Reports on a study undertaken to determine the overall distribution of the Harpagophoridae in Africa south of the Zambezi and Kunene Rivers. Investigates possible factors influencing the distribution of the family, genera, species and species-groups. Identifies factors that may have contributed to isolation and speciation in the different taxa. Keywords: Biomes, Diplopoda, Fynbos, Harpagophora, Harpagophoridae Attems, Millipedes, Nama Karoo, Poratophilus, Savannah, Species distributions, Spirostreptida, Succulent Karoo, Thicket, Zinophora.