During a visit to Botswana last year, we were fortunate enough to stay overnight at Nata Lodge, which is a ten-minute drive from the Nata Bird Sanctuary. We’ve camped there on many occasions but never had the opportunity to visit the Bird Sanctuary. Our arrival coincided perfectly with a game drive to the Bird Sanctuary, and we happily climbed aboard the Nata Lodge safari vehicle that took us into the Pan.  The Nata Bird Sanctuary covers an area of 230 square kilometers and is part of the Makgadikgadi Pans. The area is also known as Sua Pan or Sowa Pan, which can be a bit confusing.

The landscape leading to the pan is breathtaking, and we took a moment to admire an enormous Baobab tree. Other trees in the area were home to nesting vultures. As we drove through the grasslands, we were lucky enough to catch a brief glimpse of an African wild cat, as well as wildebeest, a jackal, and some zebras.

We were also happy to see a Double-banded Courser and her chick.

Cranes were also around, with the Grey Crowned Cranes and Wattled Cranes making an appearance.

Timing is crucial when visiting the Sanctuary because, depending on rainfall, Greater and Lesser flamingos breed there in their thousands, creating a spectacular sight. It’s not just famous for the flamingos; pelicans, ducks, and other migratory birds also enjoy protection in the area. We did see a few flamingos, but they were too far away to photograph. African spoonbills and Yellow-billed storks were close to the water’s edge when we reached the pan.

We were grateful to be driven on a guided tour because, after the rainy season, one has to be very careful about which tracks to use. Many of the roads are covered with water, and choosing the wrong tracks greatly increases the possibility of getting stuck in thick mud. That’s definitely not something we relish when traveling on our own.

The finale of our visit was stopping for a sundowner at the elevated platform that overlooks the pan. Depending on the time of the year, one will either see an inland lake filled with birds or a vast dry salt pan.

Both views are spectacular when the sun sets on the horizon, and we were fortunate enough to witness a stunning sunset. We learned that it had been cloudy for the three evenings prior to our visit, so we could have easily missed this amazing spectacle.

The Nata Bird Sanctuary is managed by a community trust, which benefits the local community as well as the birds and animals under their protection. Botswana is to be commended for its conservation efforts, and evidence of their determination to protect habitats and wildlife is evident throughout the country.

One can camp at the Nata Bird Sanctuary, and fees for both camping and entering the conservancy are very reasonable. The best time to visit the area is from November to March during the rainy season, but the dry season also offers fantastic sightings of the vast salt pan. This area is a definite “must visit” place for bird enthusiasts.

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