What are the Largest Deserts in Africa? The vast majority of Africa is covered with desert, so you won’t have a hard time locating one to visit. Some of the harshest and most stunning landscapes and circumstances on the planet may be found in the African deserts, which stretch from the Mediterranean Sea to South Africa, and from the Indian Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean.
While deserts may seem like a barren wasteland, they actually provide a glimpse into ancient cultures and habitats that date back thousands or millions of years. In addition, certain deserts also have good wildlife viewing opportunities and as such we will be discussing the Largest Deserts in Africa.
Top 10 Largest Deserts in Africa
1. The Sahara Desert
It is estimated that the Sahara is Africa’s largest desert. This is the world’s most popular dessert, there’s no denying it. As the largest desert in the world, it covers an area of 3.3 million square miles and continues to develop.
A fourth of the continent is covered by this region, which encompasses countries like Tunisia and Mauritania as well as the Sahel and Niger regions of Africa. Mountains, dunes, and salt flats make up the landscape.
There are the Atlas Mountains to the north, the Mediterranean Sea to the east, the Red Sea to the east, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. The Sahara’s boundaries are defined by all of them. Each section of the Sahara has its own rainfall, temperature, flora, and fauna, making it distinct from the others.
So as a result, there are dunes, volcanoes, rocky plateaus, and an oasis that enabled the establishment of commercial connections between North African ports and people in Sub-Saharan Africa.
2. The Kalahari Desert
Prior to its appearance in the film “The Gods Must Be Crazy,” it had already gained notoriety. It was just the nomadic people of Botswana who lived in the area, as well as their customs and ways of life, that were depicted in the video.
Much of Botswana, as well as parts of Namibia and South Africa, are covered by the semi-arid Kalahari Desert, which may be found in southern Africa. Because it receives more than 10 inches of rain each year, some scientists contend that the Kalahari is not a true desert.
With an annual rainfall of between 4 and 20 inches, acacia trees, prickly shrubs, and hardy grasses can grow in the desert.
3. The Namib Desert
Africa’s southernmost part is a coastal desert. Using its name, it refers to an expansive territory. Angola, Namibia, and South Africa share a coastline that is more than 2,000 kilometers long with the desert. It is the oldest desert on the planet.
A 55-million-year time span separates us from its emergence. It’s a desolate place with a lot of sand dunes and a few mountains. Succulent plants and lichens can be found along the coast of the desert, which is barren and devoid of flora.
Dry Namib winds meet with the Atlantic’s Benguela current, creating a very dry environment. Many desert plants and animals rely on dense fogs formed as a result of these high pressures for their principal source of water.
Namibia’s largest conservation area, Namib-Naukluft Park, is situated in the arid desert.
4. The Nubian Desert
The Nubian Desert is Africa’s fourth-largest desert. Between the Red Sea and the Nile in the eastern region of the Sahara desert, it covers an area of around 400,000 square kilometers. Only a few patches of greenery may be seen on the sandy plains.
The Nubians were the first inhabitants of the land. Turtles are well-known for moving from one place to another. The majority of the Nile’s cataracts may be found in the Nubian Desert. It’s immediately before the Great Bend of the Nile.
Egypt’s civilization was affected by the Nubian Desert in various ways. Trade and commerce between Egypt and Nubia’s ancient civilizations took place over the Nubian Desert in the prehistoric era.
5. The Libyan Desert
The Libyan desert occupies a sizable portion of Africa’s continent. The Libyan Desert is rectangular in shape and covers an area of about 1,100,000 square kilometers. Unlike the Sahara desert, this area is covered in rocks, sand, and Hamda.
In and outflow is impossible due to the lack of rivers. According to legend, the Libyan desert is the most dangerous place on Earth. Temperatures can soar to almost 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit) in the summer and plummet in an instant at night making it among the Top 10 Hottest Countries In Africa.
During the winter months, temperatures can fall as low as 9 °C (16 °F) at night, with the average daytime temperature hovering around 27 °C (81 °F).
6. The Karoo Desert
South Africa is home to the Karoo Desert, one of the Largest Deserts in Africa with large sand dunes. It’s located in South Africa’s semi-arid region. The Great Karoo in the north and the Little Karoo in the south make up this vast region.
Located in the west, the Succulent Karoo gets its annual winter rainfall from the Atlantic Ocean. There are 400,000 square kilometers of igneous and sedimentary rocks in it.
It is estimated that the Succulent Karoo includes more succulent species than any other place on Earth. For centuries, inhabitants have tapped into the Karoo’s underground water supply, which has allowed Nama Karoo to be used for sheep and goat herding.
7. The Blue Desert
The “Blue Desert” is a section of the Sinai desert near Dahab, Egypt, where many of the rocks are blue in hue. The Blue Desert, unlike the Black and White Deserts, is a man-made edifice.
After the signing of the Israeli-Egyptian peace deal in 1980, the artist created this piece of art. Egyptian President Mohamed Anwar Al Sadat allowed Belgian artist Jean Verame permission to paint the Sinai desert rocks blue as a peace message during the Blue Desert.
8. Western Sahara
The 102,700-square-mile territory, which was previously known as the Spanish Sahara, is primarily barren and dismal, with little vegetation.
Only Berbers and Arabs live in this area, both of whom are accustomed to the terrible conditions that exist there.
Northern and southern regions of the territory may have phosphate reserves.
9. The Algerian Desert
The Algerian desert is a part of the Saharan region in Africa’s northern central region. Large sand dunes, reminiscent of those seen in the Sahara, characterize this desert, which occupies about half of Algeria.
A major tourist site in the southwest region of the desert is the Tassulin’Ajjer mountain range.
10. The Desert of The Atlas Mountains
The Mountains or Atlas Desert, are located in North Africa and are known as the Atlas Mountains. A mountain range is logically expected to be covered in lush greenery, given its location.
On the other hand, the mountain’s exposed Saharan wind side is arid. 4 165 meters is the height of the Atlas Mountains (this being its highest peak). It’s also one of the Largest Deserts in Africa.
