This small village at the crossroads for routes north and west provides an important refuelling and stop over service to travellers to Kasane or Maun. Nata is 190km from Francistown and 300km from both Kasane and Maun. It is principally a cattle-farming area but you should allow several days to explore this fascinating area.

The nearby Nata Bird Sanctuary is a community project and a must to visit - 165 bird species including flamingoes and pelicans are common. Sowa Pan with its unique beauty and beaches of rolled quartz pebbles also offers good birding opportunities. Sowa Spit - Botswana's soda ash industry mines on part of the pan. Eastern Ntwetwe Pan with its fascinating landscapes and beautiful sunsets is also worth visiting.

Travel to the pans is by four-wheel drive vehicles only. Nata basketry is available for purchase at the village. Excellent accommodation is available a short distance east of the village.

One can stay at the Nata Lodge, or, if you want a really fantastic experience, haul yourself down to Elephant Sands (which is about 53km north from Nata) where you can enjoy a gourmet breakfast amid the pitter patter of elephant feet while they are taking a morning stroll through the camp, and can be seen drinking water at the water holes or even the swimming pool!