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Temperatures are extreme: the summer is normally from September to April with
day temperatures of 25ْ to 38ْ C. Winter is normally from May to
August with winter lows reach –5ْ C.
The rainy season is from October to April – most rain falls during
awe-inspiring thunderstorms. Our
average annual rainfall is 250 – 300 mm. Usually, however, the Kalahari is
cloudless. Humidity is low and this
combined with high daytime temperatures creates high rates of evaporation.
The rain is not really a concern and do not interfere with the hunting.
The landscape can be described as a true camel
thorn tree and yellow oak savannah. The
Kalahari has amazing strategies for survival and plants exhibit ingenious
adaptations to accomplish this.
Two major additional problems confront animals that live in
hot arid regions like the Kalahari. Firstly, the animals must be able to breathe
and excrete waste products from
their bodies without losing too much water. Secondly, they must be able to keep their body temperature
below lethal limits and yet, as far as possible, avoid cooling themselves by water –
expending sweating.
About 264 species of birds have been recorded
in the Kalahari – only 78 species are residents. Amongst the smaller fry creatures
of the Kalahari there are interesting adaptations to hot, dry conditions. Examples
of creatures are the aardvark and pangolin, amphibians, beetles, termites and
insects.
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