Ancient Origins

The Makgadikgadi Pans hold secrets that stretch back millions of years. What you see today as vast white salt flats was once a massive super-lake, covering over 80,000 square kilometers – larger than Switzerland – and reaching depths of 30 meters. This ancient lake disappeared tens of thousands of years ago due to climate shifts and tectonic movements, leaving behind one of Africa's most extraordinary landscapes.

Archaeological discoveries here are mind-blowing. Stone tools found in the area predate modern humans, and researchers believe this region may be where Homo sapiens first evolved around 200,000 years ago. The fertility of the ancient lake environment created perfect conditions for early human development.

Makgadikgadi Salt Pans

Kubu Island

A Sacred Sanctuary

Rising from the salt flats like a mirage, Kubu Island is a 2-billion-year-old granite outcrop about one kilometer long. The Khoe people call it "Ga'nnyo," though its modern name means either "large rock" or "hippopotamus" depending on which local language you reference. The island's slopes are scattered with fossilized beaches of rounded pebbles, ancient bird guano, and mysterious stone cairns that hint at connections to the Great Zimbabwe empire.

Walking among the massive baobab trees here – some older than Christianity itself – feels deeply spiritual. These "upside down trees" have served as landmarks and shelters for countless generations.

Makgadikgadi Salt Pans

Wildlife in the Makgadikgadi

The Great Zebra Migration

From December to April, Makgadikgadi transforms into the stage for Africa's second-largest animal migration. Around 25,000 to 30,000 zebras make the epic 1,000-kilometre round trip from the Chobe and Okavango regions down to these ancient salt pans. It's actually the longest land mammal migration in the world, yet remarkably few people know about it.

When the rains arrive, the barren white salt flats become lush grasslands dotted with temporary lakes. The zebras follow this green carpet, bringing wildebeest and other grazers with them. We love timing visits during this period because you witness the landscape's complete transformation alongside this massive wildlife spectacle.

Makgadikgadi Salt Pans

Flamingos

Between March and June, hundreds of thousands of flamingos descend on Sua Pan, turning the water a brilliant pink. Nata Bird Sanctuary sits at the mouth of the Nata River and ranks as one of only three prime flamingo breeding sites in Africa. The timing depends entirely on rainfall patterns, making each breeding season feel like a natural lottery.

The sight of thousands of flamingos stretching across the horizon against the white salt backdrop is genuinely breathtaking. Peak breeding typically happens around March and April, though we always recommend building flexibility into your itinerary since nature doesn't follow schedules.

Makgadikgadi Salt Pans

Desert Wildlife

During the dry months from June to December, wildlife concentrates along the Boteti River on the park's western edge. Here you'll find elephants, hippos, and various antelope species gathering at permanent water sources.

The real stars of the dry season are the desert-adapted specialists scattered across the pans. Meerkats provide endless entertainment as they pop up from their burrows, while brown hyenas, aardwolves, and bat-eared foxes hunt under cover of darkness. Gemsbok and springbok have mastered life in this harsh environment, requiring minimal water to survive.

Our favourite dry season experience is sleeping out under the stars on the salt pans themselves. The silence and vast open sky create an almost otherworldly sense of space that's impossible to replicate anywhere else.

Makgadikgadi Salt Pans

Best Lodges in the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans

The Makgadikgadi region offers three very different ways to experience Botswana's otherworldly salt pans and surrounding wilderness. Jack's Camp is the eccentric luxury option, rebuilt in 2020 with nine spacious tents featuring plunge pools and a distinctly Moroccan aesthetic complete with Persian rugs and brass baths. Think museum-meets-safari-camp, where taxidermy and explorer artifacts create an atmosphere that's theatrical yet sophisticated.

Camp Kalahari delivers the same unique activities as its famous sibling but with a more understated, family-friendly approach. Its 12 Meru-style tents welcome children of all ages, making it our top choice for families wanting to experience the magic of habituated meerkats and quad biking across lunar-like salt flats without the theatrical luxury.

Leroo La Tau takes a completely different approach, positioning itself on the western bank of the Boteti River rather than deep in the pans. Its 11 glass-fronted chalets offer panoramic river views and front-row seats to the zebra migration between May and October. While you can arrange special excursions to the salt pans during longer stays, the focus here is on the river ecosystem.

Makgadikgadi Salt Pans

Makgadikgadi Salt Pans FAQs

3 reasons to book with Brilliant

1. Highest-rated safari company on Trustpilot 

So you can book with confidence knowing you're in safe hands. 

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Planning a trip to East Africa is complicated. Brilliant makes it easy. Our team have spent decades in the region so we can help you find the right trip - and we don't charge a fee.

3. Exclusive access at the best rates

We have exclusive access to the best value-for-money camps and lodges at rates you won't get anywhere else.

Makgadikgadi Salt Pans

Melissa and team ready for safari

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