Botswana Travel Guide
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Nata
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Botswana Travel Guide

Nata



Nata itself is a very small place at the junction of the tar road to Maun, Kasane and Francistown. For many years it was little more than a filling stop for most people, where the vital garage relied on hand-cranked petrol pumps, and the well-stocked 'Sua Pan Bottle Store' was always busy.

Little has changed over time, although the place feels a lot more modern than it used to – and the nearby Nata Sanctuary has made this pan a bigger attraction than it was. It is still usually sensible to refuel when you pass through Nata.

Where to stay


Most visitors who are deliberately visiting this area stop at Nata Lodge, though if you're on the road and need a cheap place to lay your head – the Sua Pan Lodge might be all that you need.

Sua Pan Lodge
Tel/fax: 6211263
Behind the back of the Shell petrol station, this has a few simple and clean rondavels, with basic en-suite showers and flush toilets, for P150/200 per person sharing/single. Or you can camp here for P25 per person.

Nata Lodge
(12 three-bed chalets, 10 twin-bed tents and camping) PO Box 10, Nata, Botswana, Tel: 611210/611260; fax: 611265; email: natalodge@info.bw
Nata Lodge lies about 10km south of Nata, and is well signposted just off the road. It stands in a patch of sparse woodland with real fan palms and marula trees.

The thatched family chalets here have one bedroom and sleep two or three; alternatively two can share a twin-bedded Meru-style tent, tucked into the bush and raised up on a low platform. All have en-suite bathrooms with a shower, toilet and washbasin. Nearby there is a very large camping area. Meals can be arranged in the restaurant; a full breakfast costs P38, a braai dinner is P66, and light lunches are possible from the snack menu. The lodge's pool is right in front of the main lounge/dining area, and nearby the lodge has a curio shop. Mike Unwin reports that on his last visit here there was a family of bushbabies leaping from tree to tree, across the swimming pool.

On an ad hoc basis, the lodge organises early-morning and sunset trips into the Nata Sanctuary and on to the pans, costing about P77 per person for a 3-hour trip (minimum four people).


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