Nata Lodge Archives - Under One Botswana Sky Blog

Why Botswana’s seasoned safari-goer loves Nata Lodge

admin — Mon, 14 Mar 2022 17:47:47 +0000

“Vast, picturesque and breathtaking perfectly describes the Makgadikgadi Pans”, Uyapo Ketogetswe wrote after his first look at them from the Nata Bird Sanctuary. This Gaborone local loves travelling Botswana, neighbouring Namibia and the vast continent beyond with visits to Mozambique, Benin and South Africa under his belt. Here’s what this visual artist and travel curator of travel company Passport To loved about Nata.

Also read: An African traveller on Botswana’s abundant wildlife and what surprised her about Chobe

What was the most surprising aspect of Nata Lodge and the Bird Sanctuary?

I found Nata Lodge’s location to be equal parts convenient and easily accessible for all vehicles. Located along the A3 highway, the property is nestled among real fan palm trees which muffle any sounds of motorists.

Photograph by Uyapo Ketogetswe

The picturesque landscapes of Nata Bird Sanctuary make for a scenic off-road drive.

Take in the surroundings and you might see flamingos, pelicans, wildebeest, and more. The lookout point offers magnificent views of the vast salt pans where a beautiful sunrise or sunset over the horizon should not be missed.

Photograph by Melanie van Zyl

What did you like most about the rooms at Nata Lodge?

Photograph by Uyapo Ketogetswe

The luxury chalets at Nata Lodge were surprisingly big, yet cosy. The welcoming clawfoot tub will have you soaking away the day while the generously large king-sized bed was the perfect place to put my feet up and head down as the air conditioner cools the wood-clad room.

What’s your number one must-do activity in Nata?

Photograph by Melanie van Zyl

Sundowners at Nata Bird Sanctuary. Grab your favourite drink and prepare to be wowed.

Anything you wish you knew before travelling to Nata and north? One thing you’d tell your best friend?

Photograph by Melanie van Zyl

Have your phone/camera fully charged or bring a portable power bank. You’ll find it pretty hard to put down your gadgets as you snap away.

As a local, why would you say travellers should visit your Botswana?

There are several reasons Botswana’s tourism offering is loved by the world and why so many travellers return for more trips. Botswana makes for the ultimate safari getaway that’s packed with adventure.

Photograph by Melanie van Zyl

Whether on a self-drive or guided tour, you’re bound to rustle up some magical moments that are guaranteed to impress.

Travel tip: Sit back and relax on a guide sundowner trip to the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans with Nata Lodge for P175 per person.

Anything else you’d want to share?

Photograph by Uyapo Ketogetswe

Disconnect from the world and take your time as you discover what Botswana has to offer.

How much is it to stay at Nata Lodge?

Accommodation in the luxury chalets where Uyapo stayed costs from BWP799 per room.

Photograph by Uyapo Ketogetswe

To make a reservation at Nata Lodge call +2676250336 or mail diane@chobesafarilodge.com

The post Why Botswana’s seasoned safari-goer loves Nata Lodge appeared first on Under One Botswana Sky Blog.

The Sun-kissed Sanctuary of Nata

admin — Mon, 16 Dec 2019 12:43:08 +0000

A lunar-like landscape that extends far beyond sight and that could seemingly not possibly sustain any life, the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans are, in fact, one of the most important birding sites in Southern Africa, particularly for large populations of greater flamingos that flock to breed in Nata Bird Sanctuary.

These pans lie south-west of the watery playground of the Okavango Delta and are surrounded by the sandy savannas of the Kalahari Desert. While commonly referred to as such, the Makgadikgadi is not a single pan but many pans with sandy desert in between, the largest being the Sua, Nwetwe and Nxai Pans. In fact, the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans make up the basin of the Kalahari Desert. Once an enormous lake, all that is left now is a salty desert that holds position as one of the largest salt flats on the planet, covering around 37 000 sq km.

During the dry season, the Boteti River is the only real source of reliable water in the area, which means game-viewing from April to October is generally excellent. A wide variety of buck and antelope, such as eland, gemsbok and red hartebeest, can be found quenching their thirst along the riverbanks, together with their larger counterparts, elephant and giraffe. Where there are such prey animals, there are predators and at the Boteti, these are generally prides of lion and cheetah.

The outlying grassy plains and palm islands along with the dry pans themselves burst into life with the fall of the first rains in November, which continue filling the pans through into March. This is the wet season and the best time for birding. It also becomes a vital environment for migrating animals including wildebeest and one of Africa’s largest zebra populations. As with the dry season, the influx of plains game animals brings along with it increased predator-prey action, making for some potentially exciting sightings.

The surrounding Nata Bird Sanctuary forms the breeding ground for a host of water birds including pelicans and flamingo in their thousands, when the Nata River fills the great Sua Pan. You cannot help but be utterly transfixed as the shoreline turns into a dazzling pink haze that seems to meet up with the clear blue sky.

Located within this unique environment, Nata Lodge provides a shady refuge from the heat of the desert while still blending naturally into its surrounds. Luxury chalets and camping tents balance out the preferences of different types of travellers. The main areas, such as the swimming pool and bar, are spaces to relax and reflect on the day out on the pan or even birdwatch from your pool lounger. Explore the pans via the Nata Bird Sanctuary in a 4×4 vehicle.

Chat to us about your visit to the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans and how this can be incorporated with other more traditional safari destinations in Botswana.

The post The Sun-kissed Sanctuary of Nata appeared first on Under One Botswana Sky Blog.

In the Press: Staying at Nata Lodge in Botswana

admin — Tue, 15 Oct 2019 09:37:48 +0000

South African digital nomad and traveller, Lauren of Wanderlust Movement, tells us why she loved staying at Nata Lodge on the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans in north-eastern Botswana.

What’s 4.6 metres tall and turn’s the sky a shade of bubblegum pink? Two hundred fifty thousand flamingos flying to Botswana’s Makgadikgadi Salt Pans to breed and feast on unsuspecting shrimp.

The best place to watch this natural phenomenon? Nata Lodge.

It’s a gorgeous rustic lodge that’s set on the edges of Nata Bird Sanctuary. A local community initiative that launched in 1993 to protect what’s possibly the largest gathering of flamingos in Africa.

If you’re planning a road trip through Botswana, here’s why the lodge deserves a spot on your itinerary.

Here’s what it’s like staying at Nata Lodge in Botswana!

How to Get to Nata Lodge

Nata Lodge is on the main tourist route to the Okavango Delta and Chobe National Park. The quickest way to reach the lodge is to fly into Maun Airport from OR Tambo International Airport in South Africa.

From there, you’ll need to hire a car to reach Nata. It’s an easy 3h 35 minutes away, and the tar road is in reasonably good condition.

If you’re driving from South Africa, the lodge is 10-hours from Johannesburg. If you want to avoid traffic, read my Botswana road trip itinerary to find a quieter border post that trucks can’t use.

When it comes to buying cheap flights to Botswana, use Skyscanner or TravelStart. Both sites often have airfare sales, and Skyscanner also has a powerful search tool that lets you filter airfare prices by cheapest month!

About the Property

Set on the edge of Makgadikgadi Salt Pans, Nata Lodge is all about rustic, bush vibes that blend into the natural environment.

There is WiFi here, but the signal is weak.

If you’re a digital nomad like me, Nata is not the place to grind away. You’ll need to switch your laptop off and venture out into the wilderness.

Those pesky emails will have to wait until you return to towering skyscrapers and gridlocked traffic.

For me, the lodge’s standout feature is the pool. Come for a dip an hour after sunrise, and you’ll have the whole place to yourself!

Or if you’re not a fan of ice-cold refreshing water temperatures, visit the pool after a long day in the bush. There’s a bar where you can grab a local Botswanan beer and an on-site restaurant if you’re feeling a bit peckish.

The Luxury Chalets & Tented Camps

Nata Lodge has accommodation options for every kind of traveller. If you’re feeling like a baller, splash out on one of the luxury chalets.

Want something a little bit more affordable without skimping on too many creature comforts? Grab an en-suite Meru style glamping tent.

And if you’re on a mission to travel Botswana on a budget, bring a tent and set up your humble abode in the campsite area. You’ll have access to clean ablution blocks and most importantly, HOT showers.

For my one-night stay at Nata Lodge, I stayed in one of the luxury chalets.

Our room came with the following amenities:

En-suite bathroom with an outdoor shower
A gorgeous clawfoot bath that deserves an ostentatious bubble bath
Complimentary toiletries
Three single beds with mosquito nets
Private deck area

Not included: A baby bat that was extremely unhappy to have guests in his home 😂

Food & Drink

As a travelling vegan, Nata Lodge doesn’t have the best options. If you’re eating at the restaurant, you’re going to have to get a little creative with the a la carte menu to find something that you can eat.

There are vegetarian options, but most of the dishes use non-vegan ingredients like egg noodles or cheese.

The buffet breakfast is more vegan-friendly. You’ll find fruit salads, a variety of cereals, and freshly baked read. Other non-vegan items include yoghurt, flapjacks and scones.

There’s also an English breakfast if you’re in the mood for eggs and bacon. Vegans can skip the animal products and feast on the mushrooms, tomatoes and baked beans.

And if you like your coffee with milk, pack your own soya milk.

What to Do in the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans

The Makgadikgadi Pans National Park is the home of one of the largest salt flats in the world. It’s also the remains of Africa’s largest inland sea and is surrounded by the Kalahari Desert.

Nata Bird Sanctuary

Without a doubt, the best thing to do at Nata Lodge is the Nata Bird Sanctuary. In Botswana’s wet season, the salt pans flood and hundreds of migrating flamingos and pelicans return to breed.

The birds’ journey from as far as the Great Rift Valley to feast on millions of tiny shrimp that lie dormant in the salt crust until the rains.

It’s a bird watchers paradise!

But if you miss the birds (like we did 😭), not all hope is lost. In the dry, summer months you can go for 4×4 rides over the salt pan. Nata Lodge also offers a salt pan sundowner tour!

Annual Zebra Migration

Another famous migration that takes place in Makgadikgadi Pans National Park is the annual zebra migration. From October, massive herds start to slowly move towards the Boteti River in anticipation of Botswana’s rainy season.

It’s the longest recorded large mammal migration in Africa!

Nata Village Tour

If you’re curious about Kgolta daily life, you can visit Nata Village. Please keep in mind that it’s not the type of tour where the locals will be singing and dancing.

It’s for travellers that want a more authentic experience. You’ll visit the local clinic, the school and the Nata River.

The village tour costs P170 per person or a single supplement of P85.

What I Think of Nata Lodge

For travellers that are after exceptional, unique wildlife experiences, Nata Lodge is where you’ll want to stay. It’s not every day that you can watch thousands of flamingos turn the sky pink or one of the largest wildlife migrations in Africa.

If you’re planning a Botswana safari, you won’t regret spending a night or two at Nata. Even if you miss the birds, the salt pans are magical, wet or dry!

Thank you to Nata Lodge and Under One Botswana Sky for inviting me to their property! As always, all opinions are my own.

Contact us to book YOUR safari in the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans while staying at Nata Lodge.

The post In the Press: Staying at Nata Lodge in Botswana appeared first on Under One Botswana Sky Blog.

What Our Guests Say

admin — Fri, 28 Sep 2018 08:02:23 +0000

Guests weigh in on their stay at Under One Botswana Sky lodges and camps.

Guests have been loving the complete safari experience offered at our properties located within all of Botswana’s world-class destinations. Here are some of the reviews received by guests staying at Under One Botswana Sky lodges and camps over the course of this year so far.

Chobe Bush Lodge

Good Base for Exploring Chobe River

The Chobe Bush Lodge has large, modern rooms with a balcony overlooking the pool area. The open-air dining room is on the first floor. The sister facility, across the highway, is similar but with a larger dining buffet and is a gateway to the pontoon boats used to navigate the Chobe River on game drives. Overland game drives in Safari vehicles were also experienced. Definitely, can be recommended.

Home location: United States
Travel date: June 2018

Chobe Safari Lodge

Great Place

My fifth visit to this lodge and I already have reservations for 2019 and 2020 sorted too. It’s the best description of my experience I can think off…Ohh, yes, I travel all the way from Scandinavia every summer to visit this place. Great service, fantastic safari, friendly locals and great activities!

Home location: Scandinavia
Travel date: September 2018

Nata Lodge

Camping

We camped at Nata Lodge on our stay-over from Kasane to Francistown for two nights, the rates were surprisingly good! Had a great stay amongst the trees and relaxed next to the pool. Ablutions were neat and easily accessible. Close proximity to Nata Pans where the flocks flamingos and pelicans are, just a few of the birds we saw. Well recommended.

Home location: unknown
Travel date: September 2018

Gunn’s Camp

Outstanding Camp

Gunn’s Camp is set on the Okavango Delta, there is a stunning view from every tent and from the communal area. Our tent was wide, with king size bed and a lot of space to put our things. There is a safe inside the wardrobe. Toilet and sink are inside the tent, while shower and bathtub are outdoor. In the morning they wake you up bringing a cup of tea or coffee. The food was very good, and wines were well paired with food. There was a wide choice of different kinds of tea and infusion. All the staff is top level.

Home location: Italy
Travel date: August 2018

Moremi Crossing

Highlight of Our Southern Africa Trip!!!

I can’t say enough about Moremi Crossing! Words can never describe how amazing this resort is. We left the Chobe River and National Park right before we came to Moremi. We thought nothing in the world could top that experience, but we were so wrong! My husband and I have been a lot of places and seen a lot of things, but nothing compares to the few nights we spent at Moremi Crossing. If you can live without the internet and a few creature comforts, you won’t find a better way to experience the Okavango Delta and the nature it holds!

Home location: unknown
Travel date: August 2018

Pom Pom Camp

Extraordinary, Immersive Africa Experience

What an amazing, if expensive experience. This is the immersive Africa experience; think elephants with their little ones near your accommodation, the silence of the delta and the bush, the little aeroplanes moving you between camps/local airports, and the magic of seeing members of the Big 5 (we saw four). The staff at Pom Pom Camp are more than people serving you. You develop a relationship with them, even on a short stay. Our family is saving up to go back. Loved the place.

Home location: unknown
Travel date: August 2018

Rra Dinare Camp

Luxury Lodge with Wonderful Facilities and Excellent Game Drives

The layout of this property ensures total privacy and the feel of luxury. The food is wonderful and staff excellent. Totally worth the money spent for the inclusions and experience. The opportunity to shower under the stars is something that should not be missed.

Home location: Australia
Travel date: February 2018

Mma Dinare Camp

Fantastic Holiday

Mark was excellent in his advice when I was trying to organise our trip to Botswana and Victoria Falls. He knows his stuff and catered brilliantly for our requests. A great holiday experience and well worth the trip, a once in a life time opportunity. Pom Pom Camp, Garden Lodge in Kasane and Victoria Falls Hotel were outstanding and the location of Mma Dinare with viewing of at least 40 elephants at lunch time right by the lodge.

Home location: United Kingdom
Travel date: August 2018

The post What Our Guests Say appeared first on Under One Botswana Sky Blog.

A Botswana Camping Adventure by Bushbaby Travel Blog

admin — Fri, 13 Apr 2018 09:14:36 +0000

Highlights from the Bushbaby Travel Blog‘s Botswana self-drive camping trip.

A 4am wakeup call is only okay when the reason for it is a holiday. On the 19^th of July 2017, this was how our day and our incredible Botswana trip started and we welcomed that alarm clock chime. We tackled the very long drive from Johannesburg to Nata (886kms). Our excited anticipation got us going and later the emotional support from each other over our little 2 way radios and the energy from snacks and energy drinks got us through that final stretch. We were a herd of four and two trusty 4×4’s, heading off to explore Botswana on a self-drive camping holiday.

We entered Botswana via the small Stockpoort border post, just after Lephalale. No queues, no issues and recommended as our preferred way into the county. From there it was onwards to Francistown and then to Nata. We finally arrived at our happy place, Nata Bird Sanctuary, just before 5pm and in time for sunset over the Makgadikgadi Pans. It’s an especially significant spot to Graham and me as it’s where we got engaged in 2013 (More on that story here) and is a setting we wanted to share with my folks too. Graham exclaimed that our return to it and to our beloved Botswana felt like coming home.

Toasting our first Botswana sunset at the Nata Bird Sanctuary pan. ©Kelly Robertson

Sunset at Nata Bird Sanctuary, A scene with so much water, it looked like an ocean sunset. ©Kelly Robertson

It was tranquillity personified as the setting sun painted that scene pink and pelicans and flamingos danced by before their bedtime. It was the most perfect welcome to Botswana. We were there!

Capturing the magic of this special place – Nata Bird Sanctuary. ©Kelly Robertson

On a previous visit to the Nata Bird Sanctuary we had camped near the platform on the pans, which was such a memorable experience. However, the sanctuary no longer allows this as they work to conserve that natural place and keep the human footprint to a minimum.

Instead we headed to the convenient, secure and wonderfully managed Nata Lodge, just up the road, for our first night’s camping and our first sleep in our rooftop tents. We were visited by the bushbabies at night as they jumped from tree branches to our tents and beyond. We also indulged in a hearty breakfast at the lodge the next morning before moving off in search of wild adventures.

Read the full article here.

The post A Botswana Camping Adventure by Bushbaby Travel Blog appeared first on Under One Botswana Sky Blog.

Saying ‘Yes’ in Botswana-a guest post by Kelly Kidson

admin — Wed, 13 Dec 2017 13:50:28 +0000

Kelly Kidson (now Robertson) shares her magical Botswana engagement love story.

What’s the most romantic place on earth you ask? I’d answer without a second thought: ‘It’s Botswana!’ The romance of Botswana is unquestionable. And it was the perfect setting to be asked the most important and ‘butterflies-in-my-tummy’ filled question of my life.

It was the 21st of March, and we were at our happy place. The whiteness of the Makgadikgadi salt pan sands encircled us, interspersed with honey-gold tufts of Botswana grassveld. We dotted that landscape – the only two human dots there. Beside Sowa Pan, its salty water waters licking softly at the shore, he was down on one knee looking up at me with wide eyes and I gasped… loudly. My hands flew to my cheeks in surprise and wordless delight as I realised what was happening. In the next breath I found my voice and repeated the answer from behind the widest grin and tear-blinking eyes. ‘Yes! Of course, yes!’ I shrieked as he placed the one-of-a-kind ring on my waiting finger. He swung me around in his arms, between kisses, giggling and overwhelming happiness.

Too nauseatingly gushy for you? Tough! That’s exactly how it all happened and I haven’t been able to wipe the monkey smile off my face since. If I’m writing like we’re in a Mills and Boons novel set in the pans then I’m ok with that. I was proposed to in my favourite place by the love of my life. I’m completely caught up in the romance of it all so just give into it and share the mushy romance. It’s real.

It was a moment I’ll rewind and watch over and over again in my mind forever. A moment that was ours alone; witnessed only by a solitary pelican on the water, a flock of flamingos that flew over at sunset and a few wildebeest in the far background. It couldn’t have been more perfect. It couldn’t have been anywhere else but Botswana. The exact spot in the Makgadikgadi Pans, where our engagement took place is special to us. It’s on the sandy shoreline at the ‘platform’- a small elevated wooden viewpoint structure next to one of the largest bodies of water within the Nata Bird Sanctuary.

The water is ocean-like in its vastness and from that spot near the platform; you can’t see its end. Birdlife is plentiful and busy, and that’s the only thing that bustles there. It’s quiet. It’s remote. And it’s oh-so-romantic in its wildness and natural beauty.

Just over 3 years before this, we discovered this spot. We were on our first trip as a new couple and on our first night in Botswana we bush-camped right there, at our future engagement site. Similarly, we were the only two humans around then and had the expanse of natural wonderment all to ourselves. We were in awe of it then and on our return trip we felt the same sense of amazement and the feeling that we were part of that landscape.

The rest of our trip transformed into a romantic engagement holiday where we celebrated in our own bush-loving way at each stop. We traversed through the flat, wild and intoxicating landscape that is elephant country from Nata to Kasane, onto a houseboat on the Chobe River and then into the Chobe National Park . We then headed back to the South African border by camping at some incredible spots.

The Botswana bush is wild at heart and murmurs of constant adventure. Sunsets are more vivid and command silence and reflection and the sundowners at the best time of day taste better. It’s the perfect setting for an African love story.

Planning a romantic getaway in Botswana?

Kelly Recommends…

Nata Lodge: We were spoilt with champagne, congratulations and chilled bushveld recuperation at Nata Lodge. We especially loved staying in a safari tent there. Ours was next to a giant termite mound and boasted the most romantic outdoor shower too. Nata Lodge is an absolute must as a stop over stop on route towards Chobe whether you camp or treat yourselves to a night in the rustic safari accommodation options. They also offer pan drives as an extra activity and we went on a guided drive through the Nata Bird Sanctuary as part of our stay. Stay for 2 nights if you can.

Original article published on Bushbound Girl. Read the full article here.

The post Saying ‘Yes’ in Botswana-a guest post by Kelly Kidson appeared first on Under One Botswana Sky Blog.

3 Reasons to Visit the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans

admin — Tue, 31 Jan 2017 13:13:32 +0000

‘The Makgadikgadi, a vast salt pan deep in Botswana, must be what the planet looked like before humanity appeared, and what it will look like after we’re gone.’

This is how Todd Pitock, from National Geographic Traveller, describes Botswana’s Makgadikgadi Salt Pans, one of the largest salt flats in the world.

Here are three reasons to visit this lesser-travelled, yet intriguing location:

The Salt Pans

Walking or driving though this expansive wilderness area is a surreal experience. With nothing but silence around you the Makgadikgadi is like something from another planet. When the sun has descended and the nocturnal Botswana greets you there is nothing quite as overwhelmingly beautiful as seeing the explosion of stars filling the skyline.

Nata Sanctuary

Nata Sanctuary, which is part of the Sua Pan, is a community-run wildlife haven that protects a variety of bird species and wildlife. The sanctuary, situated close to Under One Botswana Sky’s Natal Lodge, is a breeding ground for a host of water birds, including pelicans and flamingo. Watching thousands of birds blend into a pink haze reaching as far as the eye can see is a magical sighting.

Cultural Visit

A great way to get to know the Makgadikgadi and its history is to visit one of the local villages. Cultural visits give insight into the lives of the Bushmen and discover how they have learnt to survive in this arid destination with close to nothing.

Originally published on the Good Safari Guide.

The post 3 Reasons to Visit the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans appeared first on Under One Botswana Sky Blog.

Nata Sanctuary – An Unassuming Oasis

admin — Tue, 26 Jul 2016 07:02:39 +0000

Wide, far reaching landscapes and serene, dreamlike atmosphere. This is how the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans is described. It is one of the largest salt pans in the world and entices visitors with its vastness and mystical setting.

Nata Sanctuary, located on the Sowa Pan that forms a part of the Makgadikgadi, is a protected wildlife area and a popular breeding site for flamingos. It’s also a pelican haven and is home to over 150 other bird species as well as a variety of wildlife.

‘We experienced a deep sense of peace, the whole place and its pelicans to ourselves.’ This is how recent Nata Lodge guest, Roxanne Reid, described her visit to the sanctuary.

‘It’s an easy self-drive from Under One Botswana Sky’s Nata Lodge and you might see wildebeest and water birds like pelicans, and experience a sense of quiet solitude.’
Nata Sanctuary is a tranquil, alluring oasis amidst the bare African wilderness.

Read more about Roxanne Reid’s visit to Nata Lodge here.

Nata Lodge Contact Details

Web: www.natalodge.com
Email: reservations@natalodge.com
Tel: (+267) 620 0070 /2/3

The post Nata Sanctuary – An Unassuming Oasis appeared first on Under One Botswana Sky Blog.

Highlights of the Makgadikgadi, Botswana

admin — Wed, 20 Jul 2016 13:08:39 +0000

The white Makgadikgadi salt pans cover a vast Switzerland-sized patch of Botswana. This was Africa’s largest inland sea a million years ago, before tectonic movement to the west transformed everything. Rivers changed course and water evaporated from the lakes, leaving condensed minerals and salt behind. Today the pans fill only with rain water then dry again to a salty crust.

I first visited Nata Lodge in 2005 after camping rough in the Moremi Game Reserve. I remember it as a welcome oasis of cool and calm. In 2008 there was a devastating fire but the lodge rose again from the ashes in 2010, its wooden cabins as lovely as ever with their freestanding indoor baths and outdoor showers. The lodge is a good place to stop over on your way to Chobe National Park, either in a chalet or at the campsite, and a kick-off point to the community-based Nata Sanctuary. The lodge’s guides take tours to Makgadikgadi pans and the local village of Nata.

Nata Sanctuary

It’s an easy drive (less than 10km) from Under One Botswana Sky’s Nata Lodge to the Nata Sanctuary, which is managed by a trust for the benefit of the local communities of Nata, Manxotae, Sepako and Maposa. We saw a few swirling dust devils in the distance, wildebeest, jackals and a number of bird species but there were no flamingo, the water in the main pan still too deep for them to feed when we were there in May. We did see great white pelicans on a far shoreline and flying overhead. We loved the quiet solitude and the flat, open space where it felt like we could see forever. There’s a small campsite near the entrance gate and a viewing platform about 7km away on the edge of the pan.

Originally posted by Roxanne Reid. Read the whole article here.

The post Highlights of the Makgadikgadi, Botswana appeared first on Under One Botswana Sky Blog.

Bright-Eyed and Bushy-Tailed

admin — Tue, 16 Feb 2016 08:19:04 +0000

If I was a bushbaby, I’d be making my humble home in a natural hole in a tree, preferably an acacia, one with thick leaves and branches to protect me from predators such as genets, owls, snakes, smaller cats and leopards. I’d also love the taste of tree sap and catch the occasional insect – a grasshopper or moth, perhaps in mid-air.

Bush-babies are much easier heard then seen…

The first time I saw a bushbaby was while staying at Nata Lodge in Botswana, where they are fed by the lodge staff in the evenings, excitedly leaping from tree to tree in anticipation.

Originally posted on the Bush-Bound Girl blog. Read the whole article here.

The post Bright-Eyed and Bushy-Tailed appeared first on Under One Botswana Sky Blog.