The Salt Pans - Makadikgadi & Nxai
Tim says – The Makgadikgadi Pans and Nxai Pan might be near neighbours, but I love the contrast between them. Each offers its own unique experiences — from the vast, silent salt flats of Makgadikgadi to the wildlife-filled, acacia-studded plains of Nxai. It’s perfect for anyone wanting to get off the beaten track and discover a different side of Botswana.
The salt pans of Makgadikgadi and Nxai offer very different experiences to each other, however both offer the chance to experience areas very few will ever go. The sense of space and scale that the vast emptiness of these desert areas provide is in complete contrast to the Okavango Delta’s mix of forest, waterways and grasslands, and as a result the safari viewing experience is very different too.
The Makgadigadi Pans are home to some of Botswana’s lesser known residents, such as the Brown Hyena and even migratory flamingo flocks, whilst the undoubted stars of the show are the habituated meerkat colonies who can be visited as they explore their dry desert environment. Stretching over a 10,0000 square kilometre expanse of the Kalahari Desert, the lodges here give guests the opportunity to explore an ancient landscape (with stone age artifacts still strewn across the landscape), with unique experiences such as desert sleepouts, quadbiking and even horse riding on offer alongside game drives to see the desert adapted wildlife.
Whilst the Makgadikgadi region is a year round destination, neighbouring Nxai Pan’s wildlife depends on the flow of the Boteti River, which attracts the annual zebra migration to feed on the lush grasses during the green season. Here, game drives, nature walks and stargazing combine to make a trip truly memorable – as do the combination of zebra, wildebeest and elephant alongside large lion prides during the months of November – late March.
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Suggested Itineraries
All of the itineraries that you see on our website are just a sample of what is possible, every holiday that we operate is completely tailor-made to your requirements, likes and dislikes. Just let us know your ideas when getting in touch and we will craft your plans around these, get your feedback, and keep working on your itinerary until everything is perfect, for you.
Green Season Explorer: Moremi Wildlife Reserve, Nxai Pan and the Central Kalahari
12 days from £7,500 per person including international flights
Botswana Family Explorer: Okavango Delta, the Makgadikgadi Pans & Victoria Falls
11 days from £6,900 per person including international flights
