Footsteps in Africa - Activities
Intro | Location | Main Complex | Accommodation | Activities | Gallery | E-Brochure | Rates | Access |Sightings & Reports
MENO A KWENA TENTED CAMP - ACTIVITIES
“Old world safari charm, and absolutely perfectly situated”
The area is home to southern Africa's largest wildebeest and zebra migration, meerkats and all species of African predators including brown hyaena - perhaps the most diverse natural wildlife habitats in southern Africa, all within reach of Meno a Kwena Tented Camp!
The salt pans are a fascinating source of archaeological and historic relics in and around what was once the bed of a vast inland lake. We offer optional salt pans experience safaris that include a quad bike trip into the middle of the salt pan to sleep out in a camp set up in advance under a canopy of stars.
PLEASE NOTE!
Please be aware that the Boteti River has since flowed for the first time in almost twenty years. This is very exciting for us and the wildlife of the national parks and is a positive development in every way for our safari operations and wildlife conservation efforts.
ACTIVITIES:
- Day trips to Makgadikgadi Pans
- Day trips to Nxai Pans
- White rhino experience
- Salt pans experience with sleep out under the stars
- Guided walks
- Swimming pool
- Cultural experiences in and around the nearby village of Moreomaoto, in the vicinity of where Dr and Mrs David Livingstone had their third son.
The Boteti River Safari Experience
The migratory water dependant zebra and wildebeest herds concentrate along the Boteti River during the dry winter months (June to November), obviously this is determined by the rains, and water availability in the saltpans.
The deep Boteti River gorge is a unique environment, by Botswana standards, of riverine habitat in the middle of the dry Kalahari. This creates a rich diversity of wildlife in a very concentrated area. Some of Botswana’s most impressive wildlife concentrations occur along the riverbed during the dry season, including the large herds of zebra and wildebeest, antelope, elephant, white rhino, predators, giraffe, hippo, crocodile, many bird species, and spectacular views.
The Makgadikgadi Pans Safari Experience
The Makgadikgadi Pans National Park covers a vast area from the Boteti River, through its interior of scrublands, palm belt and grasslands to the extraordinary saltpans to the east. The interior of the park supports desert adapted wildlife – oryx, springbok, ostrich, jackal, meerkats, to name some of the common species. During the wet summer months (November to June), the zebra and wildebeest form impressive herds in the open grass plains and pans.
The saltpans are accessible during the dry months (June to November), and this is when we will travel deep into the dry saltpans for the spiritual experience of space.
The Nxai Pans National Park Safari Experience
Nxai Pans National Park adjoins the northern boundary of the Makgadikgadi Pans National Park to create a vast 12 000 square kilometre protected ecosystem within the Kalahari. It takes us an hour to get to the park from camp and so requires a day trip with picnic lunch. A highlight is the Baines Baobabs, famous trees painted by 1800s explorer and naturalist, Thomas Baines. The grove of massive trees is a spectacular sight to behold against a backdrop of saltpan and big skies. In the dry season (June to November), the area is popular because of the well-known behaviour of the resident lion pride hunting springbok all day long at the only waterhole in the park. Tim and June Liversedge recently produced a large format film about these lions called ‘Roar – The Lions of Kalahari.’
Suggestions: At least three nights are required to do the Nxai Pan day trip with the Boteti River experience during the dry season (June to November). We take a picnic lunch on the day trip to Nxai Pan and Baines Baobabs.
Suggestion: During the Green season (November to June) we will take all our guests, who stay at least two nights, on safari to Nxai Pan National Park. The lush fertile grasslands attract large herds of zebra, springbok and oryx to breed in relative safety from the predators visible from large distances over the short grass plains. These trips do require that we take a picnic lunch and spend a full day out from camp.
Suggestion: Should guests want to visit both national parks during the wet season it is advisable to stay at Meno A Kwena Tented Camp for four nights.
