Africa is diverse to the true meaning of the word. You will find lush forests, barren deserts, snowy cliffs and roaring rivers sometimes all in a single country. You will also find some of the most stunning landscapes of the world in Africa and there is no better example of the African landscape than the salt pans of Botswana. The Sua, Nxa and Ntwetwe the three salt pans that combine to the make the famous Makagdikgadi and Nxai Pans National park provide a feel of wonderland some thing far away from the realm of reality. A tour to these pans can be a little expensive because of their remoteness but you will surely not be disappointed by the experience you will have there.
You will be taking a cheap flight to Gaborone the capital of Botswana from where you can hire a car preferably a 4wd for making the rest of the journey. The roads leading to the park from Gaborone are a mixed bag, with some parts being in great shape while you will make the last part of the journey on dirt roads. Upon entry to the park you will first have to get in contact with the local park rangers that will charge you a small entry fee and provide you with a briefing on do’s and don’ts of the park.
Some things to keep in mind are that the water is quite scarce in the park so always keep quite a lot of water with you. You will be provided with a radio by the park rangers so that you can communicate with the rangers in case your vehicle breaks down or some other calamity hits you. If you take our recommendation then take a guided tour of the park in company of the ranger who will know where to take you for the best sights of the park but also will protect you in case an unexpected danger surfaces.
If you are planning to make this journey all by your self then try to stick to the tracks left behind by the vehicles that have passed through the area. The first place to visit on entering the park is the Sua wildlife sanctuary spanning on an area of 15 km and is home to some of the most unique species of the African wildlife. The Nata wildlife sanctuary about 20 km from the Sua pan is home to some unique bird species, antelopes and crocodiles. Perhaps the most exciting of all the places in the park is the mysterious Kabu Island.
The island is astonishingly quite and has a ghost town feel about it with some Iron Age ruins and mysterious looking trees. For entering the island you will have to pay a special fee of 18 USD, this fee is charged per group rather than per person so if you are traveling alone then try to tag along with a group to save some of your cash. Camping is allowed anywhere in the park so we will recommend you to stay a couple of nights in the park for an awesome experience.
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