Botswana
Central Botswana (Kalahari Basin)
National Park
~12,000 km²
Wildlife
A PROLOGUE
The Makgadikgadi Pans form one of the largest salt pan systems in the world, remnants of an ancient lake that once covered much of northern Botswana. Protected within Makgadikgadi Pans and Nxai Pan National Parks, the area transforms dramatically with the seasons, from a cracked, shimmering white desert in the dry months to shallow wetlands after the summer rains.
When water returns, the pans draw one of southern Africa’s great wildlife migrations, as zebra and wildebeest move across the plains in search of fresh grazing, followed by predators. Flamingos gather in vast numbers on the flooded pans, while the surrounding grasslands support gemsbok, ostrich, and other species adapted to this stark, open landscape.
Pan System Area
Established
Zebra (Migration)
Large herds cross the pans each year during the seasonal migration.
Migrates alongside zebra in search of fresh grazing after the rains.
Gathers in large numbers on the flooded pans to breed.
Free-roaming ostriches are a common sight across the open grasslands.
Accommodations
Botswana
San Camp is a seasonal camp of striking simplicity: six white canvas tents pitched directly on the fringe of the Makgadikgadi salt pans, facing an entirely empty horizon.
Operating only through the dry months, the camp trades conventional safari comforts for a sense of space that few places can match. Activities centre on the pans themselves, from quad-biking to sleeping out beneath the stars.
Botswana
Set among acacia and palm trees on Brown Hyena Island at the edge of the Makgadikgadi Pans, Camp Kalahari is the most relaxed and accessible of the pans camps.
Canvas tents furnished with Afro-Victorian touches sit beneath the trees, with a swimming pool and shaded lounge at the centre. Activities mirror its more expensive neighbours: meerkats, quad-biking and walks with San guides.
Botswana
Jack’s Camp is a Botswana institution, its green canvas tents and Persian rugs evoking the golden age of expedition travel on the fringe of the Makgadikgadi Pans.
The camp’s setting is unlike any other in the country: a vast, shimmering salt pan that was once one of the world’s largest lakes. Activities range from quad-biking across the crust to time spent with habituated meerkats and walks with San guides.
Location
Most nationalities receive South African entry on arrival; Zimbabwe issues an e-visa or visa on arrival. We confirm requirements for your passport.
Low-risk malaria areas — anti-malarials advised. No mandatory vaccinations from most countries; consult your travel clinic before departure.
South African Rand; US Dollars are widely used around Victoria Falls. Cards are accepted in cities; carry small USD for tips.
Warm days and cool mornings on safari in the dry season. Pack layers — early game drives can be cold even when afternoons are hot.
Neutral, breathable clothing, a warm layer, sun protection and binoculars. Soft bags are required on light aircraft, with strict weight limits.
Wi-Fi at all hotels and lodges, though deliberately gentle in the bush. Power is 230V; bring a universal adaptor.
The practical Guide
A quick visit combining a quad-bike or 4x4 pan crossing with sunset over the open salt flats.
Per Person
A relaxed itinerary combining pan excursions, game drives, and time with the region's seasonal wildlife migration.
Per Person
An extended stay pairing the pans with nearby Nxai Pan National Park and its wildlife-rich grasslands.
Per Person
Moremi Game Reserve covers around 5,000 square kilometers on the eastern side of the Okavango Delta in northern Botswana. Established in 1963, it was one of the first protected areas in Africa created by a local community, the Batawana people, in response to declining wildlife populations from unregulated hunting.
Moremi combines the wetland habitats of the Okavango Delta with dry mopane woodland and open savanna, supporting an exceptional diversity of wildlife. The reserve offers strong sightings of the Big Five, alongside significant populations of wild dog, and is considered one of the most beautiful and game-rich reserves in southern Africa.
The Makgadikgadi Pans form one of the largest salt pan systems in the world, remnants of an ancient lake that once covered much of northern Botswana. Protected within Makgadikgadi Pans and Nxai Pan National Parks, the area transforms dramatically with the seasons, from a cracked, shimmering white desert in the dry months to shallow wetlands after the summer rains.
When water returns, the pans draw one of southern Africa’s great wildlife migrations, as zebra and wildebeest move across the plains in search of fresh grazing, followed by predators. Flamingos gather in vast numbers on the flooded pans, while the surrounding grasslands support gemsbok, ostrich, and other species adapted to this stark, open landscape.
Chobe National Park covers around 11,700 square kilometers in northern Botswana, and is home to what is widely considered the largest concentration of elephant in Africa, with an estimated population exceeding 120,000. The park stretches from the Chobe riverfront in the north to the Savuti and Linyanti regions further south and west.
The Chobe riverfront is famous for its evening boat cruises, offering close-up views of elephant herds, hippo pods, buffalo, and a wide range of birdlife gathering along the water’s edge. Beyond the river, drier savanna and mopane woodland support lion, leopard, and one of the richest concentrations of wildlife in southern Africa.
The Okavango Delta is one of the world’s largest inland deltas, formed where the Okavango River spreads across the sands of the Kalahari Desert in northern Botswana rather than reaching the sea. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the delta’s seasonal floodwaters transform the dry Kalahari into a mosaic of channels, lagoons, and islands each year.
This unique wetland ecosystem supports an exceptional concentration of wildlife, including elephant, lion, leopard, buffalo, hippo and Nile crocodile, alongside hundreds of bird species. The delta is best explored by traditional mokoro canoe, motorboat, and light aircraft, offering a very different safari experience from the dry savanna reserves elsewhere in the region.
TOURS & SAFARIS
How it works
01
Share where you long to go and what would make it unforgettable .
02
A tailor-made itinerary matched to the right camps and seasons.
03
We shape every detail until the journey feels entirely your own.
04
A dedicated team is with you from landing to homecoming.
GUEST REVIEWS
answers
They are one of the largest salt pan systems in the world, the remnants of a vast ancient lake that once covered much of northern Botswana.
During the dry season the pans are largely barren, but after the summer rains they support a major zebra and wildebeest migration, along with flamingos and other water birds.
The dry season (May-October) is best for pan crossings and stark desert scenery, while December to April offers the seasonal wildlife migration and green landscapes.
Yes, guided quad bike and 4×4 excursions onto the pans are popular, particularly in the dry season when the surface is firm and cracked.
The park is accessible by road from Maun or Nata, or via light aircraft to nearby airstrips serving the surrounding safari camps.
Yes, the pans are commonly combined with the Okavango Delta and Chobe National Park as part of a wider Botswana safari circuit.
Sun protection, plenty of water, a hat, and layers for cool desert evenings are all recommended, given the area’s open, exposed terrain.
