About the Nata sanctuary

A hide for bird watching and game viewing

LOCATION

The Nata Sanctuary is situated 170 kilometers northwest of Francistown and 20km south of Nata on the eastern tip of the Makgadikagadi Pans.  This area provides visitors with an opportunity to view birds and other wildlife in a truly pristine environment.

BACKGROUND

In 1988, the Nata Conservation Committee recognized a need for a conservation area near Nata.  Upon request, the Kalahari conservation Society assisted the committee with expertise in the development of such an area.  Many organizations from within and outside Boswana contributed funding and other services to the project.  Two U.S. Peace Corps volunteers also contributed their expertise in the early years of operation. 


A large herd of springbok

The Sanctuary is a unique undertaking in that it is a community operation.  Management of the Sanctuary is the responsibility of a Board of Trustees.  These trustees are selected from the four area villages of Nata, Maposa, Mmanxotae, and Sepako.  Surplus revenue from the Sanctuary will be used for capital development within the four villages.  The success of the Nata Sanctuary will pave the way for further community involvement in environmental projects throughout the country and meet the growing need for conservation.   

NATURAL HISTORY

The Sanctuary covers approximately 230 square kilometers of which 55% is land surface and 45% is pan surface.  The pans were once the site of the largest inland lake in southern Africa.  The abundant numbers of game and fish from the lake supported the many people who lived along the lake’s shore until the lake dried up about 10,000 years ago.  Today, the plans are filled only when the Nata River flows with the summer rains of Zimbabwe.  This river fills the pans with a broad sheet of shallow water which attracts thousands of birds every year as they migrate to the pan to nest and breed.

Nata Sanctuary Entrance

The viewing platform

BIRDVIEWING

The Nata Sanctuary affords varying habitats and therefore attracts a wide variety of birds.  While birds such as the korhaans and bustards inhabit the open grassland, other species reside in the adjacent woodlands.  There are also several resident riverine species such as the teals and ducks which survive on the few permanent pools found in the Nata river bed.  During seasons of good floods, the pans are an important breeding site for large flocks of flamingos and pelicans. Nata Sanctuary is one of only three breeding sites in Africa for the greater and lesser flamingo.  When the flamingos arrive in the thousands it is a virtual pink tide. The Sanctuary falls in the path of several of the Steppe eagles and the European and Carmine bee-eaters.  Representatives of most of the large and small raptors can also be seen.  The Sanctuary is also home to the rare crowned crane.

CAMPING

The Nata Sanctuary provides affordable camping in the Mophane woodland near the entrance of the park.  Enjoy a private campsite complete with braai place and table.  Ablutions consist of hot showers and flush toilets. 


Spacious campsites at Nata Sanctuary

FEES     ENTRY   CAMPING

Citizens of Botswana   P10    P20

Residents of Boswana   P20    P25

Non-residents    P25    P30

Children 10 years of age and under are admitted free if accompanied by an adult.

HOURS

The Sanctuary is open from 7am to 7pm daily.  However, special arrangements may be made with the management to enter the Sanctuary during early morning or late evening hours. 

POSTAL ADDRESS

The Nata Sanctuary

Private Bag F198

Francistown

MANAGER’S PHONE:  267 71544342

Traditional Basarwa hut

The pan fills with water in the rainy season

Comments

[Tor Venn]

Nice to see the Sanctuary running. I have good memories from my fieldwork in 1995.

[Cara Fletcher]

I remember my trip to Nata sanctuary for my first bird watching with my parents.It was amazing.i saw species I have never seen before and that could be seen only there.It was a lifetime remembrance.

[judith ykema]

Do we have to book in advance for august this year,or can we just show up?

many greetings
judith

[Melody Jenkins]

August is a busy month so I would recommend calling the managers cell phone to make a reservation. You can of course take your chances and just show up. The sanctuary does not have a land line so most of their business comes through referrals from the Nata Lodge. Melody

[bogha maposa]

i good 2 be seeing our beauty even on the net keep the good work up

[seks shop]

good job

[claire angel]

now that the lodge has sadly burned down is there anywhere else we can stay for one night in december to access the sanctuary?.we have two children keen on birdwatching.
thanks for any advice.
claire.

[bogha maposa]

its such a bad n disturbing news that one of the beautiful santuary have burnt out due to someone who is irresponsible....
i wish things will be sorted out quickly and our beatiful santuary come to operation again...
its such a big loss.............

[Paul Lindenberg]

Great to see the Sanctuary still running. I was there during 1995, looking after Nigel's Birders Camp on the Nata River. Been back quite a few times, but briefly only. Popped in and had a look around. Copa still there? I have to finish collecting pictures for (our) book on the Mgadikgadi (which includes the Nata Sanctuary).

[sexshop]

sexshop