Makgadikgadi Pans National Park and Nxai Pans National Park, with their vast salt pans, form an impressive, surreal landscape which attracts a lot of wildlife and is home to a famous Baobab island.
Geography and climate in the Makgadikgadi and Nxai pans region
The areas around the Makgadikgadi and Nxai Pans are located in the central and eastern part of Botswana, southeast of the Okavango Delta. The Makgadikgadi and Nxai salt pans are among the largest salt pans in the world. Overall, the area of the salt pans system covers an area of over 16000 km².
In the summer months (December to March) it is hot and, due to the rainy season, the humidity is high. The winter months are mild climate, the temperatures can drop below 0 °C every now and then.
Flora and fauna in the Makgadikgadi and Nxai pans region
The salt pans are surrounded mostly by vast, open grasslands. During and after the rainy season, they attract many wild animals such as antelopes and zebras. The Nxai Pans National Park is located on the animal herd's migration route between the Okavango Delta and Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe and the southern grasslands in and around the Makgadikgadi Pans National Park. Lions, giraffes, kudus, black-backed jackals, springboks, impalas and bat eared foxes can be found all year round. During the rainy season from December to April, oryx antelopes, elephants, oryx and thousands of zebras are added. Ostriches and numerous species of birds complement the wildlife viewing. As many animals get their offspring during the rainy season, Spring buck, for example, In December and zebras in March and April, the pans contain countless animal children and their parents.
Places of interest - Nxai Pan National Park
The fascinating landscape, a group of seven mighty baobab trees, the well-known Baines Baobabs, as well as a high-traffic, a waterhole which is often occupied by lions are the highlights of Naxi Pan's National Park.
Places of interest - Makgadikgadi Pan National Park
The name Makgadikgadi means "extensive lifeless land". If you love the loneliness and silence, you can really enjoy it here, because even in the high season you hardly meet people and can focus on the impressive landscape.
Lodge close to the Makgadikgadi Pans National Park
Leroo La Tau is luxury lodge located at the Boteti river at the border of the Makgadikgadi Pans National Park. The lodge offers twelve thatched suites with en-suite bathrooms. Each suite is raised on a wooden platforms.
Nata Lodge is a guest lodge situated about 10 km from Nata village, close to the Nata Bird Sanctuary in the area of the famous Makgadikgadi salt pans. The lodge offers accommodation in 22 thatched chalets and 10 safari tents. Campers will find a large camp ground.
Nxai Pan Camp is a luxury camp situated in the Nxai Pan National Park overlooking the vast grasslands of the pans. The nine luxury thatched tents and the main area with its expansive open-air lounge are located around a waterhole which is frequently visited by elephants, cheetah and herds of zebra.