A fifth of the world’s population lives in areas that are characterized by physical water scarcity. The complexity of water scarcity is expected to increase over the next few decades. The relationship between the characteristics and occurrence of groundwater that is to be found in basement aquifers and the factors that govern the management of these groundwater resources is not yet fully appreciated. This paper presents an overview of the latest research on basement aquifer hydrology in southern Africa and is based on the case study papers that are presented in this publication. The papers cover an array of topics that range from the assessment to the exploration and the management of water resources. It is estimated that 60% to 90% of the rural population in southern Africa relies on groundwater for its livelihood. However, it is generally acknowledged that groundwater management lags behind the current development of groundwater and the exploitation of the resource. Several management strategies or models are proposed for the effective management of groundwater in basement terrains.