Reflections of the desert

Desert diamonds are pieces of natural history that reflect the colors and uniqueness of the extreme environs of the Kalahari. Elements like nitrogen, and variations in their crystal lattice give these gems their warm tones, and as many come from this desert expanse, they also give back to it. As part of its commitment to ensuring positive impact is tied to every diamond, De Beers works together with National Geographic through the Okavango Eternal partnership, helping to conserve the ecosystems across the Okavango Basin—including the Kalahari Desert.

“The Kalahari is the birthplace of human existence. Home of the San peoples, who followed the rivers north, south and east to explore. The Kalahari is an origin story written in the endless sands.” — Steve Boyes, National Geographic Explorer & figurehead of the Okavango Wilderness Project.

Formed over millions of years, the Kalahari is one of the world’s oldest deserts. Unique and mysterious, its semiarid environment continues to support diverse wildlife and people. Beneath its surface is a massive subterranean water system, and one of the world’s largest diamond mines. Working with these diamonds at their source has instilled a deep respect for this desert and all that lives in it, which is why De Beers has partnered with National Geographic for a number of years to help conserve the region.

An elephant stands silhouetted like a rock painting, backlit and bathed in dust.  “Moving through the Kalahari, you realize how the light changes, not just the landscape, but the way you see it,” says National Geographic photographer Jonathan Irish. “It hints at how knowledge and light meet in this austere landscape.” Shaped by the land and light of the region, Desert diamonds share the earthen tones of the Kalahari as a direct result of their geological surroundings.

A Temminck’s pangolin forages at the umber twilight hour. “It’s an artist's paradise,” says National Geographic photographer Keith Ladzinski, “where the merging of textures shapes the harsh conditions of heat and time.”
Formed under intense heat and pressure, Desert diamonds are helping to conserve this wilderness through Okavango Eternal.

Bayei fisherwomen position their baskets for the walk back to their village, their silhouettes strong against a Kalahari sky. “The Kalahari touched our souls,” says National Geographic photographer Jennifer Hayes. “ We were surrounded by deep earthy tones of ocher, umber, bisque and hues of bone that hinted at the beginning of time.” Communities local to the delta rely on traditional knowledge and tools to prosper.

Two giraffes engage in fighting known as “necking,” to assert dominance. These unlikely-looking animals almost merge into the colors of the desertscape. “Monochrome tones of orange and yellow reign supreme from horizon to horizon in the Kalahari,” says National Geographic photographer Thomas Peschak.

A lone lioness wanders across the soft desert sand under the pastel skies of twilight. “I came across this beautiful cat moments after the sun had set,” says Keith Ladzinski, “when the glow of the fading skies transforms the desert into a scene of warm and balanced hues. Lions blend seamlessly into these surroundings.” Wild and natural themselves, Desert diamonds originate from far deeper than scientific equipment can reach—the mineral traces they contain can act as samples that give insight into the formation and processes of the deep Earth.

A group of oryx graze in a swathe of dry grassland, their painted visages bold against the soft champagnes surrounding them. “The Kalahari’s landscapes are epic,” says National Geographic photographer Karine Aigner, “a circus of sand and haze, a simple palette of hues, where brown and azure collide.” The sunlit creams and honeys of Desert diamonds reflect the tones of the land that formed them, thanks to structural distortions which affect how each gem absorbs and reflects light.

A meerkat sits atop a mound of orange Kalahari sand. “I can still feel the heat of sunrise,” says National Geographic photographer Jen Guyton. “The Kalahari humbles me, but it also fills me with awe, a deep sense of belonging. It’s where I first learned to listen to silence. And every time I look at my photos, I’m transported—back to the glow, the solitude, and that wild, untamed part of myself that only the desert seems to remember.”

A lone elephant moves across the expanse. “The sun dropped over the Kalahari, turning dust into gold,” says Karabo LeBronpeter Moilwa. Karabo is a wildlife photographer, who is mentoring young storytellers, equipping them with the skills to photograph the colors, landscapes, and wildlife of their ancestral home. 
“To me, this image speaks of endurance and peace. Of knowing when to keep moving and when to rest. The elephant marches on, and so does the Kalahari.”

Desert diamonds are older than the Kalahari in its current, semiarid climate. First created eons ago, diamonds found here were formed exclusively in an ancient part of the Earth’s lithosphere known as the Kalahari Craton. Forged in fire and refined by time, each stone represents billions of years frozen in the palm of the hand. An eternal piece of African wilderness.

Find out how De Beers creates positive impacts here.