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Makgadikgadi
Pans National Park |
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In the distant past,
this 2500 sq km park was part of a regional, ancient lake,
possibly as large as the present day Lake Victoria in East
Africa. However this ancient lake dried up leaving vast
salt pans that are even visble on satellite pictures. The
attraction for the traveler is the isolation and solitute
of a trip here. There are pockets of thriving wildlife in
various parts of this park.
The park has a rich and diverse eco system with minimal human intrusion, resulting in spectacular wildlife sightings. There are over 500 species of bird recorded in this area. The ideal time to visit is the local winter time, from March to September. Suggested access is by air from the town of Maun, the tourism center of Botswana.
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Brief
History of Makgadikgadi
Pans National Park
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Makgadikgadi National Park consists of two large saltpans, Sowa and Ntwetwe, and a number of smaller pans. After the summer rains the pans fill up to a depth of a few centimetres, alerting the fish and aquatic shrimps from where they have been lying dormant in the mud. This forms the breeding ground for the fabulous flamingos and pelicans and sometimes waders, which are attracted by the rich food supply. The grasslands of Makgadikgadi National Park are home to a large number of antelope, which attract an impressive range of predators.
After the summer rains the pans fill up to a depth of a few centimetres, alerting the fish and aquatic shrimps they have been lying dormant in the mud. This forms the breeding ground for the fabulous flamingos, pelicans and sometimes waders that are attracted by the rich food supply. The grasslands of Makgadikgadi National Park are home to a large number of antelope. These attract an impressive range of predators.
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