Wildlife of the Nxai & Tau Pan in the Kalahari Area of Botswana

You know you’re up for an adventure when that travel bug finally bites and sometimes it bites more frequently than others, it may seem. The first step is to determine in what region it’s time to broaden those horizons – is it time (or even a dream) for glorious mountain viewing, long safari walks, experiencing the wild side of mother nature or simply to add some relaxation to that busy mind that never seems to sleep.

Talk about luck. Botswana is composed of all of the above and so much more. It is internationally recognised and not only for its natural beauty but also for the endless amounts of humbling activities it has to offer. Being one of Africa’s most unrivalled destinations there’s a reason why it’s globally known to all passionate travellers.

Botswana safaris are primarily focused on providing scenic escapades, all jam packed into a mind-blowing holiday.

Where is it situated?

Botswana is situated in Southern Africa and consists of the glorious Okavango Delta and predominantly covered in the sandy savannah that is known as the Kalahari Desert. This savannah covers approximately 360,000 square miles of Botswana with its notorious red sand. This is no ordinary desert as it’s still capable of habituating a great number of animals and plants.

The Makgadikgadi Salt Pans make for a unique biome and this also attracts wildlife that has very different survival habits. Makgadikgadi and the central Kalahari make for a truly unique experience.

Let’s talk camps, shall we?

Nxai Pan Camp

Makgadikgadi Pan is one of the world’s largest salt pans and a part of that is the Nxai Pan. This is the inspiration behind and home of the Nxai Pan Camp. This camp faces the peculiar and remarkable view of the pans. They offer a wide variety of activities from game drives to seeing what a blanket of glitter looks like in the sky. Nature walks with a San bushman tracker and being engulfed with their cultural stories of how they have survived and lived nomadically for thousands of years.

With beautiful & luxuriously styled rooms and a pool for those perfect summer days, this camp is 100% solar operated which adds to a vibe that can be described as your home, away from home and more.

There is a permanent waterhole that attracts wildlife through most seasons. Frequent visitors include elephant, lion, cheetah and the eye-boggling migratory herd of zebra.

There is also a wonderful human watering hole to help quench those warm summer day thirsts, not to mention the wonderful sundowners and array of sought after wines to be enjoyed.

Tau Pan Camp

The Tau Pan Camp is situated in the Central Kalahari of Botswana. Just like Nxai Camp they offer a wide variety of activities from adventurous safari drives to star gazing and Bushman walks. Offering its remote location to one and all that need a break away from the busy city life they are used to. What’s better than excellent service and stylish accommodation in the middle of nowhere?

The usual sightings of wildlife are clans of brown hyenas, majestic big black-mane lions, cheetah, leopard and aardwolves.

There are often talks of the parties that are held at Tau Pan Camp including traditional singing and dancing around the fire. It’s a true African celebration.

Best seasons to travel to these destinations?

• During December – April the Kalahari flourishes with greenery. This is known as the wet season and it attracts a multitude of wildlife seeking the greener pastures.
• During May – November the desert sands are more plentiful. If you are looking to experience great wildlife viewing, it is recommended to visit during the wet season; however, if you are looking for more isolation & quiet time the dry season might be just what you are looking for. In addition to this, you can take advantage of low season rates at selected lodges.

Who is best suited for this kind of adventure?

The Central Kalahari is hypnotic, to say the least. It has open landscapes, warm days and utter peacefulness with nothing but African wildlife abound. It will leave visitors in awe, mesmerised by how beautiful the sky is and feeling a sense of gratification to be able to experience these wonderful scenes from nature in such a unique location. It’s about taking your whole heart with you and undoubtedly leaving a part of it behind.

So it really can be enjoyed by any true safari enthusiast or wildlife lover that is in search of a bit of adventure and activities that bring them very close to nature.

“Everything in Africa bites, but the safari bug is worst of all.” – Brian Jackman