Makgadikgadi is a fascinating place to visit - the huge shimmering salt pans remain empty for much of the year, before the wet season arrives, attracting the mass migration of wildebeest and zebra across the pans.
The pans fill during the rains from mid-November, and retain most of their water right through into April or May. During this time they are transformed into great sheets of water, which attract vast flocks of flamingo and other migratory birds.
A few days in Makgadikgadi makes a perfect complement to any safari in the Okavango Delta or Chobe River areas, as it offers a completely different desert wilderness experience. Here you will focus on species unique to the area, which include gemsbok, brown hyena and springbok, as well as the region’s geology, archaeology and anthropology – essential for anyone interested in evolution and the origins of the Okavango Delta.
Makgadikgadi lies southeast of the Okavango Delta and are surrounded by the Kalahari Desert. We recommend visiting the park in both dry season and wet season in order to witness the pans at their driest, to experience their dramatic transformation into a water wonderland, and to see the wildebeest and zebra migrations.
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