Nata Bird Sanctuary

The Nata Bird Sanctuary is a community project managed by a board of trustees selected from four nearby local villages, and covers an area of 230 sq km.. The sanctuary was designed to serve as a refuge for the wildlife on and around the Sowa Pan, with a strong emphasis on the local birdlife, and almost half of the reserve lies situated in the pan.

The sanctuary provides visitors with some of the best views of the pans, made possible by an elevated wooden hide. The region is home to a wide variety of winged species, and also serves as an important breeding ground for both pelicans and flamingos. A total of 165 species of birds have been recorded in the area. The most commonly sighted species include flamingos, pelicans, ducks, geese, ostriches, kingfisher eagles, and spoon bills.

A variety of mammals also inhabit the region, and these species include various antelope such as hartebeest, kudu, reedbuck, springbok and steenbok, as well as a number of smaller mammals which include springhares, jackals, foxes, monkeys and squirrels. Eland, gemsbok and zebra are being re-introduced into the region, and current plans for future developments include the placement of a permanent water hole, which will be filled with pumped water from the Nata riverbed.

There is a campsite with braai sites located near the entrance to the park, with hot showers and flush toilets. A main feature of the camp is a massive baobab tree which collapsed in 1992. The enormous tree survived the fall, and has continued growing horizontally, with new shoots sprouting along the length of its trunk. The roads that provide access into the Nata Bird Sanctuary are well-maintained, though in certain areas four-wheel-drive vehicles are recommended, especially during the wet season when the clay-like soil of the region can become treacherous.