Africa's largest desert is the SAHARA, which covers an area of 3.5 million square miles and stretches across 11 countries in North Africa. It is the world's hottest desert and is home to some of the most extreme temperatures on Earth. The SAHARA is also the world's third-largest desert after Antarctica and the Arctic. It is a vast expanse of sand dunes, gravel plains, and rocky plateaus, and is home to a variety of wildlife, including camels, gazelles, and jackals.