Makgadikgadi Pans
— Makgadikgadi Salt Pan —
Stark beauty
“Makgadikgadi Pans, one of the largest salt flats in the world, is a vast, otherworldly landscape, stretching over 16,000 square kilometers, and is the remnants of an ancient super lake that once covered much of the region. The Makgadikgadi Pans offer a unique and surreal experience, where the horizon seems to stretch infinitely, and the silence of the salt flats is almost palpable.
During the dry season, the pans become a shimmering expanse of white salt crust, creating a strikingly stark and beautiful contrast against the deep blue sky. This seemingly barren terrain is deceptive, however, as it transforms dramatically with the arrival of the rainy season. The seasonal rains breathe life into the pans, attracting thousands of migratory birds, including flamingos, and creating temporary wetlands that draw large herds of wildebeest and zebra, followed closely by predators like lions and cheetahs.
Exploring the Makgadikgadi Pans is a journey like no other. Whether you’re quad biking across the endless salt flats, walking with the San people and learning about their ancient culture, or enjoying a night under the stars in one of the planet’s darkest skies, the pans offer a sense of adventure and discovery. The sheer scale and stark beauty of this unique landscape provide a sense of awe and wonder and the profound silence of the desert will stay with you long after you leave.”
MAKGADIKGADI PANS
The largest salt pan in the world, set over almost 10,000 square miles in Botswana’s northeast dry savannahs. During the dry season, explore by quad bike or ride a horse over the lunar-like landscape.
Natural Selection operates two premier lodges in the Makgadikgadi Pans. At Jack’s Camp, stylish and spacious safari tents are decorated with furnishings reminiscent of 1940s colonial times, while San Camp is beautifully designed with classic white tents, has 360 degree views of the stunning salt pans, innovative dining options, and its own yoga and meditation pavilion. Discover remote archeological sites and enchanting 5000 year-old Baobab trees, breathe in the peaceful Kalahari while on guided bushmen walks or as you dine under the starry sky. The camps here invite guests to experience the Kalahari through the eyes of a meerkat through their Meerkat Adventure and habituation program, where these curious creatures are so used to human interaction that you might find one snuggling up next to you or even climbing atop your head!
Jack’s Camp
San Camp
WHEN TO GO
Botswana is a year-round destination, but ideal times to visit depend on preferred activities:
June - October is the best time to visit the Okavango Delta, when the floodplains fill with water from the Okavango River, but it’s the dry season, without rains. However during this time visitors will get the peak of the inundation and be able to experience the Okavangoes unique water activities at their best. This is also a good time to visit the Makgadikgadi Salt Pan to see it as a shimmering white desert, when you can bike, quad, and sleep out on the dry earth under the stars. September and October is the best time for dry season game viewing as animals are drawn to the last water reserves. It can also be extremely hot, but you’re rewarded by the absence of tourists as the height of the season has passed.
By contrast, the rains bring about a green season from November to April. This is the ideal time to visit the Makgadikgadi and the Kalahari region, when the flooded salt pans draw flocks of flamingos and other migratory species, and you can see the famous zebra migration from the outskirts. In the delta this time of year offers excellent birding with the return of the summer migrants, while mammals are giving birth and offering visitors a chance to be wowed by babies of all species This is also the low season, with even fewer visitors in an already less-discovered destination. Finally, the evening thunder clouds make this season the best for photography, offering moody skies and fresh bright days.
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