Aha Hills

The Aha hills rise only about three hundred metres above the surrounding sand but they are the most prominent relief for a very long way in this corner of the Kalahari, a block of dolomite and limestone straddling the Namibian border. The rock is riddled with caves, shafts and sinkholes, several of them explored and many not. Ju/'hoansi communities live in the area. There is no infrastructure, no marked route and almost nobody passes through.

What you actually see

• The dolomite outcrops - hills rising abruptly from flat Kalahari sand.
• The sinkholes - open shafts and collapses across the hill surface.
• The caves - explored and unexplored systems within the rock.
• The emptiness - one of the least-travelled corners of the country.

When to go

May to September is the dry season and the practical window. The rains from December to March make the sand tracks impassable. Nights in June and July drop below freezing.

Honest expectations

Open shafts are unmarked and a fall would be fatal; walking here needs care and daylight. Access is a serious four-wheel drive expedition requiring two vehicles, fuel and water for the whole trip. There is no phone signal and no help.

Nearby

Gcwihaba caves are south, and the Namibian border runs along the west.