Arid to semi-arid desert area, occupying a plateau and forming most of Botswana and extending into Namibia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa; area about 900,000 sq km/347,400 sq mi. The only permanent river, the Okavango, flows into a delta in the northwest, forming marshes that are rich in wildlife. The British explorer, David Livingstone, crossed the Kalahari in 1849.
Red and white are the traditional colours of South East Asia. The blue canton recalls the British Empire and represents unity. Yellow is the colour of the Sultans of Malaysia. Effective date: 16 September 1963.