Makgadikgadi Pans Holidays

One of the largest salt flats in the world, the Makgadikgadi Pans are an astonishing visual treat.

This salt-encrusted expanse resembles a moonscape with undisturbed views of a flat horizon and that satisfying crunching sound below your feet. During the rains, the water attracts flocks of flamingoes that settle their pink wings on vivid blue lakes, while in the dry season it’s easier to spot the oft-camouflaged game in the wide-open terrain.

While the land is flat, the safari here is anything but bland. Few places in the continent offer thrilling horseback safaris like the ones in the Makgadikgadi that reveal sights such as vast herds of zebra and wildebeest migrating to the grasslands.

Read more

Makgadikgadi Pans - Perfect for

  • Get off road\

    Scour the brilliant white pans in a 4×4 vehicle to remote spots for sundowners.

  • Take a walk on the wild side\

    Embark on explorative walks with the Zu’Hoasi bushmen who will unveil all the intricacies of this ancient arid desert.

  • Chat to the locals\

    Unravel the surprises of the Makgadikgadi Pans with insiders whose knowledge opens up this extraordinary place

  • A different kind of nightlife\

    Go on a night drive spotting bat-eared foxes and brown hyena

Makgadikgadi Pans Hotels

Our recommendations for the best places to stay in Makgadikgadi Pans

Leroo La Tau Lodge

An authentic lodge experience on the edge of the Makgadikgadi Pans National Park

On safari around Leroo La Tau and the Boteti River

Everyone knows about the Great Migration in the Serengeti, but not many people talk about Botswana’s migration. But every year, thousands of zebra and wildebeest make their way from the wetlands of the north to the pans to seek fresh grass, marking the second-biggest zebra migration in Africa.

Leroo La Tau is based right in front of the Boteti River, so you will get to see all this wildlife grazing outside the lodge from around May to November, as well as the predators that follow. When the water is high enough,  motorised boat trips on the Boteti River are offered so you can witness all of the action. See zebras and elephants coming to drink, as well as other game such as impalas, kudus and giraffes. Being on the river gives you a unique perspective of the area.

The main activity here revolves around game drives. Enjoy morning and afternoon drives in Makgadikgadi Pans National Park, which sits just across the river and attracts lots of wildlife. You may see lions, elephants, giraffes, hyenas, bushbucks, kudus and more roaming the grassland and scrubland – sometimes you might even spot a leopard or cheetah. On the afternoon trips, you will stop for snacks and sundowners as the sun sets over the Boteti River, painting the sky and river red.

Read more