NXAI PAN CAMP

Nxai Pan Camp: Our View

The latest addition to the Kwando properties portfolio, Nxai Pan Camp is a great little wilderness camp set in the middle of the Nxai Pan National Park to the north-east of the Makgadikgadi. The main lodge is a series of vast rooms looking out onto the plains. While the game viewing can be a little sporadic, with game being best in the green season months from December through until May, it is a private retreat that is well worth visiting at any time.

Nxai Pan is the only camp in the Park and hopefully it remains that way. It really is a lovely place especially in the green season. The area is completely underestimated and deserves more praise. It gets a very good 4 paw rating.

Nxai Pan Camp: The Detail

Nxai Pan National Park lies just East of the Maun-Nata road and adjoins Makgadikgadi Pans National Park on its northern border. Nxai Pan was originally state land and an area of 1676 sq. km was declared a game reserve in 1970, and then in 1992 the boundaries were extended to include Baines Baobabs to give the present total area of 2578 sq km and National Park Status was granted. The Nxai Pans were once part of the great lake that covered central Botswana – which included The Okavango Delta, Makgadikgadi and Lake Ngami to name a few.

Livingstone passed this way during the middle 19th century and soon traders and explorers followed and it became an important trade route. Kgama Kgama pan in the centre of the park held water at that time and many travelers came here to replenish their water supply and to rest.

In 1861 – the famous painter Thomas Baines arrived to paint an unusual group of baobab trees – one of which lies on its side and hence these beautiful group of tree’s became known as “Baines Baobabs”. Other painters including Prince Charles have been captivated by these amazing trees and have also painted them. These are located on the southern side of the park.

The Pan itself is another fossil lakebed about 40 sq km in size. The landscape is largely covered by grassland and dotted with clusters of umbrella acacia tree’s and mopane woodland in the north. During the rains from November to April – the pans become covered in grass which is a landscape very similar to the Kalahari. Nxai Pan has also achieved fame from the IMAX movie “Roar” – where Tim Liversedge and National Geographic filmed this epic documentary that showcases a battle between an aging lion and a young challenger, who wants the older lion's wives and the water hole.