I studied demography of camelthorn, Acacia erioloba (Meyer) in the Kalahari savannah near Kimberley, and carried out experiments to ascertain the influence of supplementary water and protection from herbivores, and competition with grass, on A.erioloba sapling growth. I also investigated the influence of fire on A. erioloba demography. The role of fire in semi-arid savannas is not deemed as important as in mesic savannas because fires are more rare in semi-arid environments.