Makgadikgadi & Nxai Pans
Step into a world where time stands still and nature paints its grandest canvases.
Delta EcoWild’s Salt Pan Safari invites you to discover the stark beauty and unique wildlife of the Makgadikgadi and Nxai Pans National Parks — two of Botswana’s most otherworldly landscapes — and explore the sanctuary haven of Nata.
Once a vast prehistoric lake, the Makgadikgadi Pans now offer an expansive, surreal backdrop where nature performs in silence and space. In the rainy season, this lunar-like terrain erupts with life — herds of zebra, wildebeest, and springbok arrive, while flamingos and pelicans turn the shallow waters into a living artwork of colour and motion.
Why This Safari is Unmissable
From the shifting sands to the flooded pans, every element of this journey offers a completely different perspective on Botswana's wilderness.
Visit Nxai Pan and stand before the legendary Baines Baobabs, immortalised in the 1800s by explorer Thomas Baines. These ancient trees have stood sentry over the pans for over a thousand years — a truly humbling sight.
Catch the sunrise with a meerkat family! In selected eastern areas of the Makgadikgadi, encounter habituated meerkats in their natural habitat — watching them forage, play, and scan the horizon is an unforgettable highlight.
As the dry season intensifies, the Boteti River becomes a critical wildlife corridor, drawing in elephants, antelope, and predators alike. It’s a rare river in a desert — offering remarkable game viewing in contrast to the open pans.
Located perfectly between Maun and Kasane, Nata makes for an ideal rest stop. When its pans flood, the Nata Bird Sanctuary transforms into one of Africa’s most dramatic avian spectacles, with thousands of flamingos, pelicans, ducks, and geese gathered against breathtaking sunsets.
Plan Your Visit
The pans transform dramatically depending on the rains. Whether you want to see the flamingo spectacle or the dramatic dry-season wildlife corridor, timing is everything.
November – March
The rains turn the pans into a shallow, vibrant wetland. Migratory birds arrive in their thousands, and herbivore herds move in to graze on the fresh grasses.
Best for: Flamingos, pelicans, zebra & wildebeestApril – October
As the pans dry out, the Boteti River becomes the ultimate lifeline. The landscape becomes stark and beautiful, perfect for spotting elephants, predators, and the ancient baobabs.
Best for: Boteti River game viewing, meerkats, & photographyFebruary to March for the incredible birdlife and newborn animals — and July to September for dramatic dry-season river safaris.
Let Delta EcoWild Safaris guide you through Botswana's most otherworldly landscapes. From the ancient baobabs to the incredible wildlife spectacles, your next great journey starts here.
Plan your Salt Pan safari