The Karoo is the South African semi-desert region divided into the Great Karoo and Little Karoo.
The Great Karoo is the larger, higher inland basin north of the Swartberg range, while the Little Karoo is a smaller valley to the south, enclosed by mountain ranges including the Swartberg and Langeberg. Both areas have dry climates, sparse vegetation, and dramatic sedimentary landscapes.
Karoo landscapes are important to geology and palaeontology. Rocks of the broader Karoo Supergroup preserve exceptionally rich fossils, including reptiles and early mammal relatives from the Permian and Triassic periods.
The word “Karoo” comes from a Khoekhoe term generally associated with dryness or aridity. The region is often called a semi-desert rather than a completely barren desert because it supports shrubs, grasses, farms, and towns adapted to limited rainfall.