Nossob

The Nossob is a seasonal river in southern Africa that rises in the central Kalahari Desert in Botswana and flows generally southwest into South Africa’s Northern Cape. It traverses the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, where much of its course runs through a broad, sandy riverbed that hosts waterholes and riparian vegetation after rains.

Hydrology: Water in the Nossob is highly variable. For most of the year the channel is dry, but episodic rainfall in its catchment can unleash rapid floods that carve new channels, fill pools, and create temporary wetlands. The river’s flow depends on seasonal rainfall and can be influenced by distant storms in the region.

Ecology: The Nossob supports a diverse wildlife assemblage when water is available. Large herbivores such as gemsbok, springbok, and wildebeest gather around riverine pools, while predators like lions and cheetahs exploit edge habitats. The riverbed and surrounding vleis host various birds, including raptors and water-associated species during wetter periods.

Conservation and access: The Nossob is a central feature of the transboundary conservation area and is protected within the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. Visitors access the river via park roads and campsites along its course, and should heed flood warnings and wildlife safety guidelines.

See also: Auob River, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park.