Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Getting There & Away
The main entrance to the national park is 141km west of Nata and 164km east of Maun. A
4WD is needed to drive around the park, and the road from the main gate to the Khumaga
Campsite is deep sand.
There's another entrance close to Khumaga Campsite, but you'll need to cross the river
on a pontoon ferry (per vehicle P120).
NXAI PANS NATIONAL PARK
This 2578-sq-km park lies on the old
Pandamatenga Trail
, which once connected a
series of bore holes and was used until the 1960s for overland cattle drives. The grassy ex-
panse of the park is interesting during the rains, when large animal herds migrate from the
south and predators arrive to take advantage of the bounty, but it's also impressive when
the land is dry and dust clouds migrate over the scrub and salt pans. The region is specked
with umbrella acacias, and cheetah and elephant sightings are common.
BAINES' BAOBABS
In the south of the park are the famous
Baines' Baobabs
(GPS: S 20°06.726', E
24°46.136')
, which were immortalised in paintings by the artist and adventurer Thomas
Baines in 1862. Baines, a self-taught naturalist, artist and cartographer, had originally
been a member of David Livingstone's expedition up the Zambezi but was mistakenly ac-
cused of theft by Livingstone's brother and forced to leave the party. Livingstone's brother
later realised his mistake (but never publicly admitted it), yet Baines remained the subject
of ridicule in Britain. Today, a comparison with Baines' paintings reveals that in almost
150 years, only one branch has broken off.
Sleeping
South Camp $
Offline map
(
www.xomaesites.com
;
GPS: S 19°56.159', E 24°46.598'; campsite per adult/child P226/
113)
Around 37km from the park gate along a sandy track, South Camp has 10 sites
clustered quite close together behind some trees at the edge of one of the pans. There's a
good ablutions block with flush toilets and (usually hot) showers, as well as
braai
pits.
CAMPGROUND
Baines' Baobab $
Offline map
CAMPGROUND
