The Kalahari Desert & the Makgadikgadi Pans Holidays

Kalahari Desert and Makgadikgadi Pans holidays showcase Botswana’s extraordinary diversity from the Kalahari grasslands to the lunar-like Makgadikgadi salt pans. During the green season (November to April) this semi-arid expanse is miraculously transformed, attracting thousands of lions and leopards, kudu and springbok, among many others. The world's largest super-lake once occupied the current site of the Makgadikgadi Pans. Today, this salty stretch attracts a wealth of spectacular birdlife, including vast flocks of pelicans, flamingoes and cranes. Add to this the astonishing ancient cave paintings at Tsodilo Hills that date back many thousands of years; the prospect of meeting meerkats up close; quad biking across the desert; and sleeping under the stars - and this trip sounds anything but dry!

The Kalahari Desert & the Makgadikgadi Pans holiday ideas

A few suggestions to get the holiday planning process started

The Kalahari Desert & the Makgadikgadi Pans Guide

Practical advice and inspiration to help you prepare for your holiday

Botswana Testimonials

6 reviews
4.7 / 5
"Where do I start? It was a fantastic holiday and truly memorable, a real bucket list holiday fulfilled. The transfers and timings were all seamless and made so easy for us as guests. Everything was organised behind the scenes, and everyone knew exactly where we were to be and when, so it was effortless for us. Overall it was an amazing trip and we absolutely will go back. Duba was the highlight by far and it just has a vibe that is hard to describe but is friendly, opulent, beautiful setting and laidback all at same time."
Russell - London
Published on 18th July 2024
"We had excellent help reorganising the whole trip. It was everything we wanted. Considering we were in the middle of the Kalahari or the delta, accommodation was excellent. We even had a pride of lions sit by the truck."
Richard - Oxfordshire
Published on 10th June 2024
"Amazing, trip of a lifetime, absolutely great and everything went according to plan, thanks to everyone involved. "
Henry - Leeds
Published on 28th October 2019

What is the best option for a Kalahari Desert and Makgadikgadi Pans holiday?

The grasslands of the Kalahari and the lunar-like expanse of the Makgadikgadi saltpans highlight the sheer diversity of Botswana's terrain. So much so that it can at times be hard to believe you are on the same continent let alone the same country as the Okavango wetlands.

We would certainly suggest a trip to Botswana to include desert as well as delta, and during the green season (November - April) the area becomes a lush fresh food source, attracting tens of thousands of springbok, gemsbok and wildebeest, giraffe and, of course, their predators. This is also home to the second largest migration in Africa - the Zebra migration that takes place during this time. The Kalahari also has the last of the traditional Bushman (San) communities, some of the only people on earth who can survive in a land without permanent water.

The Makgadikgadi Pans are the remains of the world's largest super lake and are like nowhere else on Earth. The onset of rain here forms shallow lakes that attract not only animals but also spectacular birdlife including thousands of flamingos, pelicans and cranes.

During the dry season (May - October) the grasslands turn to gold and only the hardy, rare and fascinating desert adapted species - unique to the Kalahari - such as the brown hyena, meerkat and springbuck remain.

The camps and lodges in this area have developed ways of exploring during both seasons, with quad-biking, walking and 4x4s just some of the options and also recently launched horseback safaris in to the pans.

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