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Botswana - places of
interest
Read about places of interest in Botswana for sightseeing, game
viewing and other holiday activities - select a region to
see details:
Central Kalahari - central Botswana
Central Kalahari Game
Reserve, Gweta, Makgadikgadi Nat. Park, Nata, Nxai Pan
National Park
Chobe National Park - north-eastern/-central
Botswana
Chobe River, Kasane, Savuti Area
Ghanzi Area - western Botswana
Bushmen, Trans Kalahari Highway
Okavango Delta - north-central Botswana
Maun, Moremi Wildlife Reserve
Okavango River - north-western Botswana
Lake Ngami, Shakawe/Sepupa Area, Tsodilo Hills
Even though country & travel info concentrate on the regions
in each country included in our
Suggested Safari Itineraries, they
usually
apply to the remainder of that country too.
Where to stay in Botswana and around
its neighbouring countries is listed under
Recommended
Accommodations. |
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Central Kalahari
Quick links to info
on places of interest
in
other
Botswana Regions:
Central Kalahari
/
Chobe Nat. Park
/
Ghanzi Area /
Okavango Delta /
Okavango River
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Central Kalahari - page 2:
• Central Kalahari - central Botswana
including some of Botswana's largest nature
conservation parks: Central Kalahari
Game
Reserve, Gweta, Makgadikgadi Nat. Park, Nata, Nxai Pan
National Park
•
Chobe National Park - north-eastern/-central
Botswana
including the Chobe River & Kasane
area in the north-east and the Savuti Marsh/
Channel & Mababe Depression area in the northern centre of Botswana
•
Ghanzi Area - western Botswana
The first/last outpost of
civilisation on the Trans Kalahari Highway when entering
Botswana from/departing from Botswana to Namibia. Most
prominent around
Ghanzi are projects for the conservation of the Bushman
culture, as numerous
San tribes inhabit the game-rich fringes of the Kalahari for
generations.
•
Okavango Delta - north-central Botswana
including Maun on the
south-eastern edge of the Okavango Delta and the
Moremi Wildlife Reserve comprising of the northern half of the delta.
•
Okavango River - north-western Botswana
Lake Ngami is
actually not situated on the Okavango River but near the south-
western tip of the Okavango Delta. Since only travellers to western Botswana
will pass through the
Lake Ngami area, it was listed under this topic.
The Shakawe & Sepupa area is truly an Okavango River
destination, which
provides entirely different experiences of this great
African river than its delta.
The Tsodilo Hills are an important landmark to the San
people and situated
between the Okavango River and the Namibian border. |
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Central Kalahari
- Gweta, Makgadikgadi
Nat. Park, Nata, Nxai Nat. Park, Area - |
Gweta
Gweta became an important tourist centre because of its close
proximity to the Makgadikgadi Pans. The turn-off to Gweta is 200km
from Maun on the main road to Nata and 100km from Nata, The name
“Gweta” means “Place where frogs meet” , referring to the multitude
of frogs that gather in the puddles during the rains. There is a
small Shell Garage, a fairly well-stocked grocery store and a bottle
store.
Makgadikgadi Pans National Park
What we know today as the Makgadikgadi Pans is only a relic of what
used to be one of the biggest inland lakes Africa has ever seen –
Lake Makgadikgadi. The Makgadikgadi Pans consist of two main pans,
namely Ntwetwe and Sowa Pan, both of which are surrounded by a
myriad smaller pan. The Makgadikgadi Pans promise a unique
wilderness experience full of adventure, provided that you come well
prepared, well equipped and well informed.
The nearest re-fuelling and basic shopping facilities are at Nata
and Gweta to the north-east, at Rakops to the west, and
Letlhakane in the south. The distances to these places are at no
point more than 200km but always provide extra for unplanned
mishaps, such as getting lost. The road surface is generally hard,
which means that fuel consumption will not be very high.
You must be totally self-sufficient once you have entered the pans
area. There is no water, so take enough for the entire period - take
note that there is also no water at Lekhubu Island. Water may be
available at the main entrance gate and at Khumaga, provided that
the pumps are working.
The Makgadikgadi Pans National Park is an ideal stop-over en route
to/from the Okavango. Many visitors are wisely reluctant to venture
onto the Makgadikgadi Pans on their own, but visiting the park is a
safer way of exploring the vast beauty of this unique part of
Botswana. Only about one-fifth of the reserve comprises salt pans
and the rest consist mainly of rolling grasslands which yield very
nutritious grasses. These grasslands attract thousands of animals
each year between October and April but their presence is erratic,
depending on local rains. The western border is formed by the Boteti
River with its thick sand and lush riverine vegetation. The river
only occasionally flows to capacity. It does, however, have a few
perennial pools, some of which have Hippos in. These pools are a
vital source of water to the migratory Wildebeest and Zebra.
The turn-off to Makgadikgadi Pans National Park is situated 162km
east of Maun, 143km west of Nata, and 43km west of Gweta. The
official entry point is at the game scout camp, situated only 9km
from the tar road.
Makgadikgadi Pans National Park, established in 1970 as game reserve
and enlarged as well as declared a national park in 1992, today
covers 4900km².
Road conditions are generally good inside the park but a 4 x 4 is
still required. The road along the eastern and southern border is
good during the dry season, although unclear in places as it crosses
numerous pans. The same applies to the road that crosses the pans in
the south-eastern corner. This road should be avoided during the
rains. The only road that is particularly difficult, - because of
thick, loose sand -, is the one along the Boteti River.
Khumaga Campsite
The campsite is situated on the Boteti River and boasts clean
toilets, showers and water. Although the river is usually dry, there
are a few permanent pools with resident Hippos and game viewing
hides.
There are two routes from the northern entrance gate to Khumaga.
Although the top route is shorter, the bottom road past Njuca Hills
via the Boteti river raid is generally better for game-viewing and
also offers better scenery. It takes much longer and is more
difficult to drive, however, because of deep sand.
Green’s
Baobab - Between the middle and the end of the last century,
traders, explorers and missionaries regularly crossed the
Makgadikgadi Pans as it was part of one of the major trading routes.
Close to Gutsha is an enormous Baobab under which traders used to
camp. It was on this tree that Green brothers, Frederick and
Charles, carved the words “Green Expeditions, 1858 – 1859”. They
were written more than 145 years ago and can still be clearly seen.
Green’s Baobab is now a national monument.
Chapman’s Baobabs - About 11km south of Green's Baobabs is a
turn-off to the east, and 3km down the road one will find a
magnificent, seven-stemmed Baobab tree known as Chapman’s Baobabs,
or the “Seven Sisters”. There are a multitude of names carved on
this tree, and Chapman’s name is indicated by his initials “JC”.
Please bear in mind that both Chapman’s and Green’s Baobabs are
national monuments - so treat them with the necessary respect and
take care not to litter.
Nata
A small town situated near the T-junction of Botswana's
Kasane-Francistown and Maun-Nata tar roads, Nata is a commonly
utilised overnight stop for overland travellers en route to/from the
Okavango Delta and north-eastern Chobe National Park. Its modern
Nata Lodge serves as alternative accommodation, if no rooms are
available in the Gweta area, for visiting the Makgadikgadi Pans and
Nxai Pans National Parks. The Nata Nature Reserve near town is a
worthwhile destination for shorter excursions, especially for keen
birders.
Nxai Pan National Park
Nxai Pan National Park consist mainly of a series of fossil pans,
all of which are covered in short, nutritious grasses. On the pans
are islands of Acacia trees that form shady spots in which animals
rest during the day. This makes for beautiful scenery and is unique
to Nxai Pan. The famous group of Baobabs, called “Baines Baobas” is
situated 31km south of the official entry gate to Nxai Pans National
Park. They actually fall within the boundary that starts at the tar
road. Most people find it difficult to pronounce the click in the
word “Nxai” which sound like a loud “t”. The most common
pronunciation is “nigh”
There is no fuel, food or drinks available at Nxai Pan and at times
there is also no water. Always travel with enough water for the
entire trip in case the pumps are out of order. This is a common
occurrence as elephants destroy water tanks when natural water pools
have dried out during the rainless winter season.
The nearest town to Nxai Pan is Gweta (104km) where fuel, drinks and
limited stocks can be obtained. It may be necessary to stock up in a
bigger town such as Maun or Francistown.
Take the Nxai Pan turn-off which is 138km from Maun and 167km from
Nata. The road is clearly marked. It is 35km to the game scout camp
and gate even though the park boundary begins at the tar road. The
road is very sandy and the trip may take longer than expected –
about 1.5 to 2 hours. A 4x4 vehicle is definitely required. Some
18km from the tar road you will cross the old Nata-Maun road. Turn
right here to reach Baines’s Baobabs. The road splits after 0.8km,
but both forks lead to the Baobabs. The road on the right goes
through the pan and should be avoided during the rainy season, while
the road on the left is sandy and negotiable at all times of the
year.
During the dry period (May-October) most of the roads around the pan
area generally have a hard surface and are easily negotiable. During
the rainy season, especially during January and February, the roads
can become very clayey and therefore one should come well equipped
with high-lift jacks, winches, etc.
Baines’s Baobabs - This is one of the highlights of Nxai Pan
National Park. This was originally state land, but its potential as
a conservation area was soon realised. In 1970, it was declared a
game reserve and in 1992, it became a national park. Baines’s
Baobabs were named after the famous explorer, Thomas Baines, who
painted them during a two-year journey between 1861 and 1863. He was
travelling from Namibia to Victoria Falls with the Explorer James
Chapman, who knew the area very well. Baines noted the precise date
that he painted the Baobabs as 22 May 1862. Interesting to note here
is that in the almost 145 years that have since passed, there is
little evidence of change in the seven giants. Even the fallen tree
was a fallen tree then. Of historical interest is the “old trek
route” which is situated on the western side of the park running
parallel to the park's border. This route was used during the 1950s
until about 1963 to herd cattle up to Livingstone in Zambia for
slaughtering. This road was a short cut between Ngamiland via
Pandamatenga to Kazangula, but it had to be abandoned with the
advent of the modern veterinary control fence. There are a number of
boreholes along this route which are said to still have water,
although they were closed when the road went into disuse. |
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P. O. Box 1301