Makgadikgadi and Nxai Pan

Makgadikgadi and Nxai Pan National Parks are situated close to each other and fall under the greater Makgadikgadi Pan system. They offer incredible safari experiences with some very different sightings. From the zebra migration to the shy meerkats.

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Makgadikgadi Pans

One of the world’s largest salt pans, the Makgadikgadi Pans covers about 10,000 square km in nothing but salt. Some of the pans are enormous, others the size of small ponds. Around them are vast grasslands fringed with palm trees.

Visiting Makgadikgadi Pans in the dry season

The dry season, from April to October, is the desert as you know it. With a shimmering whiteness enveloping the scorched landscape, like a mirage floating over the crusted salt, you’ll spot nomadic herds in the distance as if an illusion. This is the time of year for whizzing across the pans on the back of a quad bike or horse. Or sleeping under the stars, and enjoying the pans in their most iconic, dazzling state.

Visiting Makgadikgadi Pans in the wet season

The pans flood after the rains. Immediately, the desert blooms. Attracting thousands of water birds to the shallow pools. The flamingos and pelicans flock to the salty waters. The animals of the plains, to the fresh grasses. The flamingos migrate from as far away as East Africa to filter the newly released nourishment and algae from the waters.

When the rains start to fall in November, the Makgadikgadi Pans are transformed into a time of plenty (even in the desert). The salt flats are turned into watery grasslands. Almost unrecognizable from the previous months. A layer of emerald green grass stretches out in every direction. Pink clouds of flamingo and flocks of migratory birds arrive to make their nests.

Zebra flood the Pans after migrating from the Okavango Delta/Moremi Game Reserve to the Makgadikgadi Pans. Closely accompanied by predators. They often follow the Boteti River. This is Botswana’s second major annual zebra migration. The zebras remain in the Makgadikgadi Pans for about 3 months – December/January to February/March.

The green season in the desert is one of Africa’s greatest unpredictable spectacles. This makes it a magical time to visit.

The safari activities are similar in these months, although you usually won’t travel as far. On many days, you can see the wildlife directly from your verandah! The green season continues until mid-April and corresponds with the off-season for tourism in Botswana. Making it a slightly cheaper time to travel.

It is advisable not to drive to Makgadikgadi in the rainy season due to the roads being inaccessible. But the spectacle is great to see from the air, so book a flight into this area.

Nxai Pan National Park

The Nxai Pan was once part of the great lake that covered central Botswana. Now they are mostly fossil pans, covered with good grasslands rather than salt. The Nxai National Park has two main pans, the Nxai Pan and the Kudiakam Pan in the south. It is north of Makgadikgadi Pans and 2578 km². The famous IMAX movie ‘Roar: Lions of the Kalahari’ was shot in the Nxai Pan National Park. During the dry season the roads are reasonably easy to travel on, but during the rainy season they become a challenge.

A visit to Nxai Pan will often include Baines Baobabs. This is seven large baobabs on the edge of the Kudiakam Pan. The trees are about 1000 years old and over 20 meters high. Thomas Baines painted the trees in 1862 and made them well known. Hence the trees were named after him. As the trees grow extremely slow, the stem circumference increases by 1mm a year, pictures and photographs of today depict virtually the same scene than 100 years ago.

Perhaps the focal point of Nxai Pan is the water hole that is only two kilometers from the entrance gate. In the midst of a large grassy plain, dotted with a few clumps of short umbrella thorn trees. Here, and within the mopane woodland, lion, giraffe, kudu, impala, ostrich, and large numbers of springbok are permanent residents. There is also a good population of jackals, bat-eared foxes, and numerous smaller creatures thrive. A fascinating bird life is drawn here too.

Visiting Nxai Pans in the dry season

The dry season in Nxai Pan National Park is from May to October. Characterized by sparse vegetation, clear skies, and dusty, arid landscapes. Wildlife heavily concentrates around the park’s permanent, artificial waterholes. Therefore, they are easier to see. The temperatures are cooler from May to August. Rising a bit thereafter but still more pleasant than the very hot summer/wet season.

Visiting Nxai Pans in the wet season

The wet season is from November to April (summer). Once the rains have started, gemsbok, elephant, and zebra migrate to the area. The Chobe to Nxai Pans zebra migration route is Africa’s longest land mammal migration at around 1000km return route. Where 20,000 and more zebras migrate from the Chobe in search of fresh grazing. They arrive late November/December. Zebras are present in thousands and drop their young at Nxai Pan. The northbound zebra migration journey starts around February.

Most animals give birth in the rainy season, a lot of mothers and their young can be seen in the salt pans. Springbuck usually calf around November/December and zebras in March/April. The abundance of vulnerable newborns naturally draws significant predator activity to the area. During this time, you are highly likely to see Nxai Pan’s resident Kalahari lions, cheetahs, and spotted hyenas hunting.

Makgadikgadi and Nxai Accommodation

Makgadikgadi and Nxai Pans offer a wide range of accommodation options, catering to various preferences and budgets. Ensuring there’s something for everyone. Some of the camps offer quad biking expeditions and horse riding safaris. Sleep in the Pans for something unusual. Staying in the Makgadikgadi and Nxai Pans is wonderful for families in particular.

Horse riding in Makgadikgadi Pans — Horse riding with Zebra in Makgadikgadi Pans

We have listed some of the best Makgadikgadi and Nxai Pan accommodation options here. If you don’t find a specific lodge, please just let us know and we can quote for any accommodation.