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Nata
Located in
Botswana :: Makgadikgadi
:: Nata
Category:
Places :: Town Small
Whether heading north to Kasane, west to Maun, south towards Francistown, or east to Zimbabwe, Nata village is a convenient stopover located at the junction of the A3 and A33. It's situated on the eastern edge of Sua (Sowa) Pan, the largest in the Makgadikgadi pans series. Not surprisingly, the Sowa means 'salt'.
The village is situated on the main road between South Africa and Zimbabwe and is a popular stopover for trucks. The drivers frequent the local bars and escort services, contributing to the spread of HIV/AIDS which continues to have a devastating impact on the village.
In 2006 Nata became the first village in Botswana to have its own website (http://natavillage.org) which has brought attention to the needs of the people living here. Contributions made through the website are managed by a non-profit organisation and funds are used to improve the quality of life of the local people.
| Address : | Nata, Makgadikgadi, Botswana | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Cellphone Reception : | Good | Main Cellular Network : | Mascom. Orange and Bemobile |
| Police Station : | Yes | Police Telephone : | +267 621 1222 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Doctor : | Yes | Doctor Telephone : | +267 71 771 765 |
| Petrol : | Yes | Petrol Type : | LRP/ ULP | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diesel : | Yes |
| Towing Service : | Yes | Towing Service Telephone : | +267 72 198 589 / +267 71 603 035 |
|---|
| Facilities : | Shops, General Dealer, Bank, ATM, Lodging, Camping, Butchery, Bakery, Liquor, Restaurant, Airstrip, Tyre Repair, Mechanical Repair | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Game Viewing, Game Drives, Night Drives, Quad Bikes, 4WD Trails, Tours and Excursions, Picnics, Guided Walks, Fishing, Swimming, Bird Watching |
ATM:
Only Master and Visa cards work at the ATM, provided by Barclays Bank.
FUEL:
There are three fuel stops in town and they all accept Visa or Master card payments.
HEALTHCARE:
The contact number for the Nata Clinic is +267 621 1244. There is only one private doctor in the village - in case of emergency you can contact Dr Joseph Kaseba on his cell phone +267 71 771 765.
RESTAURANTS:
The Wimpy Restaurant in town has closed down but travellers can still pop into North Gate Lodge or Nata Lodge for a scrumptious breakfast.
ROAD INFO:
The good tarred road between Francistown and Kazungula has been damaged during the extensive rains of 2017 and 2018, and travellers should be on the lookout for some minor potholes that have not been repaired yet.
SHOPS:
There are no department stores like Pepstores in Nata.
The Choppies Supermarket on the A3 is well stocked with supplies and fresh meat. The Easy Tea Supermarket has some basic supplies and frozen meat, while vacuum-packed meat can be pre-ordered from Fourie’s Butchery for collection on arrival.
(Fourie’s Butchery: +267 744 53598 / +267 621 1226, email Belinda Horn on [email protected])
TOW-IN SERVICES:
Contact James for Tow ins or Chris +267 72 198 589 or Kenny’s Breakdown +267 71 603 035.
The presence of flamingos on Sua Pan is seasonal and travellers are advised to enquire at Nata
Bird Sanctuary or Nata Lodge about water levels and migratory birds, before travelling here for this reason. But even
without the flamingos, a sunset drive on Sua Pan is a magical experience – book through Nata Lodge, this venue
also offers large, shaded campsites. There’s black cotton soil in the sanctuary, so in the rainy season, roads can be
treacherous.
If you prefer elephants to flamingos, Elephant Sands Lodge, 55km north of Nata, has a waterhole right in front of its
restaurant, the former is frequented daily by herds of elephant.
Travelling north from Nata, elephant are often seen crossing the tarred A33 leading to Pandamatenga - in Botswana,
wild animals really do roam free on tarred public roads!
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