Pans and Rhinos

Botswana is famous for it’s “pans”, or dry lakes. They are spectacularly beautiful and often surrounded by enormous trees and wildlife. Driving on them can be extremely dangerous, I am told. With only the tiniest amount of water the surface turns to quicksand and it’s not at all uncommon for 4x4s to sink entirely below the surface, never to be recovered.

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Heading out towards the monster pan

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The Makgaba Fossils are obviously mighty old trees

Near the edge of the enormous Makgadikgadi Pan we walk to the impressive Makgaba Fossils – a collection of fossilized trees estimated to be 50 million years old. Nearby we stop at the Mmakgama Ruins – built during the 14th century on land overlooking the entire pan. The views from the site are commanding and harsh.

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The Mmakgama Ruins

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A mass baobab on the edge of the pan

A little later we camp at night at the Rhino Sanctuary and are treated to multiple viewings up close and personal, including a mother and young baby Rhino. I absolutely can not believe how long and sharp the horns are!

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This snail is staggeringly big

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Mum and baby

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The horn looks extremely pointy!

Again, Botswana delivers the animal viewing goods!

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Dung beetles work overtime to process the day’s catch!

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Camping at the Rhino Sanctuary

-Dan

2 Responses

  1. Matt Lowry says:

    Swallow a 4×4 to the roof! That’s a warning to take seriously.

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