Botswana’s Makgadikgadi Pans National Park

Useful Information

History

The Makgadikgadi Pans National Park was proclaimed in 1992. “Makgadikgadi” refers to a series of extensive salt pans that once formed part of ancient Lake Makgadikgadi. Archaeological evidence indicates human presence along the paleo-lake shores in prehistoric times. Historic baobabs in the wider Makgadikgadi–Nxai Pan complex—such as Baines’ Baobabs and the now-fallen Chapman’s Baobab—served as famous landmarks for explorers including David Livingstone and Frederick Courteney Selous. More recently, the Makgadikgadi featured in the 2007 “Top Gear” Botswana Special, in which presenters crossed the pans in budget two-wheel-drive cars.

Wildlife

Makgadikgadi Pans National Park has distinct wet and dry-season. From roughly November to March, seasonal water draws blue wildebeest and plains zebra toward the pans, along with antelope such as red hartebeest, kudu, springbok, eland, and gemsbok. Predators such as lions, cheetahs, leopards, and brown hyenas follow where prey congregate; elephants occur in the broader region. The greater flamingo is a spectacular wet-season visitor. During the dry months from about May to October, only desert-adapted species persist on the pan. With patience, watch for meerkat, bat-eared fox, and more rarely aardvark.

Vegetation & Terrain

The heart of Makgadikgadi consists of the vast, arid salt pans, which support extremely limited vegetation—primarily specialized algae and resilient microorganisms—though they are a vital seasonal habitat for wildlife. This flat, open terrain creates a striking, otherworldly contrast with the park's perimeter. Here, the landscape transitions sharply into extensive, arid grasslands, scattered rocky outcrops, and the iconic, massive trunks of ancient baobab trees, whose presence provides both shelter and stark visual interest against the shimmering expanse of the salt flats.

Activities

Landscape photography opportunities are vast, and game drives reveal more wildlife than the stark scenery suggest. Guided walks with San/Basarwa trackers provide insight into ecology and traditional skill. Don’t miss natural and cultural sites like Kubu Island, and consider quad-bike excursions (seasonally and with responsible operators) to cover great distances on the flat.