Trip to Nata, Botswana

The first half, maybe, of our road down to Nata from Kasane still had plenty of wildlife. But later – and especially when we approached Nata – the land became more agricultural and less wild. Elephants, lions, zebras, and ostriches gave way to cattle and rows upon rows of crops.
Top: The Kasane Forest Reserve stayed with us quite a ways as we headed south. I saw elephants and a zebra but, this time, I was not fast enough to get a good shot of them. Lower Left: The sign next to the picnic table reads: “Disclaimer. This is a wild life area. You are stopping here at your own risk.” Lower Right: As the land opened up more it was easier to see the ostriches.

Left: Pandamatenga grain silos. The weathered billboards on one of them reads “Financing Farmers to nurture and feed the nation”. Right: Entering a new district means getting out of the van and walking through the checkpoint. It felt good to stretch the legs.

Top Left: The common area of Eselbe Camp. We enjoyed staying here. We had a very affordable private room. Staying at this place was an unforgettable experience. Right: Germans friends we met at Eselbe Camp Backpackers, where we saw the Bush Babies. They were on the way up to Kasane. The very road we just came down in the van two days before. Lower Left: The stars of Eselbe Camp, Bush Babies (AKA Southern Lesser Galago, Galago moholi) performing nightly. They hide in the hollow beams of the common area you see in the first picture. When it gets dark they venture out tentatively from their hole – first looking around and staring at you for a few minutes . And then they spring into action. Spring is the word. It was incredible to see how quickly and high they were able to jump, like little furry grasshoppers. But very accurate in their leaps. We saw them jump five to ten feet from the platform on to the top of barbed wires, every time landing right between the points. Amazing.

Left: Red-billed Firefinch, Lagonosticta senegala. Top Right: Meves’s Starling, Lamprotornis mevesii. Lower Right: Black-backed Puffback, Dryoscopus cubla.

Canoeing is available at the camp. The Nata River is right behind the camp grounds.

A pleasant enough view but, truth be known, we already missed Kasane with all the Warthogs, elephants, hippos, and the rest. The bird life, too, was much more varied than here owing. Cattle have pretty much taken over the whole natural region around Nata, other wildlife being rather rare. There is a sizeable salt pan a few miles south of town. Being a protected area there would be good wildlife there, but it required private vehicle to get there. Or a willingness to walk further than we intended.

Fishing in the river.

We spent two days in Nata and then walked the mile or so to the junction that pretends to be downtown Nata in order to get a van to take us to Francistown.

Nata has an importance way beyond its actual size. Although it is the 49th largest town in Botswana it is one that many travelers come to because it is on an important junction. For us, the main draw was seeing those Bush babies.

Next: Francistown (soon)