Synonym:

Kalahari Thornveld (A16).

Statistics:

27 103 km˛; ± 55% transformed; 3.12% conserved.

Locality & Physical Geography:

Found in the Kimberley area (Northern Cape), the Schweizer-Reneke area (North West Province) and the western parts of the Free State, at altitudes from 1 000 to 1 200 m.

Climate:

The summer rainfall is 400 to 500 mm per year. Temperature varies between -8C and 41C, with an average of 19C.

Geology & Soil:

Found on deep, predominantly sandy to loamy sands, underlain by calcrete.

Vegetation:

This is an open savanna, with Umbrella Thorn Acacia tortilis and Camel Thorn A. erioloba the dominant tree species, and scattered individuals of Shepherd's Tree Boscia albitrunca and Sweet Thorn Acacia karroo. The shrub layer is poorly to moderately developed in places and individuals of Camphor Tree Tarchonanthus camphoratus, Spike-flowered Black Thorn Acacia mellifera, Wild Raisin Grewia flava and Lycium hirsutum occur widely scattered. The grass layer is fairly well developed and grasses such as Redgrass Themeda triandra, Common Nine-awn Grass Enneapogon cenchroides, Lehmann's Lovegrass Eragrostis lehmanniana, Elionurus muticus and Cymbopogon plurinodis are conspicuous.

Key Environmental Parameters:

Confined to the sandy plains underlain by calcrete. Grazing is important.

Economic Uses:

Livestock and game farming, and mining.

Conservation Status:

Conserved in the Vaalbos National Park and private game farms.

Key References:

Leistner (1967), Bezuidenhout (1994).

Authors:

Noel van Rooyen & George Bredenkamp.