Makgadikgadi: This place inspires crazy adventure
Thalefang Charles | Friday August 22, 2014 15:46
President Ian Khama wanted to quad bike and fly his power-chute over it. He does that every July during the Presidents Day holidays.
Dr Nomsa Mbere wanted to walk through it. She planned adventure walks for charity.
The Y-Care Charitable Trust brings many daring walkers here every year to attempt the 150km walk though these pans for charity. And they have since introduced a thrilling midnight walk under the full moon on these pans.
Jeremy Clarkson of BBC’s Top Gear together with his two co-presenters, James May and Richard Hammond, have attempted to cross it with cars. They bought second-hand cars in Francistown and drove through the “Makhadikhadi” as they called it, in 2007. Nobody has ever crossed these Pans with a car and some people doubt the authenticity of Top Gear’s claim that they actually “crossed” Makgadikgadi on vehicles.
Lets Sithole, local motivational speaker and thrill seeker wanted to cross Makgadikgadi with a bicycle. His solo expedition was cut short as the seemingly dry pans proved too wet for the weight of a bicycle. He turned back, defeated and pushing a heavy muddy bicycle.
Then the thrill seekers at Sky Dive Botswana wanted to sky dive on the Makgadikgadi. They teamed up with Botswana Tourism Organisation (BTO) in what they called Makgadikgadi Epic. It was the first international Sky Dive boogie in Botswana where dozens of skydivers converged at Makgadikgadi for three days of adventure.
The event was hosted at the Nata Sanctuary near the Nata village along the A31 road. Many people including Botswana’s adventure president, Khama, and Minister of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism, Tshekedi Khama turned up to witness these daredevils jump off airplanes. There were three airplanes, the famous (in skydiving circles) Atlas Angel, PAC 750 XL and CASA 235.
One of the visiting skydivers, Robbie Stewart from South Africa said Makgadikgadi is, “the most spectacular drop zone ever.” As it is the custom in skydiving, those who reached their 100th jump did their jump complete nude. The public and photographers were amazed to see men and women falling from the sky in their “birthday suits”.
The wintry August weather nearly spoiled the event as strong northeasterly winds caused blew away a number of weather breaks, throwing the event into disarray. This led to many people who wanted to do the tandem jumps failing to secure slots because there were also only two tandem masters.
But many spectators were not bothered. One spectator said, “Dilo tse tsa makgoa, nna rea loiwa boss, we came here to watch, not jump”. As someone who does not subscribe to this witchcraft belief, I was rather disappointed when my tandem jump was cancelled.
So together with our media entourage we decided to perform our own adventure jumps on the salt pan but without the airplane. We fooled around in front of the cameras and did the signature Boitumelo Jump, the Running Man and X jump.
Then we took a game drive to the spot where the Makgadikgadi flamingoes breed. We stopped on the way to watch as the breathtaking sunset. Makgadikgadi is famous for its majestic sunrises and sunsets. It is here where you experience the magic of a beautiful orange glowing ball-like sun literally rising from the east and later dipping into the western ground.
After skydiving, adventure walks, Boitumelo jumps, boat riding, quad biking, cycling and the disputed Top Gear cross-drive through the Makgadikgadi, I think these pans offers the best venue for the world famous Burning Man. Burning Man is an art event where participants converge in place to create art structures. But they depart one week later, leaving no trace after burning everything. That’s my Makgadikgadi inspired adventurous idea.