Close to 73 pairs of feet traversed the cold pans of Makgadikgadi in a bitter sweet experience of an arduous exhilarating walk. Many started the walk with mixed reactions; while some even toyed with the idea of quitting the march before it started.

Our walk was launched at the dry village of Mosu, located South of Sua Pan – the Eastern half of Makgadikgadi Pan, where we were warmly welcomed by the area’s Chief. While gathering around a bonfire, the village Chief taught us about the village and the plains before telling us about all the activities to unfold before us the next day.

Still filled with the salty soils village amazement, we lodged 2km away from the interiors of Mosu where we placed our comfortable beds on the plains of the salt pans with the beauty of the stars overlooking our tents through the night. The following morning came with an adventure of our lives, where we were expected to travel almost half of our 100km milestone. We were to embark on a 48 km walk to Lekhubu Island, some of us it was our first long stroll.

While first timers were dragging themselves 48 kilometers to the islands, a journey which started in the early hours of the morning, regular walkers embarked the dry surface at a faster pace. While trying to brave on and keep up, I walked a little faster towards the many backs that faced me and marched against the heels kicking white soil towards my face. It was also a bit scary as one walks across the pans towards what looks like approaching an earth dead end.

On the flip side I was captivated by nature’s offering as I gazed the unusual beauty of the sun emerging from below the surface of the plain. The strange sunset experience was not enough for my trickled imagination; I was now walking as if one is on a trance or some dreamy sensation. I began to see strange things as if I am delusional. Juxta visuals of cattle grazing ahead were coming into my sight and what looked like brown soil.

Someone had to wake me up from my sleep walk and told me that the cattle I saw were trees on the other side. As I was looking forward to my encounter with the brownish soil, not the white surface we were walking on, I was disappointed when I was told that my eyes were playing games with my mind-it as it was actually scotched grass.

While waking up from my adventurous hallucinations, the walk was now becoming an eyesore as I began to march on in exhaust. My lower limbs became stiff, knees shaky and weaker-the walk was now a thorn on my flesh. Just after the 6.5 km of the 48 km, a quad bike from the organizers’ emergency team came to my rescue as it carried me back to Mosu. I returned with much anguish as did not finish my first biggest adventure. A journey to Lekhubu was awaiting and I was carried from the Mosu camp to the precious island situated inside the white salt pans.

Though I failed to brave on the other day, that 6.5km lap was akin to my ‘training’ because I then felt ready and propelled to stride the next 18 kilometers challenge that was on offer, being from Lekhubu to the historical sites of the area. Lekhubu Island was the Creator’s best show; a small slice of scotched vegetation and hills, something that we never came across while walking on the white dry plains. We also heard of the animal life that could be seen in rarity on the island, Lekhubu is also said to be a renowned breeding ground for migratory birds such as flamingos.

The following day while taking my 18 kilometer expedition from Lekhubu, I walked with a more lifted spirit while we encountered some of the historical places in the Makgadikgadi Pans. We even met the world’s second largest tree, Mowana (baobab) as we passed with the guidance of our friendly tour guide Lebogang Bathusang.

The Stone Wall

The most interesting place that we sighted on our journey was a strange wall built with rocks on a granite hill, erected in the Southern African history of the Mfecane wars. It is said that during the times of the Ndebele’s King Mzilikazi who was fleeing away from Shaka Zulu and conquered other tribes he found along the way, some kings were forced to build walls or barriers as protection against the fierce and wrath of the Ndebele nation. We were told that is how the wall in the granite hill came to be.

Another exotic feature that captured my attention was a cave said to be sacred and local people visit it while looking for a spiritual encounter with their ancestors. I was curious to enter into the cave which some of my walk mates said it could have spirits inside it and tales have been told that people who came near the cave went into oblivion.

Makgadikgadi Pans annual walk

Makgadikgadi Pans walk was made with the aim to raise money by Y-Care Charitable Trust. 80% of funds collected will be allocated towards charity. Every year, walkers brave more than100km from Mosu Village in the south end of Makgadikgadi to the historical site called Lekhubu Island. The walkers take on other historical site visits in the country like the Tsodilo Hills, Tswapong Hills, Domboshaba and other historical sites in the country.

Botswana Telecommunications (BTC), Diamond Training Company (DTC), First National Bank (FNB), Botswana Oil were amongst the corporates who took on the journey. The walk was sponsored by Babkock, Medswana, Kolobeng Spring Water and Imara.