Nata Bird Sanctuary, Botswana

Nata Bird Sanctuary was established in the early 1990's on the far northeastern edge of Sowa Pan and, apart from the Makgadikgadi and Nxai Pan National Park, is the only protected reserve in the area. It is a local community project managed by a board of trustees selected from four nearby villages. This 230 sq km community project is designed as a refuge for the wildlife on and around Sua Pan (45% of the reserve is in the pan).

The idea was first raised in 1988 by the Nata Conservation Committee and the sanctuary was realised four years latter, thanks to the Kalahari Conservation Society and funding from national and international organisations. Local people voluntarily relocated 3,500 cattle onto adjacent rangeland and established a network of dust roads.

This unique approach to community involvement in eco-tourism is considered to be the key to conservation throughout Africa.

Mammal species are restricted to antelope - hartebeest, kudu, reedbuck, springbok and steenbok - and springhares, jackals, foxes, monkeys and squirrels. Eland, gemsbok and zebra are being re-introduced, and current plans include engineering a permanent water hole, which will be filled with pumped water from the Nata riverbed.

However, most of the wildlife has wings and around 165 bird species - from kingfishers and bee-eaters to eagles, bustards and ostriches - have been recorded. There are also numerous savanna and woodland bird species. When the Nata River flows, this corner of Sua Pan becomes a paradise for water-loving birds from all around Africa: teals, ducks, geese and hosts of pelicans, spoonbills and both greater and lesser flamingoes. This area is an important breeding ground for flamingoes and pelicans.

A campsite with barbecue sites, hot showers and flush toilets can be found near the park entrance. The camp is dominated by a fallen baobab tree of immense age and girth. This massive tree collapsed in 1992 but, amazingly, it has survived and continues to grow horizontally with new shoots sprouting along the length of its trunk.

While the roads throughout the sanctuary are well maintained, access to certain areas may be restricted to four-wheel-drive, particularly in the wet season when the black cotton soil can become treacherous.