Like conditions in the Kalahari desert (4)
I believe the answer is:
arid
'like conditions in the kalahari desert' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this definition defines the answer.
'in the kalahari desert' is the wordplay.
'in' indicates the answer is hidden within the clue.
'ARID' is hidden in the letters of 'kalahari desert'.
(Other definitions for arid that I've seen before include "Tedious; short of rain" , "(Of climate) dry" , "Rainless (region)" , "Very dry, having little rain" , "Dry raid" .)