Page 97 - Discover Botswana 25th Edition - 2025

DISCOVER BOTSWANA 25TH EDITION 97
KALAHARI
Kalahari. Sadly, these routes have been strangled by human
encroachment, a similar story to most wild areas in Africa.
However, there is great hope - Botswana has designated
almost a third of her land to wildlife, and is proving just
how valuable this land is, along with the influence of
tourism. A few scattered man-made waterholes are kept
full throughout the dry season, on private game farms
or in national parks. These help keep animals closer to
protected areas, and at the same time provide great tourism
opportunities. Much of the wildlife now remains through
the dry season, not needing to risk long and dangerous
migrations through human areas.
The ancient great migrations will never exist again,
but populations of zebra and wildebeest moving in the
same patterns are in fact increasing. A visit to Nxai Pan
and northern Ntwetwe Pan in the green season provides
astonishing scenes. Zebra and wildebeest herds arrive on
the grasslands in their thousands, painting beautiful scenes
under dramatic skies. As roaming thunderstorms relieve
themselves on the parched plains, the herds literally follow
them around, knowing that sweet grass soon follows. Their
trails spread out, crossing patches of salt pan to get to fresh
islands of grass. What a sight! Herds of zebra walking on
clouds across a shimmering mirror of shallow water!
Facing page: The eternal cleaners of the wilderness, a pair of white backed vultures squabble over a fresh wildebeest leg.
Their role is critical to a healthy environment.
Above: The great summer rains transform the bleak salt pans into a watery planet where sky and land are indistinguishable.
Across the flooded landscape, herds of zebra move between grassy islands in search of graze.