Kalahari, kah'la hah're, Desert, a region in central South Africa, north of the Orange River, extending about 400 miles from east to west and 600 miles from north to south. It is very flat, is subject to long-continued droughts and has only dried-up river beds; nevertheless it is not devoid of vegetation, patches of grass and shrubs occurring here and there in the interior. An abundant supply of watermelons and some remarkable varieties of tubers, together with large herds of antelopes and other game, provide ample subsistence to the bushmen and Bakalahari inhabiting this barren region. See DESERT.