The ecoregion includes the Cunene River which divides the two countries, and is one of the main sources of water in this dry region.

The ecoregion contains elephants, who crash through the mopane trees and feed on their bark and leaves, black rhino, zebra, cheetahs, leopards, lions, and many antelopes.

The area is rich in bird life, insects (particularly spiders) and reptiles including four endemic reptiles: Afrogecko ansorgii, Coluber zebrinus, Ruben's sand lizard (Pedioplanis rubens), and the skaapsteker snake (Psammophylax rhombeatus ocellatus).

Meanwhile in Namibia a huge game reserve contained a large proportion of this ecoregion until the park was broken up to create land for settlements in the 1960s.

On the positive side firefighting efforts have allowed the park to become more wooded and thus support a larger elephant population.