Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All South Africa Red Desert

Red Desert

Is this 200-meter-wide nature reserve the smallest desert in the world?

Port Edward, South Africa

Added By
Zechter
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
Red Desert Nature Reserve   Christian Dietz / Alamy Stock Photo
Stone Circle Seen from the top of a boulder   Zechter / Atlas Obscura User
  Chris&Kerri / CC BY-SA 3.0
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Filled with wide grasslands and lush forests, KwaZulu-Natal is known as South Africa's "garden province." But in Port Edward, a town on the southeast coast, there is a small nature reserve that stands out from its surroundings. The Red Desert measures just 200 meters (656 feet) in diameter and 11 hectares in area. This rocky patch of red is surrounded by greenery and located a stone's throw away from the ocean.

Though it has been called the world's smallest desert, the surrounding area receives too much rainfall to meet the scientific definition of a desert environment. So how did it come to be, and why does it look so different from everything around it? Some outlandish ideas have been proposed, including extraterrestrial origins, but the real explanation is more agricultural. A Zulu tribe kept a herd of cattle on this land. The ground cover was eaten or trampled, leaving behind bare earth. Without a protective layer of plants, wind further eroded the land, creating this little desert-like area.

It consists of a fine red sand, some human-made circles, and little boulder hills to climb. Climbing up a boulder hill, you can see the entire Red Desert. It is a great hike, something that looks so desolate in such a green tropical area. 

Related Tags

Ecology Nature Preserves Deserts

Know Before You Go

Dress comfortably and wear some older shoes, as the red sand gets all over your shoes. There are no facilities, so make sure you make your stops before going.

Atlas Obscura Adventures

Wild South Africa

Marine wildlife and Kruger Safari

Book Now

Community Contributors

Added By

Zechter

Edited By

Michelle Cassidy

  • Michelle Cassidy

Published

August 25, 2022

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://botanicalsociety.org.za/kzns-red-desert-blooms/
Red Desert
Maurice Rd
Rennies Beach
Port Edward, 4295
South Africa
-31.06666, 30.191717
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

African Raptor Centre

Ilanga, South Africa

miles away

Hole-in-the-Wall

Mgxotyeni, South Africa

miles away

Wood's Cycad

Durban, South Africa

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of South Africa

South Africa

Africa

Places 75
Stories 27

Nearby Places

African Raptor Centre

Ilanga, South Africa

miles away

Hole-in-the-Wall

Mgxotyeni, South Africa

miles away

Wood's Cycad

Durban, South Africa

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of South Africa

South Africa

Africa

Places 75
Stories 27

Related Places

  • Tucson, Arizona

    Tumamoc Hill

    Hikers and walkers flock to this historic volcanic butte for its scenic desert views.

    Sponsored by Visit Tucson 2025
  • This 4,000-acre restored grassland is one of the largest and most biologically diverse grasslands in Illinois.

    Franklin Grove, Illinois

    Nachusa Grasslands

    This 4,000-acre restored grassland in northern Illinois is home to a range of native flora and fauna, from clovers to plovers to a herd of bison.

  • mountains, sand, blue waters and cactuses

    Cuatrociénegas, Mexico

    Las Playitas

    A miniature beach in the middle of the desert.

  • The vast expansive dunes with the mother mountain source on the horizon

    Cuatrociénegas, Mexico

    Dunas de Yeso

    These gleaming gypsum sand dunes are the second-largest in North America.

  • Dana Village.

    Bsaira District, Jordan

    Dana Village

    A ghost village sits atop a mountain within Jordan’s largest biosphere reserve.

  • Culebrillas, Ecuador

    Llaviucu Lagoon

    A quiet alpine lake where hikers pass alpacas and an old brewery.

  • Bordeaux twin city garden celebrating Casablanca

    Bordeaux, France

    Twin Cities Gardens

    These gardens whisk you away to Japan and Morocco—without leaving Bordeaux.

  • Stalactites.

    San Bernardino County, California

    Mitchell Caverns

    An improbable set of attractive limestone caverns forms the centerpiece of Providence Mountains State Recreation Area, in the heart of the Mojave Desert.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.