The largest salt pans in the world are located Southeast of the Okavango Delta, a 1 hr flight from the city of Maun, Botswana. The place has two, completely different seasons. The one I visited in January with green meadows, pans filled with water and flocks of flamingos, migrating zebras and wildebeests. Then, it changes to dry, dusty, ‘hostile’ environment between June and November with cold nights and pleasant days. Islands dotted with palms and bushes, nestle among vast area of salt pans. Makgadikgadi is a safari destination year round for nature and wildlife enthusiasts. It offers fantastic photo opportunities and memorable wildlife encounters with species rarely seen anywhere else.
Makgadikgadi has been a first stop on the 11 days itinerary that ‘visited’ key wildlife destinations in Botswana. For details please visit Safaris>Upcoming>2020.
I have spent 4 days in the Pans guiding group of photographers and scouting in consideration for future safaris. We have stayed in the Camp Kalahari located in a private concession, 15 minutes drive from the National Park’s gate. Location offers uninterrupted access to vast Makgadikgadi system and its unique wildlife, including 3 colonies of meerkats.
The place is quite incredible and different from many others I have visited over the years. It’s buzzing with life this time of the year with thousands of zebras visiting green pastures. It is also a calving season, so one can see young ones of all hoofed animals. Semi-arid environment ‘specials’ such as the brown hyena, bat-eared foxes and meerkats are also bringing up their young ones. Local and migrating birds fill the air with their calls. The general atmosphere is enhanced by storms and rapidly moving clouds. Sunrises and sunsets are something else – simply magical!
Four days spent in Makgadikgadi consisted of many activities and phenomenal sightings, that will be featured in upcoming blogs:
- Three, eventful visits to two, different meerkat colonies
- An evening watching brown hyena cubs playing around the den
- An evening witnessing an aardwolf mother collecting its two juvenile cubs for the night hunt
- A visit to the Makgadikgadi National Park admiring flocks of lesser and greater flamingos
- Time with herds of zebras scattered across vast sea of fresh grasses
- Mornings with different families of bat-eared foxes
- Admiration of unbelievable sunrises and sunsets
The overall atmosphere and unique wildlife of the place is very special. It warrants the visit for every nature enthusiast. Makgadikgadi ecosystem will become a permanent stop on itineraries of our safaris to Botswana starting in 2021. Please check for details in upcoming months.
We will be visiting Makgadikgadi again in the 2022 season.
