The Dobe area as a whole includes about 8000 km 2. Dunes are stabilized by plants, including the mongongo whose fruit and nuts are important foods. The flats are plains of compacted soil with extensive groves of berry bushes and ivory palms. The melapo areas have dense thickets of trees and acacias.
Hardpan are patches of bare rock alternating with patches of sand or mud.
Water scarcity is a major problem, but there are permanent waterholes in main river bottoms, seasonal waters which may form temporary ponds, and small quantity of water found in the interior of some trees. The main game animals are the kudu, wildbeest, and gemsbok. Birds are also abundunt with 100 species of resident birds and 40 of migratory. Ostrich eggs are prized food. Their hunting area is shared with lions, two species of hyena, wild dog and other carnivores.