Around Nata: River, Birdlife and Cultural Village

Around Nata, the Nata River and the seasonal birdlife at Sua Pan shape the landscape. There is also a cultural village tour led by a local resident, with stops at a traditional meeting place and a homestead. Nature and cultural experiences sit side by side, though they do not follow the same itinerary or depend on the same conditions.

River Delta and Birdlife at Sua Pan

The Nata River delta feeds Sua Pan in the Nata Bird Sanctuary. It is also a breeding ground for numerous waterbirds, including pelicans. Thousands of flamingos arrive seasonally when conditions are favourable. Birdlife therefore varies throughout the year: both the season and the conditions affect the number of flamingos.

The Government of Botswana has designated Nata Sanctuary as a flamingo conservation area; it is home to approximately 165 bird species. A 2014 report places Nata Sanctuary beside Nata Lodge, on the edge of the Makgadikgadi salt pans.

Cultural Village Tour and Activities on the Water

The cultural village tour in Nata, led by a local resident, includes a visit to the Kgotla. This traditional meeting place is regarded as a place of respect. A traditional homestead is also part of the visit, where circular huts and their architecture are introduced. The two stops have different focuses—the Kgotla as a meeting place and the homestead with its architectural theme. Both visits are part of the tour; check their availability in advance.

Near Nata, Nata Lodge offers daily three-hour sunset drives in open-sided 4x4 vehicles. They support the community-run Nata Bird Sanctuary. Check the availability of the drives before travelling. From Eselbe Camp, you can explore the Nata River by canoe, either independently or with a guide. The trip to the Nata Bird Sanctuary is possible after the rainy season only when the water level is high enough.

When choosing a holiday rental in Nata, it helps to consider what you want to focus on during your trip: the cultural village tour brings together two cultural stops, while the river activities depend on different conditions. The sunset drive has a stated duration and time of day; the canoe trip to the sanctuary depends on the water level. If this particular canoe route is important to your plans, take its seasonal condition into account. For the available drives and cultural village tour, it is advisable to check availability before travelling.

Other Landscapes in the Central District

In the wider Central District, the Tswapong Hills offer a different kind of landscape. The Tswapong Hills Cultural Landscape comprises a mountain range about 70 kilometres long and about 15 kilometres wide, rising around 400 metres above its surroundings. Deep gorges have formed there. Seasonal rivers and streams fed by natural springs create waterfalls with deep, moss-fringed pools.

Moremi Gorge lies in the Tswapong Hills in the Central District and can be reached on foot via a steep climb. It is the source of three permanent waterfalls: the first two form large waterholes; the uppermost waterfall is ten metres high and plunges over rock ledges into a densely vegetated lagoon. Moremi Gorge has great religious and spiritual significance for the local community; it has been declared a National Monument.

As a courtesy, visitors are advised to ask the local headman for permission before entering the Tswapong Hills.

Discover more destinations: Letlhakane, Palapye, Lentswelemoriti, Selibe-Phikwe, Mathathane, Mahalapye.

Back to the main travel overview: Central District.