Footsteps in Africa


Footsteps in Africa - Sightings and Reports

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Meno A Kwena Green Season – “10 reasons why cannot be missed!”

 

  • Africa’s second largest zebra migration breeding in the saltpans.
  • White rhino sightings at Boteti River improve during summer.
  • Increasing numbers of elephants to the area.
  • Nxai Pans & Baines Baobabs day trips increase general migratory wildlife productivity.
  • Migrant birds arrive.
  • Increased predator activity at Nxai Pans during springbok and gemsbok summer breeding season.
  • NPNP and MPNP scenic value increases as pans hold water.
  • Scenic flights over the saltpans are spectacular.
  • Personal service maintained at reduced green season rates.
  • Very low tourist and vehicle congestion in the NPs and reserves.

Meno A Kwena & Boteti River Update

The Boteti River along the western boundary of Makgadikgadi Pans National Park has reached Rakops Village for the first time since 1987!  This is the furthest extent of the Okavango River system from its catchment areas in Angola over a thousand kilometres to the north.  There is nothing negative that could possibly outweigh the positive effects of this flood into the dry Kalahari.  For the rural villagers on the southern banks of the river and wildlife inside the national park, it is the end of a very long struggle to survive in this otherwise waterless desert.
 
We are now officially as much of an Okavango Delta camp as we are a Kalahari camp!  This puts our property in a rather unique position to offer our guests both habitats and wildlife species from one camp.   
This new lifeline brings with it growing populations of wildlife including Riverine mammals and fish to give birth to a new circle of life for years, if not decades to come.  We are not complaining at all, in fact we and our guests are in awe of this reincarnation, and so welcome the few new challenges that face our safari operations.

I did, many years ago, advise the national park authorities to prepare themselves for a flood down the Boteti River during the first decade of our second millennium!  I was counter-advised by the authorities that this river would never flow again, that building bridges was a waste of funds better spent elsewhere.  Ha!  And so now with the river flowing at Khumaga, where we access Makgadikgadi Pans National Park, we are crossing the river by canoe to get to our safari car for drives in the area.  This involves a short drive from camp to the canoe crossing place where guests are transferred a few hundred metres over the river to the safari car.
The situation is a slight logistical challenge but certainly adds to the adventure of our safaris into Makgadikgadi & Nxai Pans National Parks.  The growing concentrations of wildlife along the Boteti is especially enhanced by the arrival of Africa’s second largest zebra and wildebeest migration from their wet season range in and around the saltpans that, despite still being wet, are too salty for the water dependant grazers.

 We do still however have all year round access to the edges of the saltpans from camp and these are only possible on day trips with picnic lunches.  Note that with so much water in the Boteti River, wildlife is scarce in and around the pans so are only recommended for their scenic value with a chance of seeing desert adapted wildlife – gemsbok, springbok, etc.  Please also be aware that meerkats are best seen in the early and later hours of the day and so unlikely will be seen on our day trips.  We are however exploring new areas where we are likely to find them closer to camp.

 As a result of the extended wet season and shorter dry seasons of late, we cannot guarantee access into the saltpans for overnight sleep-outs.  This coupled with unusually excessive mosquito populations means we cannot risk these trips until further notice.  We are expecting early rains to start as soon as September and so do not think it will be possible during the 2010 season.
 Due to the spectacular wildlife viewing in front of camp at the moment, we are getting increasing requests to opt out of drives to observe and experience large herds coming to drink from the tranquillity of the viewing hide at camp.  We are still doing nature walks along the river from camp and viewing wildlife from canoes.

We will continue to update you on the situation and advise of new developments during the course of the season.  Please don’t hesitate to contact us should you have further questions regarding the Boteti River and Makgadikgadi & Nxai Pans National Parks.

Meno A Kwena, The DRY Boteti River bed 1993 / 2008

The Boteti River
 
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