itineraries practical on modest budgets.
Lists by region
Town in Namibia
Swakopmund
Coastal charm meets desert horizons
German heritage still shapes this town, founded in 1892 as a harbour for German South West Africa. Colonial buildings such as the Woermannhaus date to 1906. Cold Atlantic fog can bring more than 180 days of thick cloud a year. Quad biking and skydiving over the dunes are popular nearby.
National Park in Namibia
Namib-Naukluft National Park
Endless Dunes and Desert Drama
Spanning nearly 19,200 square miles between the Atlantic and the Naukluft Mountains, this park is among the largest in Africa. Sesriem Canyon was cut by the Tsauchab River. Gemsbok, springbok and hyenas live here despite the dry climate. Coastal lagoons draw hundreds of thousands of birds.
National Park in Namibia
Sossusvlei
Towering red dunes meet white clay
Dawn is when climbers tackle Dune 45, which rises about 260 feet. Big Daddy, the highest dune in the area, reaches roughly 1,000 feet. Dead trees stand black against a white clay pan at Deadvlei. Visitors enter through the Sesriem gate and need a 4WD for the last stretch.
Region in Ethiopia
Danakil Depression
Earth's Hottest, Most Alien Landscape
The salt pond of Gaet'ale has a salinity of about 43 percent. That is saltier than the Dead Sea at roughly 34 percent. Dallol's acid pools make bright yellow and green mineral shapes. The land lies about 410 feet below sea level and heat is intense. A guide and current security advice are essential.
Desert in Botswana
Kalahari Desert
Endless dunes whisper ancient desert secrets
The Makgadikgadi salt pans mark an ancient lake that dried out about 10,000 years ago. At its peak it covered up to 46,000 square miles. In the rainy season tens of thousands of flamingos visit. The San have lived in the Kalahari for about 20,000 years. Most of this red sand desert lies in Botswana.
Village in Morocco
Merzouga
Sahara Dunes, Starry Nights
Sand glows orange at sunset on the Erg Chebbi dunes, among the tallest in the Sahara. The village lies in southeastern Morocco about 31 miles from the Algerian border. Rissani is the nearest sizable town at roughly 26 miles. Nights in a desert camp feel quiet and remote.
Desert in Namibia
Namib
Endless dunes whisper ancient desert secrets
Welwitschia, a plant with two strap-shaped leaves, survives here by drinking fog. The Namib has been arid for 55 to 80 million years and may be the world's oldest desert. Thick fog covers the coast on more than 180 days a year. Rain is often under four tenths of an inch.
Region in South Africa
Namaqualand
Vibrant desert landscapes and wildlife wonders
The Nama people gave this region its name. The lower Orange River now divides it between South Africa and Namibia. Wildflowers bloom from August to October with Namaqua daisies first. Over 1,000 of the roughly 3,500 plant species in Namaqua National Park grow nowhere else in the world.
Desert in Egypt
White Desert
Starlit dunes whisper ancient desert secrets
Chalk-white rock formations shaped by wind and sand rise from the desert floor. The national park was established in 2002 and covers about 120 square miles. It lies in the Farafra depression roughly 28 miles north of Qasr Al Farafra. Camping under the stars is the classic way to see it.
National Park
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
Where predators rule the Kalahari
Kalahari Gemsbok National Park opened in South Africa in 1931 and joined Botswana's adjoining park in 2000. The combined park now covers about 15,000 square miles. Its Auob and Nossob rivers are dry riverbeds that flow about once a century. Rain falls mostly from January to April.
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