Makgadikgadi Pans National Park
extra informatie (Engelstalig) / extra information (English)
De informatie op deze pagina komt van het boek ' The Shell Tourist Travel and Field Guide of Botwana '.
Vierde editie 2006 (engelstalig) ISBN 0-620-34976-X.
The information on this page are from the book ' The Shell Tourist Travel and Field Guide of Botwana ' .
Fourth edition 2006. ISBN 0-620-34976-X
The Makgadikgadi Pans National park is an ideal stop-over en route to the Okavango Delta. Only about one-fifth of the
reserve comprises salt pans and the rest consist mainly of rolling grasslands wich yield very nutritious grasses.
These grasslands attract thousands of animals each year between October and April but their presence is erratic, depending
on local rain. The western border is formed by the Boteti Rivir with its thick sand and lush riverine vegetation. The rivir
only occasionally flows to capacity. It does, however, have a few perennial pools, some of which have Hippos in. These
pools are a vital source of water to the migratory Wildebeest and Zebra.
History and people
Makgadikgadi Pans National park was initially state land. Although there is a total lack of surface water, except for
swallow pans during good rains. People used to live in the interior of the park before it was declared state land. Along
the western border, there are a number of villages -evidence that historically the Boteti River was the vein of live for
the people of this area, as well as for their livestock. Whilst it was still state land, villagers were allowed to graze
their livestock inside the bounderiess during the dry season. Because of the large number of game that is attracted to
the area seasonelly, government soon realised its value as a conservation and tourist area and in 1970 it was declared a
game reserve. In December 1992 the bounderies extended to cover its present 4900 km2 and it was given National Park status.
Fauna and Flora
The Makgadikgadi Pans national Park is unique because of its diverse habitat types. It consist of four main vegetation
types, namely riverine woodland, scrubland, pure grassland and salt pans supporting Palmtree woodland on the edges.
Palm Tree Groves
One of the most beautiful parts of the reserve is on its eastern boundery where thick Palm Tree groves are interspersed
by patches of tall, yellow grassland. The species of palm tree is the same as that found in the Delta, the Mokolwane Palm
( Hyphaene petersiana)
Pan area
By the pan area you will see a unique looking succulent with about one-metre-high branches and attractive, but unpleasant
smelling maaroon flowers (the flowers are only rarely present). It belongs to the famly Asclepediaceace and is known as
Hoodia lugardii. Also interesting is the short, yellowish, spiky grass which occurs on the slight rises in between the
pans. Its name is Prickly Salt Grass (Odyssea paucinervis) It is an extremely saline-resistant species and salt crystals
can sometimes be seen on the leaves. Also there growes the grass Spiky Sporobolus ( Sporobolus spicatus). The yellow grass
form a lovely contrast with the white pan and the dark-coloured succulent bush (Salsola sp.) that grows alongside them.
Island vegetation
The interior of teh reserve comprises grassland and scrub with a few "islands" of trees in between. The scrub consist
mainly of blueish-grey Trumpet thorn (Catophractes alexandri) and the spiky, yellow-flowered Western Rhigozum
(Rhigozum brevispinosum)
Riverine vegetation
On the Boteti River side of the park the sand is very thick. The tree species are mainly the Camelthorn ( Acacia erioloba )
, The Small sour plum (Ximenia americana) the Silver terminalia ( Terminalia sericea ) Raison bushes ( Grewia spp.)and
other sandveld species.
Wildlife
From April to November the game make a gradual move from the pans areaof the reserve to the boteti River side of the park
on the western border where they can find the only available surface water in the few remaining pools. This is a
beautiful, heavily-wooded area with bushbuck, duiker, kudu and other woodland animals. During November and some other
months one can hear the melancholy calls of the zebra's all night long. Although the river only occasionally pushes down
as far south as this, there are always permanent pools, one of which is next to Khumaga camping site named Hippo Pool no 1.
where a pod of resident hippos can always seen.
Where to Stay
There are no lodges into the park but the are various on the periphery.
In the park there are some campsites. One is on Njuca Hills, wich consist of low-lying hills with a beautiful vieuw of
the surrounding area. There are pit-latrines, but no showers or water. During the dry season the trees lose their leaves,
so there is not much shade available. The other camp is the Khumaga Public camping site and the Xwaraga Caming site. They
are lying nearby the Boteti riiver where there are clean toillets, showers and water.
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