One of the most stark, stunning and iconic areas in Botswana, the Makgadikgadi & Nxai Pan region is situated in the Central District of the country, south-east of the Okavango Delta and consists of four distinct areas. The area includes the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans, which are the world’s largest, with the 6,500 km2 Ntwetwe Pan and the somewhat smaller Sua Pan To the North lies Nxai Pan National Park, and the Makgadikgadi National Park to the south-west, with the Boteti River on its western boundary providing a crucial water-source for the area’s wildlife.
The network of salt pans found in Botswana’s eastern regions are a striking physical feature and some of the largest of their kind in the world. The pans, huge, flat expanses of hot, sun-blasted terrain and fringed by vegetated islands and peninsulas, were once part of a great super lake that covered much of northern Botswana. This desolate landscape offers nothing but sand and sky yet its eerily silent fossil beaches and stunted red baobab trees leave an impression on every visitor. This area offers a unique wilderness experience full of adventure. Do not expect huge herds of animals but rather expect the unexpected, everything is interesting here especially when interpreted by the local Bushmen guides of the area. The night skies are breathtaking during the winter months with stars from horizon-to-horizon. Following the summer rains, the area is host to a spectacular migration of zebra and wildebeest.
Although Nxai Pan was also once part of the great super lake, it is quite different in character to the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans. It consists of a series of grass covered fossil pans dotted with islands of umbrella acacia, supporting a good variety and density of game and birdlife. In the drier months, the desert landscape is dry and harsh. Game viewing at the waterhole is excellent where you can see a range of both predators and grazers alike. After the summer rains from December to April, the landscape changes: colours are bright and vivid as the dust is washed away and hundreds of wild flowers begin to appear and the bush turns a brilliant green. The pans are once again filled with large grazing herds and, as always, the predators are nearby and thrive in this time of plenty. An additional attraction in the area are Baines Baobabs, a cluster of Baobabs on the shores of Kudiakam Pan, a photographer’s paradise offering a visually stunning sight with the vast pans contrasting against the giant ancient trees.
The Pans are stunning year round and the difference between the dry season and the green is incredible. To see the pans completely dry is brilliant but they really come to life after the first rains with the mass migration of Zebra coming from the north of the country for the nutritious vegetation that suddenly appears.
The Pans can easily be accessed by road from the capital Maun or alternatively with one of the scheduled light aircraft flights that operate throughout the country.
The activities available in the Pans include; Game drives, walking safaris, horseback safaris and quad-biking.
Top Pans camps
Nxai Pan Camp
Nxai Pan, Botswana
Perfect for a pans experience that is second to none, a lovely little camp that focusses on the safari experience just like its sister properties in the Delta and Linyanti Areas.
San Camp
Makgadikgadi, Botswana
Perfect for something very different, a great mix of safari, unusual experiences and a relaxing atmosphere to unwind during a longer safari itinerary.
Meno A Kwena
Makgadikgadi, Botswana
Perfect for a unique experience in the pans, owned and run by an incredibly experienced and interesting guide, this property makes for a real adventure.
Leroo Le Tau
Boteti River/Makgadikgadi, Botswana
Perfect for a exploring an area of Botswana that is rarely visited, the Boteti River is is the main outlet for the waters of the Delta and the only water source in the area.
Top Botswana itineraries
Botswana Lodge and Mobile
Classic Safari
Duration: 10 nights
Guide price: £3,950
