Kalahari Saltpans
These immense, dry pans are an unusual safari experience, the best place to view cheetah, and good for meerkats, elusive wild cat, porcupine, aardwolf and honey badger. In the dry season the Makgadikgadi Pans are surreal in their moonlike appearance. In the rainy season it's all transformed; flamingoes in the pans, zebra migration and the black-maned kalahari lion. Simple tented camps allow a close-to-nature experience. Botswana.
Best time: From November to March when the rains bring grass to the semi-desert which attracts the animals - but it is very hot. April to October is very quiet in Makgadikgadi.
Access: Charter flight (30 mins) or drive from Maun
I recommend these camps
Camp Kalahari (10 tents-en-suite) Rustic camp with African textiles, located far from other camps. Interact with the habituated meerkats, walk with San bushmen. Close to famed 7 Sisters baobab trees. Makgadikgadi Pans Game Reserve, Botswana. Member of Unchartered Africa. Child friendly. $$$$.
Jack’s (10 tents-en-suite) One of Africa’s most loved camps, with spacious tents under palms bedecked with persian rugs and other grandeur. An unusual, desert-type safari on the vast, silent & shimmering pans with unusual species like brown hyena, aardvark and gemsbok – and they have meerkats! Close to San Camp. Makgadikgadi Pans Game Reserve, Botswana. Member of Unchartered Africa. Child friendly. $$$$.
Meno A Kwena (9 tents-en-suite) Quirky, comfortable and homely (food is handcooked on the fire), fantastic game viewing at the river in front of camp. Not actually on the pans, but central for exploring them, loads of activities. Makgadikgadi Pans Game Reserve, Botswana. Member of Natural Selection. Child friendly. $$$$.
San (6 suites) Dreamy white tents spaced far apart on the edge of the white pans, lit by laterns – the most romantic camp in Africa? And a yoga paviliion to soak up the stillness. Close to Jack’s Camp. Makgadikgadi Pans Game Reserve, Botswana. Member of Unchartered Africa. $$$$$.
Kalahari Plain (8 tents-en-suite) Simple vintage-styled camp is solar powered; it’s very isolated which makes sleeping outside on your sky bed all the more exhilarating Central Kalahari Game Reserve, Botswana. Member of Wilderness Safaris. Child friendly. $$$$.
Nxai Pan (9 suites) Simple thatched camp on the smaller Nxai Pan, close to famous Baines baobabs, décor is simple and not going to win any awards. 100% solar powered camp. Nxai Pans National Park, Botswana. Child friendly. $$$$.