The dead trees
Standing in the water.
EinfachFrankfurt1955 — CC BY-SA 4.0 · David Livingstone — Public domain · Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, NASA Johnson Space Center — Public domain
Lake Ngami is a seasonal lake in northern Botswana, north of the Kalahari Desert, whose water never reaches the sea. It is filled by the Taughe River, flowing from the western side of the Okavango Delta, and it is one of the scattered remnants of ancient Lake Makgadikgadi and an important home for birds and wildlife in flood years. The explorer David Livingstone visited in 1849 and described it as about 130 km long and 30 km wide. Charles John Andersson published a book about it in 1856, and other European expeditions passed through. It has shrunk dramatically since about 1890, and its size now changes from year to year with the delta's water. A methane lake on Saturn's moon Titan is named after it. In flood years you see wide water with bare dead trees standing in it, grassland around it where cattle graze, and flocks of birds. In dry years you may find little more than a dusty plain, so the view is not guaranteed. The lake lies outside the green delta, so the land around it looks far drier. It is 84 km in a straight line from Maun, so a day trip is possible, but ask in town first about this year's water level. Tracks near the shore may need a 4x4. Bring binoculars, water and a hat, as there are few services. Respect local grazing land and cattle, and keep your distance from animals.
Standing in the water.
Flocks in flood years.
Livingstone and Andersson.
Southwest of the Okavango Delta, northern Botswana
No, it depends on the delta's water, so ask in Maun first.
Yes if the water is good, though you may need a 4x4.