The Makgadikgadi Pans
For variety outside the typical northern Botswana “circuit”, the Makgadikgadi pans is a truly fascinating place to visit. Once part of the giant Lake Makgadikgadi – which covered much of Botswana – the area is now a system of many pans, seasonally covered with water and grass, thereby creating a refuge for birdlife and animals within the Kalahari desert.
One of Africa’s largest migrations takes place here when giant herds of zebra and wildebeest move between the Boteti river and the pans as the summer rains bring nutritional feeding to the desert. From time to time Kalahari lions can be found sheltering on the vegetated islands, brown hyena, black -backed jackal and honey badgers roam the grasslands Great White Pelicans and Greater flamingos thrive in the larger pans.
We regularly take our guests deep into the pans for a few nights at the end of the safari. The change of pace and sense of place hits one on arrival, and the sheer magnitude of the pans, endless horizons, exquisite skies and star viewing, and wonderful desert-adapted wildlife are invigorating.
