Nxai-Pan-Nationalpark
IUCN Category II - National Park
Salt pan in Nxai Pan National Park
The Nxai Pan National Park ( Nxai Pan National Park ) is located north of the Makgadikgadi Pans National Park in Botswana. It is named after a hook-shaped metal rod that was used for digging spring hares from their underground passages ( = Nxai ).
- 7.1 General Source
- 7.2 Notes and references
Location
The National Park is located in the North - West District of Botswana 136 km from Maun towards Nata north of the Makgadikgadi Pans National Park, and is separated from them only by the paved road Maun - Nata.
History
The area of the National Park was part of the settlement area of the San From 1950 to 1963, the so-called "old trek " through the park. About this route, the herds of cattle were driven through the Ngamiland after Kazungula by the farmers. However, the set up to combat foot and mouth disease veterinary control fences this route was disrupted. 1970 an area of 1676 square kilometers of the Nxai Pan was declared as Wildlife Reserve and 1992 increased by the area around the Kudiakam Pan on 2578 square kilometers and raised to the National Park.
Landscape
In the south of the national park between the asphalt street and the park entrance is the Kudiakam Pan, in the north of the park, the Nxai Pan and the North East, the Kgama Pan. The salt pans belongs to the system of the Makgadikgadi salt pans and are the remains of a large lake. In years of heavy rainfall, the salt pans can fill with water again. The National Park located on the northeastern edge of the Kalahari at an altitude of 900 meters above the sea level.
Vegetation
Outside the salt pans of the National Park is characterized by a typical dry grassland savannah and mopane woodland, some collections of acacias and baobabs.
The most famous collection of Baobabs Baines Baobabs form the east of Kudiakam salt pan. They are named after Thomas Baines, an English painter and explorer who visited this Baobab Group on December 29, 1861, and painted.
Wildlife
The National Park lies on the migration route of animal herds between the Okavango Delta and the Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe or the southern grasslands in and around the Makgadikgadi Pans National Park -. Permanent can be lions, bat-eared foxes, jackal, giraffe, kudu, impala and springbok encounter. Apart from ostriches, the National Park has a large variety of birds. In the rainy season, the park fills also with gemsbok, elephant and thousands of zebras.
Infrastructure / tourism
As in most national parks of Botswana the infrastructure for tourism in national parks is minimal. Those who are not as self-contained tent or camper van, you can visit the National Park with organized tours. The park is open all year.
Park entrance
The access road to the park entrance branches off to 136 kilometers from Maun and around 65 kilometers from Gweta of the asphalt road Maun - Nata to the north. After 37 kilometers deep sandy slopes to reach the Nxai salt pan with the front located park entrance.
In the park, there are no paved roads. Most of the slopes, in particular the access from the tarmac road are extremely sandy and suitable only for SUVs. After heavy rains, the slopes are barely passable.
Accommodation
Throughout the National Park there are no fixed accommodation and only two, as not fenced in all the national parks of Botswana Campsites with rudimentary sanitation. At the Baines Baobabs may be stayed by appointment with the park rangers also.
Supply
There are no restaurants in the National Park or care options and no gas station. The nearest gas station is located in Gweta of the junction of the paved road 65 km away.
Swell
General source
Source of non- separately stated sections: Botswana Tourism Board ( Ministry of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism)