Preliminary map of the south western Kalahari Desert

In 1941 an area in the south western Kalahari Desert of Bechuanaland (now the Republic of Botswana), 40 km wide and adjacent to the Kalahari Gemsbok National Park (KGNP) of the then Union of South Africa was declared a Game Reserve. In 1971 the Government of Botswana increased the size of this Game Reserve considerably and raised it to national park status, i.e. The Gemsbok National Park (Supplement H-307 of Government Gazette Volume IX No. 39).