Destinations / Botswana / The Makgadikgadi Pans
The Makgadikgadi Pans
Botswana's Salt Pan Wilderness
Once the bed of an ancient lake, the Makgadikgadi is one of the largest salt pan systems on earth. In the dry season, its blinding white surface stretches to the horizon.When the rains come, it draws great herds of zebra and wildebeest. Meerkats, ancient baobabs and the knowledge of the San people make it unlike anywhere else in Africa.
A Landscape of Extremes
Endless Salt Pans
The vast Ntwetwe and Sua pans create a surreal landscape of silence and space, where the night sky is among the clearest in Africa.
The Zebra Migration
With the summer rains, thousands of zebra and wildebeest move onto the grasslands, followed by lions and other predators.
Meerkats & San Heritage
Habituated meerkats let you sit among them, and walks with San guides reveal how people have survived in the Kalahari for thousands of years.
Unforgettable Experiences
Silence, space and the unexpected.
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Quad Biking on the Pans
Ride across the shimmering salt pans to a remote spot for a sundowner.
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Sleep-Outs on the Pans
Spend a night under the stars on the open pans, far from any light.
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Meerkat Encounters
Sit quietly as habituated meerkats go about their morning, sometimes using you as a lookout.
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Walks with the San
Learn traditional tracking, foraging and bushcraft from San guides.
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The Zebra Migration
Watch thousands of zebra and wildebeest graze the green plains in the rains.
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Game Drives
Search for brown hyenas, lions and desert-adapted wildlife.
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Baines' Baobabs
Visit the ancient baobab trees of Nxai Pan, painted by Thomas Baines in 1862.
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Scenic Flights
See the scale and patterns of the pans from above.
When to visit
The Makgadikgadi has two distinct personalities.
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The Dry Season. The pans are dry and accessible, ideal for quad biking and sleep-outs. Zebra and wildebeest gather along the Boteti River.
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The Green Season. The rains transform the grasslands, bringing the zebra migration, newborn animals and, in wetter years, flamingos on the pans.
Premier Stays
Experience the extraordinary landscapes of the Makgadikgadi.
Iconic Desert Camps
Legendary luxury tented camps set on the vast salt pans, offering an extraordinary sense of space, exclusivity and desert adventure.
Wilderness & Riverside Camps
Relaxed safari camps offering a wonderful mix of wildlife, cultural encounters and the unique landscapes of the Makgadikgadi.
Pairs Perfectly with…
Because the best safaris rarely stop at one destination.
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The Okavango Delta
Contrast the desert with Botswana's waterwilderness for a classic desert-and-delta journey.
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Sossusvlei
Contrast the Delta's channels with Namibia's towering red dunes for a classic desert-and-delta safari.
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Victoria Falls
Witness the thundering spectacle of one of the world's greatest waterfalls, just a short flight away.
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Linyanti & Savuti
Add Botswana's predator country and its great elephant herds.
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Cape Town
End among mountains, vineyards and the Atlantic, in one of the world's most beautiful cities.
Frequently Asked Questions
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May to October is best for quad biking and sleep-outs on the pans. November to April brings the zebra migration and green landscapes.
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Yes. The zebra and wildebeest typically move onto the grasslands with the summer rains and return to the Boteti River in the dry season.
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It is a short light-aircraft flight from Maun, often combined with the Okavango Delta. Luggage is limited to a soft-sided bag of around 44 lb (20 kg).
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Yes. Meerkats, San walks and quad biking (with age limits) make it one of Botswana's most memorable family destinations.
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We recommend two to three nights, ideally paired with the Okavango Delta.
