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Photo: Eric Kilby, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Botswana · Southern Africa · Desert

Makgadikgadi Pans

Endless salt flats, meerkats and a zebra migration after the rains.

Best timeMay to Mar
Ideal stay2 nights
GatewayMaun
Month by month
  1. JAnuary (good)
  2. FEbruary (good)
  3. MArch (good)
  4. APril
  5. MAy (good)
  6. JUne (good)
  7. JUly (good)
  8. AUgust (good)
  9. SEptember (good)
  10. OCtober (good)
  11. NOvember (good)
  12. DEcember (good)

The Makgadikgadi is one of the largest salt pan systems in the world. In the dry months, you can sleep out on the pans under a blanket of stars and walk with habituated meerkats. After the rains, zebra and wildebeest arrive in large numbers.

Meerkat (Suricata suricatta) TswaluMeerkatPlains zebras (Equus quagga) KrugerZebraFlock of Lesser Flamingo along with juvenile near Jamnagar railway stationDSCN1798 1Flamingo

Highlights

  • Sleep-outs on the pans
  • Habituated meerkats
  • Zebra migration (about December to March)
  • Baines’ Baobabs

Wildlife to look for

Where to stay

A handful of camps, from simple to very luxurious.

Getting there

Fly or drive from Maun.

Tips

  • Quad bike trips onto the pans only run when the surface is dry.
  • Nights are cold in winter.
  • Pair with the Okavango for contrast.

Best time to visit

May to Mar. See where to go in Africa in May and our guide to the best time to visit Africa.

Plan your stay

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Frequently asked questions

When is the best time to visit Makgadikgadi Pans?

May to Mar. Quad bike trips onto the pans only run when the surface is dry.

How long should I spend at Makgadikgadi Pans?

2 nights.

How do I get to Makgadikgadi Pans?

Fly or drive from Maun.

Have you been to Makgadikgadi Pans?

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