The Silence of the Makgadikgadi

in Worldmappin3 years ago (edited)

Traveling without a plan, not knowing where I will sleep or who I will meet, is the most exciting part of a journey for me.

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After leaving Lethlakane, my plan was to drive to Lekhubu Island between the 2 Salt Pans in the Makgadikgadi, Botswana where I was sadly refused entry as the pans were full of water (there is a risk of sinking if you stop). The coin flip to decide East or West led me around Sua Pan to the A3 which took me to Nata Bird Sanctuary (NE of the whole basin). With the pans being as full as they were breeding season for the Greater and Lesser Flamingo was about to commence so there was a chance I could see them, which has been on my bucket list for years!

Once in the Sanctuary there is a sign board which gives basic directions and a very long road which appears to go nowhere down to the viewing platform and the river mouth.

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This is a point where you leave the world behind!

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The silence was eery, it was just me, the water lapping on the shoreline, birds were chirping and the odd Wildebeest was grunting in the distance. At one point I was convinced I had heard a mosquito fart as it flew next to my ear!

The soft lit sunset presented by mixing, shades of blue, purple and yellow through the cloud formations in the middle of a wide open landscape as far as the eye could see!

I found a small flock of Flamingos that flew off when I got to close to them. The water is fairly shallow so they are able to get a run up for take-off.

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I still cannot decide which is my favourite photograph but I am leaning towards the third and fourth photo. Maybe the fourth?

The beauty of knowing that there are still places to go where nothing but so much exists brings a lot of peace and perspective to life.

If you are awarded the opportunity to go there, spend more than a night! There is so much more to see which I will reveal in another post soon 😁

@jim-crypto @mpaya

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Wow - the flamingo are stunning. I've never seen them. Thanks for sharing this beautiful part of the world!

Thank you so much @riverflows :) It was amazing to go there on the spur of the moment.

There is also a place about 50km North from here where the elephants come down to the lodge, you feel so close to nature and so apart of the wilderness.