Charles John (Karl Johan) Andersson (4 March 1827 – 9 July 1867) was a Swedish explorer, hunter and trader as well as an amateur naturalist and ornithologist.

Early in his life he went on hunting expeditions with his father, experienced Swedish nature and started a collection of biology specimens.

On midsummer day in 1850 they arrived at the Cape of Good Hope and then travelled to Walvis Bay, in modern-day Namibia.

Back in south west Africa, Andersson was hired as manager for mines in what was then called Damaraland and Namaqualand.

In 1867, despite serious illness, Andersson travelled north towards the Portuguese settlements in modern Angola, in order to establish a better trading route to Europe.