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Botswana

Makgadikgadi Salt Pans

PLAN MY TRIP

Located in the middle of the dry savanna of north-eastern Botswana, Makgadikgadi Pan is one of the largest salt flats in the world.

The enormous salt pan is all that is left of Lake Makgadikgadi which once covered an area larger than Switzerland, but has since dried up several thousand years ago. The pan is southeast of the Okavango Delta and surrounded by the Kalahari Desert and cover 6,200-square miles. Makgadikgadi is actually made up of several salt pans with sandy desert in between with the three largest being Sowa, Nwetwe, and Nxai. Most of the year, the pans are dry, salty clay crusts yet during the rainy season, they become covered with water and grass making them a haven for wildlife. The main water source is the Nata River. The pans themselves are salty desert whose only plant life is a thin layer of blue-green algae but are ringed by salt marshes and are home to the unusual baobab trees including the famous Chapman’s Baobab.

During most of the year very little wildlife can live here due to the strong hot winds and only salt water. However, following the rains the area becomes an important habitat for migrating animals including wildebeest and one of Africa’s biggest zebra populations. Of course, their natural predators like the black-maned Kalahari lions, hyenas, and leopards are close behind. The wet season also brings migratory birds to the pans such as ducks, geese, and great white pelicans.

Moreover, the Sowa pan is the home of one of only two breeding populations of greater flamingos in southern Africa. During the dry season, the only birds found here are ostriches, chestnut-banded plover, and Kittlitz’s plover. There are also several reptiles living in the pans such as tortoises, rock monitor, snakes, and lizards including the endemic Makgadikgadi spiny agama. Habituated meerkats can be visited year-round.

Makgadikgadi offers plenty of exciting activities. During the rainy season, when there are lots of migrating herds and their predators around, game drives are a popular pastime. The local lodges and safari camps offer daily game drives in 4WD vehicles conducted by an expert guide. For an even more unique and authentic experience, nature walks with the local San Bushmen are the best way to learn about the flora and the fauna of the area as well as tracking skills. Once the water dries up, the real fun begins. The flat salt pans are perfect for quad bikes tours. These adrenaline-pumping adventures can be just for a day or longer with camping involved. Horseback safaris also take advantage of the flat pans, perfect for galloping to picturesque places like Baines’ Baobabs.

Coming soon!

Safari Camps
Points of Interest
Hotels & Resorts

Coming soon!

Journeys
1 of 10
2 of 10
3 of 10
4 of 10
5 of 10
6 of 10
7 of 10
8 of 10
9 of 10
10 of 10

Botswana

Makgadikgadi Salt Pans

PLAN MY TRIP

Located in the middle of the dry savanna of north-eastern Botswana, Makgadikgadi Pan is one of the largest salt flats in the world.

The enormous salt pan is all that is left of Lake Makgadikgadi which once covered an area larger than Switzerland, but has since dried up several thousand years ago. The pan is southeast of the Okavango Delta and surrounded by the Kalahari Desert and cover 6,200-square miles. Makgadikgadi is actually made up of several salt pans with sandy desert in between with the three largest being Sowa, Nwetwe, and Nxai. Most of the year, the pans are dry, salty clay crusts yet during the rainy season, they become covered with water and grass making them a haven for wildlife. The main water source is the Nata River. The pans themselves are salty desert whose only plant life is a thin layer of blue-green algae but are ringed by salt marshes and are home to the unusual baobab trees including the famous Chapman’s Baobab.

During most of the year very little wildlife can live here due to the strong hot winds and only salt water. However, following the rains the area becomes an important habitat for migrating animals including wildebeest and one of Africa’s biggest zebra populations. Of course, their natural predators like the black-maned Kalahari lions, hyenas, and leopards are close behind. The wet season also brings migratory birds to the pans such as ducks, geese, and great white pelicans.

Moreover, the Sowa pan is the home of one of only two breeding populations of greater flamingos in southern Africa. During the dry season, the only birds found here are ostriches, chestnut-banded plover, and Kittlitz’s plover. There are also several reptiles living in the pans such as tortoises, rock monitor, snakes, and lizards including the endemic Makgadikgadi spiny agama. Habituated meerkats can be visited year-round.

Makgadikgadi offers plenty of exciting activities. During the rainy season, when there are lots of migrating herds and their predators around, game drives are a popular pastime. The local lodges and safari camps offer daily game drives in 4WD vehicles conducted by an expert guide. For an even more unique and authentic experience, nature walks with the local San Bushmen are the best way to learn about the flora and the fauna of the area as well as tracking skills. Once the water dries up, the real fun begins. The flat salt pans are perfect for quad bikes tours. These adrenaline-pumping adventures can be just for a day or longer with camping involved. Horseback safaris also take advantage of the flat pans, perfect for galloping to picturesque places like Baines’ Baobabs.

Coming soon!

Safari Camps
Points of Interest
Hotels & Resorts

Coming soon!

Journeys