Makgadikgadi Pans National Park

The Makgadikgadi Pans are an extensive series of salt flats and seasonal wetlands in central-eastern Botswana, forming one of the largest salt pan complexes on Earth. They are remnants of a vast prehistoric lake and form a distinctive, open landscape.

Major visitor highlights include the stark, reflective surface of the pans, the sculpted granite and baobab landmark Kubu Island, and seasonal wildlife events when rains bring migrating herds and large concentrations of waterbirds including flamingos. Activities include guided 4x4 drives, night sky viewing and short walking excursions around rock outcrops.

Geologically the pans are the desiccated remains of Lake Makgadikgadi, left behind after climatic shifts in the late Pleistocene and Holocene. Over time the landscape has alternated between wet and dry phases, producing the salt-crusted flats and isolated rocky islands seen today.

The pans lie in central-eastern Botswana, east of the Okavango Delta and within the broader Makgadikgadi-Nxai conservation region. The area is remote and typically accessed from regional towns by road and organised tours.

• Seasonal wetlands: The pans are the exposed floor of a much larger prehistoric lake; seasonal rains transform parts of the salt flats into shallow wetlands that attract birds and migrating mammals.
• Kubu Island: Kubu Island is a prominent granite outcrop with distinctive baobab trees and is a common destination for short excursions and overnight camping.
• Access and travel: Access and travel within the pans are heavily dependent on seasonal conditions; 4x4 vehicles and guided drives are the usual way to explore the area safely.

What to See #

• Sua and Ntwetwe Pans: A flat salt-pan surface that becomes a seasonal wetland after rains and is one of the defining features of the Makgadikgadi system.
• Kubu Island: A granite island with striking boulders and several ancient baobab trees that stands within the pans and is a popular photographic landmark.
• Nxai Pan (adjacent): A neighbouring grassy area and parkland that links to the pans and is known for baobabs and seasonal wildlife viewing during the rains.