An Oasis in the Salt Flats?

Makgadikgadi Pans.
The name may trip you up, making it a bit hard to remember, but think of it as “Botswana’s Salt Pans!” for a clearer image.

While it conjures images of a salt lake, it was actually a salt lake over 10,000 years ago. Nowadays, while water may collect on the surface during the rainy season, it’s not a lake anymore. Therefore, it is more accurately described as a salt flat or salt pans.

During the dry season (around June to October), the surface dries up, leaving behind sand rich in salt content, causing the vast expanse to shine brilliantly white as the sun reflects off it.

While the surface is dry, you can race across this expanse by car or on foot. Makgadikgadi Pan comprises two major pans, Nxai Pan and Sua Pan, along with various smaller pans. It covers roughly 16,000 square kilometers, making it one of the largest salt flats in the world.

A Unique Experience on the Makgadikgadi Pans

One of the most special things about the Makgadikgadi Pans is the incredible sense of space and freedom. Surrounded by an endless expanse of open land, you can almost feel as though you have this vast wilderness all to yourself.

Getting here involves a drive along unpaved roads, often in a 4WD vehicle. It may not be the easiest place to reach, but the journey takes you far from towns and everyday life, into a truly remote and beautiful landscape.

One of the highlights is the Pan Overnight – a unique experience that allows you to spend a night camping right in the middle of the vast white salt flats.

You can also explore the open pans on a quad bike, if you wish. With nothing but the horizon stretching out in every direction, riding across this immense landscape is an exhilarating experience.

Another favourite is visiting the adorable wild meerkats. Watching them keep a lookout, interact with one another and go about their daily lives is endlessly fascinating.

As the sun sets, the horizon gradually turns orange, followed by beautiful shades of violet spreading across the sky. With no towns or artificial lights nearby, the night reveals a sky full of stars.

And perhaps the most memorable part of all? Falling asleep in nothing more than a sleeping bag, right beneath that incredible African sky.

It’s a very different kind of comfort from staying in a hotel, but one that makes the Makgadikgadi experience truly unforgettable.

Makgadikgadi Game Reserve

There’s also the Makgadikgadi Pans Game Reserve, which is quite different from the vast, open salt flats.

Located to the west of the pans, the reserve is home to wide grasslands and acacia woodlands. The Boteti River also runs along its western edge, creating an important habitat for wildlife.

One of the highlights is the seasonal movement of wildlife. Zebras and wildebeest move between the Okavango region and the Makgadikgadi grasslands, following the rains and fresh grazing. Elephants can also be spotted in the area, along with other wildlife.

During the wet season (around November to April), the landscape turns green, attracting large herds to the grasslands around the pans. Depending on the season and where you visit, you may encounter herds grazing across the open plains or gathering along the Boteti River.

Although the salt pans and the game reserve are both part of the greater Makgadikgadi area, travelling between different locations can take some time. So, it’s worth thinking about what you’d most like to experience before putting together your itinerary and budget.