
Filled with wildlife, the Succulent Karoo is the most biodiverse arid desert on the planet. Pictured, the quiver tree or "kokerboom," which grows here.

It is famous for its springtime blooms of wildflowers, which are a draw for thousands of tourists. Pictured, fynbos in flower, including ice plants.

Flowers after heavy rainfall in the Succulent Karoo, Namaqualand, Namibia.

Typical vegetation consists mainly of succulent shrubs. This area is home to a third of the world's succulent species. Succulents -- like cacti and aloe plants -- survive extreme heat by storing moisture.

Three sacred ibises among the blooming flowers.

Namaqualand fynbos in flower, Namaqualand, Northern Cape, South Africa.