NGAMI LAKE
This large lake located south of the Okavango Delta is home to thousands of migratory birds during the rainy season.
Located south of the Okavango Delta, this large lake was discovered in 1849 by David Livingstone and his two travelling companions, Oswell and Murray. At the time, it was a large, relatively deep body of water washed by one of the branches of the Thamalakane River. On its shores, the lake was home to the first Tswana capital, before it was successively established at Toteng and then at Maun. When the three explorers arrived, the chief of the clan Kgosi Letsholatebe immediately offered to trade ivory for weapons. Numerous exchanges took place and Lake Ngami became a major trading and hunting ground for elephants and was finally completely deserted by game at the end of the 19th century. Nowadays, livestock has replaced wild animals and the place is nothing more than a huge dusty basin invaded by cows and goats. After many and frequent water level fluctuations, the lake has indeed completely dried up, as has the Thaoge River, one of the arms of the Okavango. Lake Ngami is therefore no longer of major interest, except during the rainy season, when it becomes partially covered with water. Flamingos, pelicans, storks, herons, ibis, ducks, geese... thousands of migratory birds come here to nest, depending on the size of the floods. We do not recommend an excursion from Maun for the sole purpose of seeing this site. It is however a relatively pleasant break on the way to Ghanzi or the Panhandle, especially during the summer season.
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