As mentioned above, much of NG34 is quite thick, and relatively unproductive, mopane woodlands. However, the western side of the reserve, adjoining the Gomoti River and some of its floodplains, is much more interesting.
Even driving on the main road south from South Gate to Maun you’ll get a flavour for this, as you pass through some superb stretches of open acacia savannah – where you’ll find very good populations of giraffe, if you’re not speeding through too fast. The dominant species here is camelthorn (Acacia erioloba), though you’ll also find a few umbrella thorns (Acacia tortilis) and the odd old leadwood (Combretum imberbe) mixed amongst them. It’s classic mature Kalahari sandveld – and matches many people’s image of Africa. These areas run like veins through the reserve, marking out the areas of deepest sand.
Around the Gomoti River, things are different. Here you’ll find plenty of lovely areas of old riverine forest, containing all the usual species including sausage trees (Kigelia africana), marula trees (Sclerocarya birrea), jackalberries (Diospyros mespiliformis), African mangosteens (Gardenia livingstonei) and sycamore figs (Ficus sycomorus). You’ll also find knobthorns (Acacia negrescens), which are immediately obvious around September and October for their creamy-white flowers and almost sickly-sweet perfume. Occasionally you’ll find small islands, or patches, of these standing together.
The floodplains here come in two broadly different varieties. Those plains that still regularly flood are usually covered with short grass – a photogenic environment that’s easy for game viewing. The others, which have been dry for a number of years, have often been largely covered with wild sage (Pechuel-loeschea leubnitziae). This classic ‘pioneer species’ can quickly take a hold when a floodplain dries out; it thrives in areas that have recently been disturbed. Other, slower growing species of shrubs and trees will eventually germinate and take over these areas, though not for some years yet.
Amidst all of these plains, you’ll find islands, large and small. These have riverine trees and shrubs on them, including a scattering of real fan palms (Hyphaene petersiana) and a notably high density of knobthorn trees (Acacia negrescens).