The Kalahari Desert in Southern Africa is a world of extremes, its apparent emptiness punctuated by explosions of life. Relentless cycles of dry and wet, scarcity and plenty, dictate which creatures can live here, and which will die.

Shot in stunning high definition and 35mm film, and told through the eyes of renowned naturalist, filmmaker and longtime resident, Tim Liversedge, two remarkable films provide a masterful account of the inner workings of one of the last truly wild places on earth.

Kalahari: The Great Thirstland

Long spells of sparse rains leave riverbeds dry, and little to eat. Then, as if by magic, swarms and multitudes of birds and insects come to life, great herds of wildebeest and zebra gather, flamingoes coming home to breed fill the skies, and bullfrogs arise from years of sleep, when the great rains come to the Kalahari.

Kalahari: The Flooded Desert

The Okavango River flows inland through Botswana from mountains in the north, creating a spectacular delta – a permanent wetland in the heart of the desert. It supports a vibrant community of wildlife which would otherwise never call the desert home. But this world of water is no ’safe’ oasis. All life here is at the mercy of the delicate balance between the desert and the flood.

Watch a preview of Kalahari: The Flooded Desert:

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Online content for Kalahari was originally posted November 2003.