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Destinations :
Central Botswana 
North 
North West
East
South
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| The Kalahari
The Makgadikgadi Pan region
Mabuasehube Game Reserve |
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The Kalahari covers two thirds of the country and at its core lies
the 50,000 square kilometres of the Central Kalahari Game Reserve. It
is also the second largest conservation area in the world. The Kalahari
is often referred to as a ‘desert’ due to its lack of water
and sandy soils. Yet it is a hauntingly beautiful wilderness of scattered
thorn scrub, rolling grasslands and is home to a variety of wildlife
which has adapted well to the very dry conditions of the area. Until
recently, access was limited only to conservationists and researchers. |
| The Kalahari is devoid of the luxury camps found in
the Okavango Delta. It is an ideal destination for those seeking a wilderness
experience in a remote part of the world. The lack of electrical light
means that the stars probably are the brightest you could ever see!
The area is best explored with a mobile safari company although there
is one luxury lodge in a private concession bordering the northern part
of the Kalahari. Access to this lodge is either self-drive or by light
aircraft as the lodge has its own airstrip.
A self-drive expedition to the Kalahari is not one to be taken
lightly. As the vast area has no water, shops, fuel or provisions,
one has to be totally self-resourced. It is also not permitted for
one vehicle to travel far into the Kalahari and a convoy of at least
two vehicles is essential. It is recommended to visit the area with
either a scheduled tour or on a private tour with experienced safari
guides, who know the area well.
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- One of the last vestiges of true wilderness in Africa
- Good game viewing – including the large black-maned
Kalahari lion
- A dry wilderness experience
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- Road from Maun (north entry) or from the south entry points
from Gaborone
- Air transfer into private concession area of Deception Valley,
northern border of the Central Kalahari
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- Wild campsites with no facilities
- Luxury lodge in Deception Valley on a fully inclusive basis
(fly-in or self drive from Maun)
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| The Makgadikgadi Pan region |
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For a different experience to the more visited places in Botswana,
a safari or stay in the vast salt pan areas of Botswana is different.
The southern Makgadikgadi is certainly regarded as the world’s
largest salt pan – part of what was once a large inland lake,
perhaps even bigger than Lake Victoria in East Africa. It is believed
that the area was once a lush expanse of vegetation and animal life
but seismic movements caused the area to dry up, leaving behind the
wastes of clay and salt. |
| In some wet seasons, the pans do fill again with
water – a shallow covering which attracts millions of flamingos
and pelicans from other parts of southern Africa and Namibia. The
alternating dry and wet season also produce awesome migrations of
zebra and wildebeest – although the recent introduction of
an electrified fence on the western boundary has caused disruptions
in these migrations (research is currently being undertaken to determine
the impact the fence is making on migrations). The pans can be treacherous
in wet seasons and independent travellers with little experience
have been known to lose their vehicles after getting stuck in the
soft clay. The area is excellent for birders interested in raptors
and grassland birds.
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The area is also known for its majestic baobabs, Baines Baobabs probably
being the most famous. They were painted by Thomas Baines in 1862 on
one of his travels and the painting now sits in the National Gallery
in London. They are part of Nxai Pan which sits on the northern sector
of the main tarred road linking Maun and Francistown. This area is different
to the clay pans of the south and contains scrub, grasses and thickets
of acacia. Here you can see a good mix of animals including predators. |
| Accommodation in the Makgadikgadi Pan areas is limited
to fairly basic National Park camp sites. There are more upmarket
options too: a camp and chalet establishment in the village of Nata
(close to the Nata Sanctuary), a luxury tented camp in the pan area
itself and a small medium cost camp with thatched chalets in Gweta
– which provides easy access to both the Makgadikgadi and
Nxai pan areas.
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Lodges and camps offer trips into the pan area and some
offer quad biking. On the west boundary of the Park – apart
from a Parks Board camp site – there are two very comfortable
lodges which offer tented accommodation on a fully inclusive basis
and day trips into the park areas. Independent visitors require 4
x 4 vehicles due to the sand and clay conditions in the area and the
access road to Nxai pan is arduous and time consuming.
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- Varied landscapes of grasslands, vast salt pans and moon-like
stone ‘islands’ of acacia, rock and baobab trees
- Migratory antelope herds
- Interesting plains and raptor bird sightings
- Quad bike excursions onto the pans
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- Access to either Makgadikgadi or Nxai is off the main
Maun to Francistown road
- Air transfers by private charter to luxury lodges or airstrips
at Gweta or Nata
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- Rustic National Park campsites with minimal facilities and
ablutions
- Luxury tented and chalet lodges in the pan areas and the
western boundaries of the Makgadikgadi Park
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This, of all the Kalahari region locations, is probably the most isolated
and furthest one could travel from human habitation. Mabuasehube, meaning
‘red earth’ in the local language, is certainly recommended
for the hardy traveller. Road links are sandy single tracks and there
are no facilities on the two-three hour journey from the nearest village
Hukuntsi in the north of Tsabong in the south. It is, however, an immensely
tranquil place and is noted for its three large pans, its migratory
antelope (including eland) and its carnivores. |
| The National Parks have established camp sites in
the area which are spaced out considerably providing each site with
its own privacy and solitude. Some sites have showers and latrines
(mostly with cold water).
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- A true 'get-away' location of isolated wilderness
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- Road (4 x 4 vehicle only)
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- National Park camp sites – some with basic ablutions
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Liquid Giraffe
Private Bag 114, Maun, Botswana.
E Mail : info@liquid-giraffe.com
Tel: + 267 6801054 Fax: + 267 6801053
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