How Lion Researchers Beat 122°F Heat in the Kalahari — And Why Cool Beds Became Their Secret Weapon
When most people picture lions, they imagine the lush savannas of the Serengeti — the landscape that inspired The Lion King. But for Dr. Natalia Borrego, a postdoctoral researcher with the Lion Research Center, the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, and the University of Konstanz, the real magic happens far from the Serengeti’s well‑known plains.
Her work takes her deep into the Kalahari Desert of Botswana, where summer temperatures regularly climb above 40°C (104°F) and have reached 50°C (122°F) during extreme heat waves. It’s one of the harshest environments on Earth — and it’s exactly where she goes to understand how lions survive in places most people never see.
CoolBeds4Pets had the privilege of supporting her field season with cooling mats designed for rugged, off‑grid conditions. What she shared with us was remarkable.
We wanted to learn more about the important work that Dr. Borrego does and how Cool Beds was able to her during her research! Here's what she had to say.
Studying Lions Beyond the Serengeti
“Lions are incredibly adaptable, living across an impressive range of ecological conditions. Yet much of what we know about lion behavior comes from iconic populations in places like the Serengeti, Tanzania… and other resource‑rich environments.”
Natalia’s research focuses on the lesser‑known lion populations — the ones living in deserts, mountains, and unforgiving terrain.
“My research asks how lions adapt their behavior to survive and thrive in very different landscapes. To answer this, I study lions across contrasting environments, from the desert ecosystems of the Kalahari in Botswana to the rugged mountains of Namibia.”
By expanding the geographic lens, she’s uncovering how flexible, resilient, and surprising lions truly are.
“By studying lions beyond the Serengeti, we can discover just how flexible, resilient, and surprising these iconic animals really are.”
A Day in the Kalahari: Sunrise Briefings, San Trackers, and Off‑Road Searches
Fieldwork begins before dawn.
“Our field days begin just before sunrise. Everyone gathers in the main tent for coffee, the day’s briefing, and a plan for what we hope to accomplish. Then it is off to the ‘office tent’ to check the GPS collar downloads from the night before.”
Those GPS downloads determine the day’s mission — which lions to find, what data to collect, and where the team will travel.
“Most of the day is spent in research vehicles, slowly navigating off‑road through thick bush in search of lions.”
But technology alone isn’t enough.
“We work closely with a team of local San trackers, whose deep knowledge of the landscape and traditional tracking skills are essential to the research. Their expertise helps us locate lions, follow their movements, and collect detailed data that technology alone could never provide.”
Life in 50°C Heat: “By 3 p.m., I’m lying on the floor of my tent like a lazy lion.”
The Kalahari is beautiful — but brutal.
“During the summer months, my usual field season, temperatures can climb above 40°C, or 104°F. By 3 p.m., I am usually lying on the floor of my tent like a lazy lion, defeated by the heat.”
And sometimes, it gets even worse.
“One year, during a heat wave, temperatures reached 50°C, or 122°F. Our vehicles do not have air conditioning, and neither do our tents.”
With limited water, solar power, and no cooling systems, even basic tasks become difficult.
“Sleeping at night can be difficult in the heat… Driving in the research vehicles can also be intensely hot. We often have to choose between opening the windows and getting smacked by branches, or inviting in all kinds of creepy crawlies.”
One day, she chose open windows.
“A button spider, which is highly venomous, came inside and on my seat. Luckily, we were able to get it out safely, without injury to us or the spider.”
Fieldwork in the Kalahari is not for the faint of heart.
Where Cool Beds Made a Difference
Natalia used Cool Beds in three places: • Inside her tent during the day • On the tent floor at night • Inside research vehicles during long drives
Her feedback was powerful.
“They performed extremely well. The Cool Beds made it much more comfortable to be in my tent during the hottest parts of the day and helped me get better sleep at night.”
She used one on her tent chair during the day, then moved it to sleep on at night.
“I also took a smaller one with me in the research vehicle, which was hugely helpful during long, hot days in the field. In that kind of heat, any bit of relief makes a real difference.”
And she highlighted something we care deeply about: durability.
“The sturdy material — I was really impressed with the craftsmanship and quality of the canvas. This is a harsh environment and the Cool Beds will definitely hold up, which says a lot.”
But her favorite part?
“They were cool but not wet. Sleeping on them was comfortable and I did not end up feeling damp, just cool.”
That’s exactly what CoolBeds4Pets was built for: cooling without moisture, even in extreme conditions.
A Final Note From Natalia
She ended her message with a line that meant a lot to us:
“Thank you again for the cool beds, they really have been a game changer during summer fieldwork!”
For a product originally designed for dogs, seeing it support world‑class wildlife research in one of the hottest environments on Earth is something we’re incredibly proud of.