Gerudo Desert

A land of golden sands where one male king is born every century and women rule all.

The Gerudo Desert is a vast, arid expanse located in western Hyrule, serving as the ancestral home of the Gerudo people. First established as an established race in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (1998), this isolationist society consists almost entirely of women. Their culture dictates that one male is born every 100 years to become their king, though their relationship with men has shifted from strict prohibition to cautious interaction over the centuries. The desert is defined by its harsh environment and the imposing Gerudo Fortress, which acts as a barrier against outsiders.

Quick Facts

Inhabitants: Gerudo Tribe
Key landmark: Gerudo Fortress

Lore & Background

The Gerudo are an isolationist race living in the western desert of Hyrule, typically depicted with dark skin and red hair. They are taller and more muscular than Hylians, often working as thieves in earlier games before evolving into masters of trade in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Their society is matriarchal; women hold all leadership roles while men are strictly barred from their towns due to a belief that male interaction leads to disaster. The race worships distinct deities: the Goddess of the Sand in Ocarina of Time and the Seven Heroines in Breath of the Wild, rarely focusing on the Goddess Hylia. Their written language uses 26 characters similar to the Latin alphabet.

Reader's Guide

In Breath of the Wild, access to Gerudo Town requires Link to wear women's clothing due to the ban on men. Key locations include the Gerudo Fortress and the settlement of Gerudo Town. The area offers unique trade opportunities as the Gerudo have shifted from thievery to commerce.

Did You Know?

In Ocarina of Time, the Gerudo worship the Goddess of the Sand instead of Din, Nayru, and Farore.
In Tears of the Kingdom, Link was given special exception to traverse Gerudo Town as a man after defeating Queen Gibdo.