Makgadikgadi and Nxai Pans

The Makgadikgadi and Nxai national pans were incorporated into the Makgadikgadi and Nxai national park in 1993. During the middle of the 19th century, the explorer Dr. David Livingstone arrived and gave publicity to the area. This brought traders and explorers flocking in. Some left their mark on the famous baobab trees. The Green brothers announced their arrival by carving ‘Green’s Expedition 1858-59′ on one of the famous trees. It is still clearly visible today. Later another group of seven baobabs were immortalized by the artist Thomas Baines in his paintings in 1861.

The Makgadikgadi pans cover nearly 10,000 square km in nothing but salt. Some are massive, others the size of mere ponds. Around them are huge grasslands fringed with palm trees. The pans flood after the rains early in the year. Immediately the desert blooms attracting thousands of water birds to the shallow pools. The flamingos and pelicans flock to the salty waters and the animals of the plains to the fresh grasses. The flamingos migrate from as far away as East Africa to filter the newly released nourishment and algae from the waters.

Makgadikgadi Salt Pans Botswana

The Nxai pans were once part of the great lake that covered central Botswana, but now they are mostly fossil pans, covered with good grasslands rather than salt. In the wet season, after December, the game is plentiful with large herds of gemsbok, springbok, zebra and wildebeest and many lion, cheetah and hyena.

There may be no permanent accommodation safari lodges or guest houses in the park, but there are several designated campsites. However, this hinders quick access and camping safaris in here. Nonetheless the fully equipped private-drive tourist or those on tailor-made safaris can maneuver through to satisfy their interests.

Private Safari Trails in the Park

For Botswana Safaris, a 4WD is recommended throughout this park, as even in the dry season the pan surface can be treacherous with the unseen water table lurking often just inches under the hard-baked surface. Once on the pans the exhilaration of speeding across the flat surface in unforgettable.