BOTSWANA IN THE WET SEASON | EP4 | NXAI Pan National Park | Makgadikgadi (Land of the Elephant)
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- Опубликовано: 8 фев 2025
- In the heart of wild Botswana emerges a realm that defies the ordinary. Sunrises cast a golden glow, revealing a mesmerizing expanse of cracked earth that stretches as far as the eye can see and Gentle Giants roam freely against the backdrop of a seemingly infinite horizon.
WELCOME TO NXAI PANS NATIONAL PARK
In the previous episode, we explored the Third Bridge area in the Moremi Game Reserve.
We had a few of the biggest rainstorms that we ever experienced in this area.
We also crossed some notoriously dodgy bridges.
Moremi and the Khwai region gave us some of the best sightings that anyone could ever hope for
With heavy hearts, we had to leave, but knowing that Nxai Pans National Park was our next destination made it a bit easier.
We stocked up and once again stayed over at Sitatunga camp just outside of Maun.
Hitting the tarred road after being in our type of paradise for so long, felt unreal. Luckily there were a lot of elephants alongside the main road as well which made the transition a bit easier.
Traveling from Maun on the A3, you will go through the VET Fence border control. Due to foot and mouth disease outbreaks, you are unable to take raw meat from west to east towards Nxai Pans.
From Maun, the main gate from the tar road is just over 130km, but as most of it is through a national park area, making the speed limit 80km/h, it takes you just under 2 hours to get to the gate.
We most afternoons at the main waterhole. This is the gathering point for elephants, and we must have seen Ellies by the hundreds. It was almost like they understood each other, making way when another herd came drinking.
We also had one of the most memorable sunsets whilst chilling in just one spot.
This episode might be different due to us showing way more elephants than we normally do, but we truly had an amazing scene right in front of us and we wanted to absorb as much of it as possible.
While we were starting the fire this very dangerous scorpion came out of the boma. Luckily, we noticed it in time as it was right where we were sitting.
Nxai Pans South Camp is operated by the Xomae group, which also manages Third Bridge in the Moremi Game Reserve. At reception, there is a tuck shop that sells wood, as well as some necessities that you might need.
Here you can find most wildlife, but unfortunately, their roads are slow going, so be sure to speak to other visitors to know where what was seen last.
The ablution facilities are well-kept and cleaned regularly.
There are 10 Campsites. They are unfortunately not spaced well, and when it rains there is an accumulation of water pools right on the campsites, but most have proper shade throughout the day. Our Favourite sites are 8,9 and 10 but they do come at the cost of having no shade and being further from the ablutions, but they are way bit more private. We stayed at campsite 8 on this trip.
After spending most of the day in camp, we headed out to see if we could find the lazy lion from the morning and planned to experience another sunset at the main waterhole.
As the saying goes: Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet. We came to experience that a few times sitting for hours at the waterholes at Nxai Pans. The elephant sightings were as good or even better than what we experienced in the Moremi and Khwai, it even compared to Chobe. This was our last evening at Nxai Pan. The next day we would do a short morning drive and then head out of the park via Baines Baobab and stay over at Elephant Sands.
Our next destination to be used as a one-night stopover is the well-known Elephant Sands
Even here, the wet season, was in full swing
The lodge has a restaurant, bar and a plunge pool. They also offer activities such as game drives, bush walks, mountain biking and being able to visit the Makgadikgadi pans from here puts it in the perfect location.
There is one large open campground which is unfenced and a shared ablution. Each campsite has its own braaistand.
Equipment used:
Nikon D500 - www.ormsdirect.co.za/nikon-d500-dslr-body
Nikkor 200-500 - www.ormsdirect.co.za/nikon-af-s-200-500mm-f5-6e-ed-vr-lens
Nikkor 14 - 24 - www.ormsdirect.co.za/nikon-af-s-nikkor-14-24mm-f-2-8g-ed-lens
Nikkor 18 - 140 - www.ormsdirect.co.za/nikon-af-s-18-140mm-f-3-5-5-6-g-ed-vr-dx-lens
Rode Videomic GO2 - www.ormsdirect.co.za/rode-videomic-go-ii
GoPro Hero 4
GoPro Hero 10 - www.outdoorphoto.co.za/gopro-hero10-black
Hero 10 Media Mod - www.ormsdirect.co.za/gopro-media-mod-for-hero9-black
Rode Lav 2 - www.outdoorphoto.co.za/rode-lavalier-ii-microphone
Rode Wireless Go 2 - www.outdoorphoto.co.za/rode-wireless-go-ii-microphone-system
Benro Travel Angel - www.outdoorphoto.co.za/benro-FTA28AB1-travel-angel-aluminium-tripod-kit
GimPro Mk2 - www.gimprogear.com/product/door-mount
Music from;
Epidemic Sound - www.epidemicsound.com/
Artlist.io - artlist.io/Mar...
CLICK TO SUBSCRIBE: / @ourlifeinafrica
Watching this from Dubai, I just got so home sick, yet this video gives me so much peace. Best Nxai Pan over landing video I've ever seen, the number of animals sighted is just amazing. Dankie 👌🏾
We are getting “bush sick” (“home sick”) when we leave such amazing places, and we are just a few hours away. Can imagine being in Dubai, so far away, makes it way worse. Glad that you enjoy the videos and thanks for the kind words and for watching
Your photography is beautiful 🤩
Thank you
Intro of this episode epic with elephant that are fliippen big and animals around the water hole . The Lion at the ant nest out of this world thanks for epic episode mooi loop
That elephants of Nxai are awesome. All of them are so chilled. Makes great scenes all the time. Things just happened right for us.
Thank you so much for watching and following
Beautiful scene of the elephants bullying the zebras by the water hole😅. Great episode as always 👏
It was a great scene in front of us. Still see it when I close my eyes.
Thanks for watching and the kind words
Absolutely fantastic presentation. Your videos are pristine clear. The audio is very audible. And most of all , the background music is well selected to fit the occasion! Man, you are a genius in this field. I always wait anxiously to watch your next and next and next video. Good job.
Thank you for the kind words. Will get the next video as soon as possible!
Fantastic episode. Really enjoyed this, Thank you for all the work you did on this.
Thanks for the kind words. Thanks for watching
Makes me miss living in Maun. 😢
Botswana is great. Wouldn’t mind staying there
amazing . So beautiful and unique thank you ❤❤❤
It is such a beautiful area. Thanks for watching
just amazing
Thank you for watching. Botswana is just magic
What time of year was this, it’s not very dusty! 😂
😂 This was December/January
@@OurLifeInAfrica great, thanks for the update.
Dusty time is in the winter. We found a lot of dust actually beginning of September.
@@OurLifeInAfrica i wax in Botswana this May/June. Amazing! Hope to return next year but i don’t know if I can wait until December/January but it looks like a good time. Thanks 🏴