Nata Bird Sanctuary

The sanctuary covers around two hundred and thirty square kilometres at the northeastern corner of Sua Pan, and it was set up in 1993 by four surrounding villages who moved their cattle out to protect the birds. When the pan floods, which depends entirely on the rains, greater and lesser flamingos arrive in very large numbers to breed, along with pelicans, and the shallow water fills with birds. In a dry year there is white salt and almost nothing on it.

What you actually see

• The flamingos - greater and lesser flamingos in large numbers in flood years.
• The pelicans - great white pelicans using the shallows alongside them.
• The pan edge - the transition from grassland to open salt.
• The viewing platform - a raised deck over the pan at the sanctuary.

When to go

December to April, after good rains, is when the birds are present. In a poor rainfall year there may be no water and no birds at all. Asking at Nata before driving in saves a wasted trip.

Honest expectations

Everything depends on the rains and dry years deliver nothing; this is the single most common disappointment here. Facilities are basic and the tracks in are sandy. Birds are usually distant and binoculars are essential.

Nearby

Kubu Island is southwest across the pans, and Nata village is north.