Nata Bird Sanctuary
Nata Bird Sanctuary
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.0
144 reviews
Excellent
50
Very good
45
Average
33
Poor
11
Terrible
5
Gr1970Gr
South Africa287 contributions
May 2021 • Family
The sign at the gate clearly says no picnics. I certainly have no issues with a picnic, but we were met at the viewing tower with about 50 people falling around with loud music and bottles of alcohol everywhere. It seems to be a good weekend spot for some of the people living in Nata for an excursion. I would not come over a weekend. It was unpleasant and considering the pans were full of water, it was the only place to get close to the pans. So we basically drove in, saw some Wildebeest on the way in, no birds and a hoard of drunk people hogging the only viewing site.
At the gate the lady did say that there were many Motswana inside, but we should try and find a spot for ourselves. I didn’t know what she meant by the comment until we reached the pans. My family were very disappointed in the experience and from arriving at the gate and leaving it was less than an hour. A waste of time and money on this occasion.
At the gate the lady did say that there were many Motswana inside, but we should try and find a spot for ourselves. I didn’t know what she meant by the comment until we reached the pans. My family were very disappointed in the experience and from arriving at the gate and leaving it was less than an hour. A waste of time and money on this occasion.
Written June 10, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mindy L
Columbus, OH275 contributions
Sep 2023 • Couples
Our tour of the Nata Bird Sanctuary was arranged through Nata Lodge our guide was named Joy. He was such a good tracker and had lots of experience with birds. Unfortunately they did not get the rains as expected last year so the pans were dry which meant no water birds came when we were there. We did see the wildebeest, ostrich, jackals, rabbits, springbok, zebras and dozens of different birds. Joy was funny, he was an expert in finding and identifying birds and he even brought tea and biscuits for us too.
Written September 20, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rob O
Kenilworth, UK206 contributions
Aug 2022
Always a great visit, but this time (August 2022) the pans were full of water. We've seen a few pelicans and flamingos here before, but this year the pan had hundreds of pelicans and other birds. They were fishing in large "rafts" close to shore. We also had good sightings of Kori Bustard and antelopes.
Don't use the viewing platform, it is no longer safe. But it's not necessary.
Friendly staff at the reception. We used the toilets then drove out to the pans. The roads were dry and OK (Fortuner 4x4, but a normal car is OK when it is dry).
We had excellent lunch at nearby Nata Lodge, also great place to stay.
Don't use the viewing platform, it is no longer safe. But it's not necessary.
Friendly staff at the reception. We used the toilets then drove out to the pans. The roads were dry and OK (Fortuner 4x4, but a normal car is OK when it is dry).
We had excellent lunch at nearby Nata Lodge, also great place to stay.
Written August 25, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Natashaw880
Cambridge, UK9 contributions
Nov 2022
This place may divide people, but we absolute loved it. They have done up the viewing hides so they are really very nice. Wildlife will depend on when you go, but in November we saw lots of wildebeest, jackals, and different birds. The horizon was pink with flamingoes and pelicans in the pan. I’m guessing some people might drive in and wonder what all the fuss is about as it’s a flat plain with some wildebeest , but if you take the time and give this community run place a chance it is really very special :)
Written November 26, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mrscindytravels
Palmar90 contributions
Feb 2021
Highly recommended. BUT if there's water (like NOW) only a 4x4. Eish - had some scary moments but it was a most amazing day! Enjoy the photos and little video. Just a small "puddle" - YES ONE OF THE SMALLER ONES - and made a few ostridge and wildebeest mad :) (no animals were hurt!)
Written February 18, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Stephen W
Mito, Japan37 contributions
Dec 2016 • Couples
We had gone in December, just after the first major rains, the rains were late in 2016. Most of the wildlife has spread into the plains because of the water and the migratory birds only arrive late January. The way the flats stretch out for hundreds of kilometers is incredible. Our guide was very knowledgeable and had a good sense of humour. we did manage to see some pelicans, and there was a host of other bird species, as well as animals such as buffalo and some varied antelope. Magnificent scenery definitely a winner, 10/10 would go again.
Written January 11, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
bas97
Loenen, The Netherlands7 contributions
May 2016
we visited the camping by bushcamper. very clean and quite place to visit. nice to drive on the pan to look at the birds
Written April 26, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gr1970Gr
South Africa287 contributions
Mar 2019 • Friends
One of the great wonders of our planet these pans are a must see. Reasonable entry fee into the sanctuary and the pans. The rains have been poor this year so we had to travel about 7 km to find the first water. No Flamingos, but plenty of other birds to see. We also saw a lot of Wildebeest. No other animals unfortunately. We went for the sunset, which was an excellent experience. World class experience on one of the worlds largest pans.
Written March 17, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lea_in_Jozy
Johannesburg, South Africa23 contributions
Jan 2019 • Family
We were highly disappointed! We called to have details of the time and payment and the lady was not able to help and gave us a number that was not answering...
We went the next day with dollars/euros/rands but the lady at the front office did not want them (only pula) and later admitted that she was not working here usually...
When we managed to get hold of the manager (on our own airtime) she spoke to the lady at the front office to accept our rands but the exchange rate was a scam (820 instead of 630..).
We called back but the manager never picked up the phone anymore. She then sent a message saying « the customers are always right but sometimes not ».
A real shame...
We went the next day with dollars/euros/rands but the lady at the front office did not want them (only pula) and later admitted that she was not working here usually...
When we managed to get hold of the manager (on our own airtime) she spoke to the lady at the front office to accept our rands but the exchange rate was a scam (820 instead of 630..).
We called back but the manager never picked up the phone anymore. She then sent a message saying « the customers are always right but sometimes not ».
A real shame...
Written January 8, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dorothee175
Munich, Germany6 contributions
Oct 2017 • Friends
Although there is only said the time to see the flamingo is around December til February we saw a lot of flamingos, the greater and the lesser flamingo! That was amazing! A great place to be, to get an impression of the pans, the lake there and the wideness with lots of animals like the gnu, the austrich, the steinbock besides the birds. It was really worth to do it!!!!
We went there in the early morning round 8 o clock and had a good time there, from 10 o clock its getting really hot the last october days.... if you like to get out of the car, it is necessary to wear long trousers and good shoes. The grass is quite stingy.
We went there in the early morning round 8 o clock and had a good time there, from 10 o clock its getting really hot the last october days.... if you like to get out of the car, it is necessary to wear long trousers and good shoes. The grass is quite stingy.
Written November 10, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I'm now in the UK so can't say. Flamingos travel around a lot, so are unpredictable. I'vecseen them nesting near Sowa towns, but that was on a trip with a researcher.
Written March 26, 2023
What time of the year to visit Nata Bird Sanctuary to see Flamingos and Pelicans?
Written November 6, 2018
I was there in May and the water levels were quite high and lots of pelicans although no flamingos.
Written November 14, 2018
I think it was around 15$ or 5$ couldnt recollect. But not more than 15$
Written May 9, 2017
othataetsile
Gaborone, Botswana
Are camping sites available there and how do i get there using public transport?
Written September 8, 2016
There is Nata Lodge nearby and they have camping
Written September 9, 2016
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