Nata Archives - Under One Botswana Sky Blog

An African Birdlife adventure to Chobe and Nata

admin — Thu, 19 May 2022 14:16:35 +0000

From the oasis of the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans to the verdant banks of the Chobe River, Botswana boasts a rich diversity of birdlife over a kaleidoscope of vast and starkly different landscapes. Plus the bonus of other wildlife.

By Andrew de Blocq, the Avitourism Project Manager at BirdLife South Africa.

The Fabled Flamingos of Nata

The flamingos descend in tens of thousands to breed. Constructing mud tower nests for egg-laying, they turn the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans of the Nata Bird Sanctuary into a fantastic flamboyance of pink. Welcome to one of only four breeding sites in Africa for Greater and Lesser Flamingos (the others being Lake Natron in Kenya, Etosha Pan in Namibia, and Kamfers Dam in Kimberley, South Africa).

Nata Bird Sanctuary is a community-run reserve on the eastern tip of the Makgadikgadi Pans and forms part of the Important Bird Area of the same name. Water levels are unpredictable, with inputs from local rainfall and the Nata River system inflows. However, this Kalahari landscape is transformed with seasonal flooding when conditions are just right. A 2009 census counted over 75000 Lesser Flamingos alone – twenty percent higher than the estimated total Southern African population at the time.

With or without flamingos, a visit to Nata Bird Sanctuary still proffers prolific birdlife, particularly waterbirds such as Great White and Pink-backed Pelicans, Goliath Heron, African Spoonbills, and a range of ducks and teals around the heads of the Nata and Boteti Rivers.

The raised wooden platform provides an excellent lookout point to treasure this spectacle. Grassland and savanna areas host Kalahari representatives, such as the cacophonous Northern Black Korhaan, Red-necked Falcon, and Common Ostrich, while Blue Wildebeest, Aardwolf and Bat-eared Foxes are viewable too.

As twilight descends, the road to dinner might bear Marsh Owls and several nightjars on the way back to Nata Lodge, which sits just 15 minutes from the Bird Sanctuary.

Image by Andrew de Blocq

Come morning, you’ll soon realise why it’s considered one of the best spots to see Meyer’s Parrots. Still, a stroll around the immaculate grounds of Nata Lodge reveals much more besides. Tropical Boubous, Arrow-marked and Southern Pied Babblers, Red-billed Firefinches and Terrestrial Brownbuls. It is not uncommon for the resident Gabar Goshawk to flush the many African Red-eyed Bulbuls and Grey Go-away Birds from the feeding station within the lodge gardens during breakfast.

While Nata Lodge and the Makgadikgadi Pans make a vibrant oasis in an otherwise desolate landscape, the Chobe region is a veritable Garden of Eden just a few hours’ drive north.

Beautiful Biodiversity!

With incredible wildlife and birding opportunities on-site, Chobe Safari Lodge makes an excellent base. For starters, the Collared Palm Thrush and Northern Grey-headed Sparrow (two highly sought-after species for Southern African birders) are easily found on the grounds with the former associating closely with White-browed Robin-Chats and Swamp Boubous.

Also read: Birding expert shares top 10 birds to tick off at Chobe Safari Lodge

The lodge also organises guided activities into the adjacent national park making your trip hassle-free. Between catching tiger fish and enjoying G&T sundowners on the boat cruise, one can also appreciate Collared and Rock Pratincoles flocks, family groups of African Skimmers, well-camouflaged Water Thick-knees, and White-crowned Lapwings along the banks. Western Cattle Egrets and African Jacanas hang out alongside elephants foraging neck-deep in the flooded grasses, waiting for their cumbersome movements to flush out their insect foods.

The white head and breast of African Fish Eagles are easily picked out from the larger trees punctuating the shoreline. Still, one must be careful to check for other larger raptors on the wing as Martial, and Western Banded Snake Eagles occur as well as larger vultures, such as the Lappet-faced and White-headed.

Keep an eye open for various specials during game drives into Chobe National Park. Racket-tailed Rollers inhabit the teak woodlands and Three-banded Courses enjoy the broad-leafed woodlands, while Yellow-throated Sandgrouse prefers the black cotton soils. Other attractive localised residents include Brown Firefinch and Copper Sunbird. Other local gems like Broad-tailed Paradise Whydah, Red-headed Quelea, Rock Pratincoles and Pennant-winged Nightjars frequent the area in summer.

Few places on the continent can rival the spectacle, abundance, and diversity that Botswana can deliver. Lucky for South African birders, both Nata and Chobe sit within easy (and affordable) reach.

Find a Birdwatcher’s Paradise at Nata Lodge

Nata Lodge is an ideal overnight oasis on your way to Chobe Safari Lodge. Explore the Nata Bird Sanctuary, sleep soundly and enjoy a hearty breakfast before hitting Kasane.

Nata Lodge also offers tented accommodation set on raised wooden decks nestled under the many beautiful Marula trees. Each one is equipped with twin beds, an en-suite bathroom and a romantic outdoor shower.

Tents from BWP990 | US$114 per room. Contact the lodge directly to check availability and make a reservation. You can call on +267 247 1112 or email reservations@natalodge.com

Enjoy the Riverfront rooms at Chobe Safari Lodge

The Safari Rooms at Chobe Safari Lodge offer every comfort and have views of the lush lawns that roll into the gorgeous Chobe River.

Rooms from BWP2410 | US$236 per room. Contact the lodge directly to check availability and make a reservation. You can call +2676250336 for your preferred dates or email reservations1@chobesafarilodge.com

Rates are valid from 01 April 2022 – 31 March 2023. This article first appeared in Birdlife Africa magazine.

The post An African Birdlife adventure to Chobe and Nata appeared first on 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

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10 Awesome bucket list reasons to travel to Botswana

admin — Thu, 14 Jan 2021 09:32:07 +0000

Your New Year’s resolutions and bucket lists probably look a little different this year given the upheaval that was 2020. The global pandemic brought conventional travel conveniences crashing down, but forced us all to appreciate home and embrace uncertainty.

Here in Botswana, liquor sales are suspended again, a curfew has been reinstated, and neighbouring South Africa shut her land borders, cutting off self-drive safari-goers departing from the country until 15 February.

Also read: Travel report, an official Botswana Border update

No matter. There is still some light on the horizon. COVID-19 vaccines are starting to roll out giving travellers hope. Instead of making concrete travel plans for 2021, perhaps you’re seeking inspiration instead? Our round-up of 10 unique things to do in Botswana will remind you why little matches a safari to the extraordinary Kalahari.

1. See flamingoes in flight at Nata Bird Sanctuary

Usually home to arid ebony salt pans, Nata Bird Sanctuary bursts into life with summer’s first rains. This season we witnessed an extraordinary amount of rain, with some experts predicting a very wet year for 2021.

When the Nata River fills the great Sua Pan, Nata Bird Sanctuary transforms into a flourishing breeding ground for a festive throng of clamouring water birds, including pelicans and flamingo in their thousands. It sure is a magical time to visit the Makgadikgadi!

Stay here: Located on the fringes of this unique environment and just 10km from Nata Bird Sanctuary, Nata Lodge provides a shady refuge. Choose from luxury chalets with ball-and-claw baths or go glamping below towering palms. Either way, your birding base is sorted.

2. Mokoro the Okavango waterways

Inhabitants of the Okavango Delta have used mekoro for transport and fishing throughout Botswana’s history. Traditionally, these dugout canoes are used for moving through the lagoons and reed-clad waterways to find food and productive fishing grounds as the floods ebb and flow. Today, they’re employed by practised and qualified polers to steer guests on a water-level silent safari. Settle done into a fibreglass mokoro and enjoy this slower, quieter wilderness experience that has endured the test of time.

Stay here: Each of the Okavango Delta camps in the Kwando Safaris portfolio is situated in a private concession, offering an exclusive safari experience with a light-on-the-earth footprint. Get in touch with our team to get the most up-to-date information on water levels and active mokoro sites.

Please note: Gunn’s Camp is currently closed for maintenance.

3. Bush walks through the Okavango Delta

Much like mokoro, a walking safari takes you to places inaccessible to the four wheels of a game drive vehicle. It adds another, far more sensory dimension to the Botswana safari experience. Professional guides know how to track, detect, and comprehend wild animals in the natural Okavango habitat to ensure close, but safe encounters with the plentiful wildlife. Sniff out elephants, tell the difference between a hyena and big cat paw prints, or marvel at the magnificent flora and its many traditional uses with our local guides.

Stay here: Moremi Crossing is an exemplary Okavango walking destination. Accommodation consists of 16 large Meru-style canvas-walled chalets set on raised wooden decks. Each unit has a private veranda, en-suite facilities and a comfortable bed screened by a walk-in mosquito net.

4. Camp wild in Moremi

Complement the magic of a mokoro ride and the endless wonders of a walking safari with a night out camping comfortably. Sleep out in the wild Okavango Delta in small tents, already raised and pegged into the earth like the intrepid safari-goers of old.

Under the protection of expert guides, you’ll arrive at an exclusive campsite already set up. Luggage sits on the comfortable stretcher, along with warm blankets, soft linen and towels plus a torch ensure a relaxing evening ahead around the fire.

Stay here: Contrast Okavango Delta lodge comforts with a night of simple camping outside in the wild. Whether staying at Moremi Crossing or Gunn’s Camp, you can enjoy this extraordinary wilderness adventure.

Please note: Gunn’s Camp is currently closed for maintenance.

5. Hop onto an unforgettable chopper ride

Departing at dawn from any Kwando Safaris camp, a trusty pilot from Helicopter Horizons will whisk you across the waking animal world of Botswana’s UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Okavango Delta. Keep your eyes peeled for buffalo hordes, look out for elephant gatherings and seek out Red lechwe as they leap across the winding river channels. Photographers can choose to have a ‘doors off’ experience, allowing for maximum visibility and snapping.

Stay here: We can arrange flights from any of the camps in our collection. Speak to your booking agent for the most up-to-date rates.

6. Get hooked on tiger fishing

Dubbed the lion of the riverine realm, the feisty tiger fish is always a fun outing and make a fantastic relaxing alternative to days out on game drives. The best time to fish in the Chobe is from June until August. Fishing occurs on a catch-and-release basis. No fishing is permitted in Chobe during January, February and March because it is tiger fish spawning season.

Stay here: Avid anglers have flocked to Chobe Safari Lodge for decades in the hopes of landing a trophy catch. It remains an excellent base for fishing the rapids of the Chobe River.

7. Learn a little Setswana

Kwando Safaris and Under One Botswana Sky are 100% citizen-owned and take their employment and empowerment policies very seriously. All the friendly faces you will see in the camps and lodges are locals – we believe Botswana’s people should show you Botswana.

8. Spot leopards at sunset from the Chobe River

The Chobe River is an abundant wildlife source with incredible game viewing because it is protected as part of Chobe National Park. See the continent’s greatest concentration of elephants from the water on a sundowner cruise or seek out big cats coming down to drink on a private boat ride in the early morning.

Stay here: Kasane’s oldest tourism offering, Chobe Safari Lodge is a landmark establishment on the border of Botswana’s first and oldest national park. It’s also easy to tick off another bucket lister from here – the mighty Victoria Falls lies less than 100 kilometres away.

Please note: The border post between Kasane and Victoria Falls is currently closed due to lockdown in Zimbabwe.

9. Watch the sunset over the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans

Botswana remains a unique safari destination mostly thanks to its watery paradise. However, it is also a land of contradictions. Appreciate this stark contrast best out on the Makgadikgadi. While commonly referred to as such, the Makgadikgadi is not a single pan, but many pans with sandy desert and palm islands dotted in between. Sua, Nwetwe and Nxai Pans are the largest salt pans. The easiest way to appreciate the immense spectacle is sundowners on Sua Pan’s edge inside the Nata Bird Sanctuary.

Stay here: Nata Lodge provides the most straightforward access to the salt pan network and offers daily sunset drives.

10. Meet the largest zebra migration on Earth

Did you know? Botswana is home to the longest mammal migration. Every year, plains zebra depart Chobe and make their way to Nxai Pan National Park searching for the tasty new grasses that sprout up after the summer rains between December and March each year.

Stay here: Our sister properties Kwando Safaris run the only permanent lodge in Nxai Pan National Park. This Kwando Safaris camp consists of nine environmentally-considered chalets that provide the perfect base for observing the prolific zebra migration during summer. Don’t forget to make a pitstop at the park’s famous ancient Baines’ baobab trees.

All Under One Botswana Sky lodges, plus our sister properties at Kwando Safaris, are open for business and have incredible deals for SADC travellers available right now. Get in touch to start ticking off these bucket list reasons to travel to Botswana.

Keep up to date with our latest offers by following us on Facebook.

TO BOOK AND GET CURRENT RATES, PLEASE EMAIL MARKETING@UNDERONEBOTSWANASKY.COM

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An Insider’s Guide to Stargazing in the Kalahari Desert

admin — Fri, 28 Feb 2020 08:14:56 +0000

As day turns to night over the Kalahari Desert in remote Botswana, the dark blue-black sky becomes the scene of bright stars dancing freely, without the hindrance of light pollution that hides them when looking up from a city or town.

The ability to easily “count the stars in one of the darkest spots on the planet”, is why National Geographic listed the Kalahari Desert or !Ae!Hai Kalahari Heritage Park as one of the best destinations to visit this year. It is one of a few International Dark Sky Sanctuaries in the world, as there is almost no light, sound pollution and cloud cover over the park for most of the year.

The Kalahari scores almost 21.9 on the sky quality meter of darkness. As 22 represents zero light and thus is the highest possible score, it is easy to see why the Kalahari captures the minds of casual stargazers and professional astronomers the world over. Along with the Southern Cross, you are treated to other spectacular constellations in this remote wilderness in the Southern Hemisphere.

This three-step insider’s guide will make sure you have the ultimate stargazing experience in the Kalahari Desert:

1. Visit in the dry season

From around April to October, and particularly during Botswana’s winter months, rain showers are few and far between, which means the sky is clear and the stars are at their brightest.

The Makgadikgadi Salt Pans and broader Kalahari Desert can be included in a self-drive holiday in Botswana

Even though the dry season signals the busiest time for safaris across most of Botswana, the combination of the Kalahari’s vastness and it not being considered a traditional wildlife destination, means you will be off the beaten track without the hubbub of other tourists. Perhaps the perfect place for your first holiday of the decade?

2. Stay in desert luxury

When you aren’t looking up at the night sky, you will want to experience Botswana’s famous hospitality and luxury in a relaxed setting such as that felt at Nata Lodge in the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans.

Nata Lodge offers three types of accommodation, such as this luxury en-suite thatched chalet

These salt pans are found in the heart of the Kalahari Desert’s northern region and Nata Lodge blends seamlessly into this surrounding landscape of desert sand, salt pans and vast grass plains dotted by palm islands. The lodge caters for all travelling styles with 22 thatched chalets and 10 Meru tents (both types are en-suite) built on raised wooden platforms as well as a camping site.

3. Meet the feathered residents

Starry nights aside, the Nata Sanctuary in the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans is a birder’s delight. The helmeted guineafowl, crested francolin, yellow hornbill, pied and arrow-marked babblers, glossy starling, Meyers parrot and paradise whydah can all be spotted around Nata Lodge.

Flamingos migrate to the Kalahari Desert in summer to breed and rear their chicks in the flooded Makgadikgadi Salt Pans

The annual flooding of Nata Sanctuary by the Nata River brings thousands of migratory pelicans and flamingos that use this watery playground as one of just a few important breeding sites in Africa. This happens in the summer months, so if you want to combine stargazing with really incredible birding, you might have some cloudy nights. This is nevertheless a good way to see both of the major draw cards of the Makagadikgadi and Kalahari Desert.

Chat to us about making the most of your Botswana safari by travelling at the right time and to the right place for what you want to experience.

All images courtesy of Melanie van Zyl.

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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.

Sunset at the platform in the Magadigadi salt pans © Kelly Robertson

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.

Engaged!!! ©Kelly Robertson

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.

Sowa Pan, Nata Bird Sanctuary © Kelly Robertson

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.

Date in the sand ©Kelly Robertson

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.

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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

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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.

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Nata Lodge

admin — Thu, 22 Oct 2015 12:46:19 +0000

Just a hop and a skip away from the magnificent Makgadikgadi salt pans, Nata Lodge in the Nata area of central Botswana exudes mystery and antiquity. With a bird life that will astound any traveler and the opportunity to witness one of the biggest heard of Zebra in Africa, this is a destination not to be missed.

What was once a lake the size of Switzerland, Makgadikgadi dried up thousands of years ago and now makes up a collection of many salt pans, the biggest one being 4921 km2. It is one of the biggest salt flats in the world and is now home to a spectacular array of bird life that draws tourists from all over the world. After the rainy season animals are drawn to the water and it becomes an oasis of colour and life.

Nata Lodge offers quad bike rides that take you along the edge of the water that collects in the pans during the rainy months. Watch as the biggest heard of Zebra in the wild drink from the waters. Flamingo turn the water pink as they come here to breed. It is the only breeding population of Greater Flamingos in Southern Africa. Boababs tower over migrating Wildebeest grazing in the surrounding grasslands.

Close to the Chobe area, take a drive and see the majestic Chobe elephants in their natural environment. Nata Lodge offers guided tours to the Nata Sanctuary. This forms the only breeding ground for a multitude of water birds including thousands of pelicans and flamingos.

Spend your vacation in a selection of Nata Lodge fantastic options in accommodation. Chose between luxury thatched chalets, custom designed safari tents and the camp site for those looking for a more bush safari adventure. All accommodation offers peaceful, tranquil and stylish settings with amazing friendly and professional service.

Originally published on Travel Adventures Botswana.

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Joyful Moments and Certificates at Nata Lodge

admin — Tue, 25 Aug 2015 11:24:19 +0000

Nestled on the edge of the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans, surrounded by exotically beautiful Mokolwane palms lies Nata Lodge – an unassuming Southern African oasis.

Time and time again, Nata Lodge draws in new and returning visitors with its humble presence and welcoming atmosphere. And the lodge’s warm hospitality does not go unnoticed. Nata Lodge has recently won the prestigious TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence Award for 2015.

According to TripAdvisor, the Certificate of Excellence celebrates excellence in hospitality and is only given to properties that consistently achieve outstanding traveller reviews on TripAdvisor.

Here are some reasons why guests love Nata, according to their Trip Advisor reviews:

Abby, Botswana:

Unlike most visitors, Nata Lodge was our destination and not just a stop-over. We were on a mission to see flamingos and visit the Makgadikgadi Pans during wet-season. Mission accomplished!

Zoe, the UK:

The rooms are excellent, the restaurant very good, the staff helpful and friendly. This time we booked a trip out onto the pan. Fascinating. Wonderful sunset. Well worth doing.

Wynand, South Africa:

The rooms were perfect, the meals were excellent and the evening drive to the bird sanctuary was interesting with good photo opportunities.

Tahitim, Australia:

Everything works and nice air-conditioning if needed. Food was great as well as staff. Good shop with decent prices. Very close to the famous Bird Sanctuary.

Nata Lodge Contact Details

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

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A Lush Oasis in the Kalahari Desert

admin — Fri, 15 May 2015 07:28:21 +0000

By the end of most winters, they’re giant, crusty salt bowls stretching out as far as the eye can see. In summer, especially when there have been good rains in the north, they transform into shallow seas, some as wide as 40km.

The remnants of a giant lake which covered a vast area of Botswana several thousand years ago, they are the Makgadikgadi Pans.

Situated in the centre of the land-locked country, the pans attract huge flocks of great white pelicans and greater flamingos which feast on delights beneath the water. The area is the autumn and winter home to the only breeding population of greater flamingos in the region.

Pelicans feed on barbel and other fish which enter the pans from rivers, while the delicacy for the flamingos are shrimps and plankton in the pan beds.

However, as so often in nature, there’s a fine line between feast and famine. If the water is too deep, the flamingos can’t get to the shrimps and other small creatures – and they leave for shallow waters elsewhere.

Large volumes of water pouring into the area from the Nata River which rises in nearby Zimbabwe meant the pans – a stopover on a road trip from Durban to the Okavango Delta still a further 400km away – were close to full when my wife and I visited them recently.

Nata Lodge, situated near one of the biggest pans, Sowa, was a good base from which to explore. Set in an “oasis” adorned with Ilala palms, the lodge has 22 spacious and well-designed chalets as well as 10 safari tents together accommodating a maximum of 68 guests with provision for about another 150 in an adjacent camping site.

A delightful dining room under the stars is a special feature of the lodge managed by South Africans James and Di French, who tell the story of how the resort was razed by a runaway fire in 2008. By late 2009, it was fully operational again.

Then in January this year flood waters from Zimbabwe poured into the Kalahari Desert, almost submerging the lodge, forcing it to close for about three weeks.

Once again it reopened and it looks splendid. Vast numbers of birds live around the resort, which has lush indigenous gardens – despite the hot white Kalahari sands.

The pans are open to private vehicles, but the lodge offers drives in safari vehicles in the early mornings and late afternoons, with guides providing interesting background. The late drive often delivers stunning sunset images.

On our drive to the Sowa Pan, we were fortunate to see flamingos and pelicans, plus a variety of other water birds, but, according to our guide, the real multitudes are to be seen there in June and July. Dozens of wildebeest ran through the shallow water, providing a spectacular backdrop to the bird life. Other sightings included a secretary bird and a kori bustard – the world’s heaviest flying bird, weighing about 40kg.

Having been at the pans previously during dry winter months when the flats are salty deserts, the abundance of water was surreal, especially as the area is surrounded by the Kalahari Desert.
The best was left for last as we climbed out of the vehicle and – with refreshments of our choice in hand – watched the sun set over the watery pans with a new moon already in the heavens. Impressive was the afterglow which filled the western sky long after the red fiery eye had disappeared on the horizon. Peace and tranquillity reigned supreme and we soaked it all up.
Perhaps even more fascinating are the igneous rock islands of Kukome and Kubu in the Sowa Pan where baobab trees grow.

The discovery of Stone Age tools in the pans has provided evidence of prehistoric man in the region.

West of Nata are the two other major pans, Ntwetwe and Nxai. At Nxai there is a lot more game, especially springbok and impala, as grazing there is good.

Also in the vicinity are Baines Baobabs – seven enormous trees which became well known after artist and naturalist Thomas Baines painted them during an expedition in Botswana in 1862. Among celebrities who have since made a special trip to either paint or photograph the baobabs is the UK’s Prince Charles.

The trees appear to look very much as they did 150 years ago.

After two days in and around the pans, we were on the main road travelling west to Maun, the springboard for our adventures into the Okavango Delta. Fired up by what we had already experienced and craving more of Botswana’s wilderness, we could hardly wait.

Originally published by Greg Dardagan on IOL Travel on the 30th of April 2013.

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