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Home>Botswana>What to see | 
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| Botswana: What to see | |||
| Sua Pan | |||
>see photographs Overview Sua Pan is a barren surface of hard, salt saturated clay covering an area of 5000 sq km and combined with the Ntwetwe Pan, makes up what is known as the Makgadikgadi Pans. Along the south eastern shore of the pan rises a steep calcrete escarpment with beaches of rolled quartz, marking the perimeter of the ancient lake Makgadikgadi. An enigmatic island of indeterminate history, Kubu Island, is found on the western side of the pan. Monolithic granite boulders and the stunted looking baobabs, set in the infinite whiteness of the salt plain adds to the eerie feel of the island. The origin of a low, crescent shaped stone wall is unknown and neither have the pottery shards nor the San ostrich shells found here, solved the mystery of who lived on the island or where they drew their water. Wildlife A stunning array of waterfowl, particularly greater and lesser flamingos migrate to Sua Pan during the rainy season feeding on the algae and crustaceans which thrive here. Very little other wildlife is supported on the pan. Vegetation With the exception of the baobabs on Kubu Island, the area is too harsh to sustain any real vegetation. When to go The midday heat during winter (May to August) is far more bearable than that of the summer months (September to April), however the nights can be cold. Summer rainy months are best for seeing the splendour of birdlife on the pan. Activities Quad biking across the salt pans. Accommodation Two upmarket camps located at the northern end of Ntwetwe Pan (next to Sua Pan) are Jack's Camp and San Camp while for camping and self-catering there is Planet Baobab, 5 km from Gweta. How to get there by road: The entrance to Sua Pan is 20 km from Nata on the Francistown road. Nata lies 190 km from Francistown and 300km from both Kasane and Maun, all being tar roads. by air: Tsigaro Airfield is 10 and 20 minutes away respectively from Jack's and San Camps respectively. There is also an airfield at Gweta but then road arrangements have to be made to get to the Pan. |
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