The Makgadikgadi Pans are among the largest salt flats in the world, covering approximately 12,000 square kilometres in northeastern Botswana. These blindingly white pans are the remains of an enormous ancient lake that once covered most of present-day Botswana.
During the dry season, the pans become a surreal, moon-like landscape perfect for quad biking across the cracked surface, sleeping under the stars on the pan, and visiting habituated meerkat colonies that use humans as lookout posts. The eerie silence and vastness create a meditative experience unlike any other safari.
During the rains (November–April), the pans transform completely as water floods in, attracting the second-largest zebra migration in Africa — up to 25,000 animals — along with flamingos, pelicans, and other waterbirds. Nata Bird Sanctuary on the northeastern edge is excellent for birding.