PANDAMATENGA
Panda Rest Camp
Pandamatenga is a small village in sorghum and mielie country. If you’re looking for a place to stay close to the tar road, Panda Rest Camp will do nicely. Camping P80 (R105) per adult; P40 (R53) per child under 12. Twin-sleeper rondavel P680 (R893) per night.
There’s also a restaurant serving pizzas, a bar and a swimming pool. GPS: S18.53623 E25.62870 Contact: 00 267 716 222 68 (Angie); pandarestcamp@ yahoo.com
Wildtrack Safaris Eco Lodge
This small lodge is a real find. It’s about 7 km from Pandamatenga, on the border with Zimbabwe. Animals drink from the waterhole in front of the lodge and you can sometimes hear lions roaring at night. The lodge offers full- day tours to Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe, and tours of the Kazuma and Sibuya forest reserves.
B&B from P960 (R1 261) per person sharing (until the end of October 2016). Off-peak rates: B&B P600 (R788) per person sharing. Special offer: Book for three nights and get an extra night free. Make sure to say you’re South African to qualify for these rates. GPS: S18.51056 E25.64862 Contact: 00 267 74 600 842;
wildtrack-safaris.com Restaurant, bar and swimming pool on the premises. GPS: S20.22420 E26.26769 Contact: 00 267 620 0070;
natalodge.com
Elephant Sands
This spot is 53 km north of Nata and it’s popular because it’s sometimes home to hordes of elephants. During the dry season they flock to the camp where there is a permanent water supply.
Camping P90 (R118) per adult; P40 (R53) per child under 12. Safari tent P810 (R1 064) per night for two people; P930 (R1 221) per night for four. There’s a restaurant on site that serves a good buffet, and a bar.
Take note: Although Elephant Sands is close to the tar road, there’s a stretch of sandy road to the lodge. Don’t worry, someone will come to your aid if you get stuck. GPS: S19.74935 E26.07130 Contact: 00 267 73 445 162 (Sarah); elephantsands.com and day outings to Makgadikgadi and Nxai Pan can be arranged. GPS: S20.20944 E25.25794 Contact: 00 267 621 2220 (Shayna); gwetalodge.co.za