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Botswana, October 2010 - Masetleng Pan, Kaa Concession

We'd stayed at this pan a couple of years ago and enjoyed its remoteness so decided to have a couple of days there. From Mabuasehube to Masetleng was nearly all along sandy tracks, some fairly well used...

... and others that had had very little traffic.

We were able to fill up with fuel at Hukuntsi.

We saw very few vehicles but had to keep an eye out for cattle alongside or crossing the road.

There are no facilities at the campsite (S23 42.342 E20 53.907) but the peace and solitude are wonderful - we didn't see another person or vehicle for the 2 days that we were there.

We could see some of the pan from our camp. There were nearly always animals on or around the pan, which surprised us as 2 years ago we'd seen very few. There were always groups of sprinbok around and gemsbok, red hartebeest and wildebeest appeared from time to time.

Many of the animals appeared to be digging out on the pan. At first we thought they might be looking for water but later realized that they were digging for mineral salts.

Once again we were able to use our 'scope to get a better view of the animals.

 

 

I spent one morning, which slightly overcast (and much cooler), trying to photograph some of the many birds around the campsite.

A pair of swallow tailed bee-eaters.

Common shrike.

Wildebeest.

An agama.

Sprinbok.

Another lovely sunset.

I was quite surprised to see several shrubs in flower despite the fact there's been no rain here for months.

Masetleng Pan is a campsite in the Kaa Concession of the Kalahari and we'd stopped to pay our camp fees at Ngwatle village. We followed the GPS directions to the Chief’s hut and found a girl who spoke some English and we then followed her to another hut.  However she couldn’t find the receipt book so told us to carry on. After staying at the pan we again stopped at the village but weren't able to find anyone who spoke any English so still weren't able to pay for camping at the Pan.


1. Mabuasehube area of the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park.

2. Masetleng Pan in the Kaa Concession.

3. Central Kalahari Game Reserve.

4. Moremi Game Reserve.

5. Savuti area of Chobe National Park.

6. Chobe National Park - Riverfront.

Diary (Word '97 document).

 

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We drove to Thakadu Camp (S21 44.356 E21 40.717), a few kilometres from Ghanzi, as we needed to stock up with food, drink and fuel before venturing into the Central Kalahari.

It was lovely to have a proper shower and we enjoyed chatting to the owners in the bar. One evening we had an excellent meal from the surprisingly large menu on offer.