Things to Do in Nxai Pan National Park

Thousands of zebras and wildebeest flood these ancient salt pans each year, transforming one of Africa's most alien landscapes into a wildlife spectacle that rivals the Serengeti. Nxai Pan National Park sits in northeastern Botswana's Kalahari Desert, where white salt flats stretch endlessly under impossibly wide skies. Part of the greater Makgadikgadi complex, this otherworldly terrain features scattered islands of baobab trees and acacia woodlands that punctuate the stark flats. The contrast is remarkable. During dry season, the pans become vast, shimmering expanses that feel more like another planet than Africa. When rains arrive between November and April, everything changes—the pans flood and massive herds migrate here from the Okavango Delta.

Dining happens almost exclusively through your accommodation or safari operator, since there are no restaurants or shops within the park. Most safari packages include all meals, typically featuring international cuisine and local specialties cooked over open fires. The bush dining experience is memorable. Picture eating under stars with Kalahari sounds around you. Independent campers must bring all food supplies from Maun, and many visitors enjoy cooking over campfires while watching sunset over the salt pans.

Timing depends on what you want to see, but dry season from May to October offers the most comfortable conditions and reliable wildlife viewing around permanent water sources. The park comes alive during rainy season from November to April, when migration arrives and pans fill with water, attracting huge numbers of animals. Trade-offs exist. Roads become difficult or impossible, and weather turns hot and humid. Many consider March to May ideal—you might catch the tail end of migration while enjoying more pleasant weather and better road conditions.