It’s one of Botswana’s unusual and rather interesting parks, located in the south-east of the Okavango Delta inside the Kalahari Desert. The pans are salt pans covering the remains of the well-known Lake Makgadikgadi. This lake was once bigger than Switzerland.
The National Park is quite large; the western end is covered with acacia woodland and grasslands. The ancient Makgadikgadi Lake has decreased in size due to geologic processes caused by tectonic activities and warping. This has also caused the lake to form small and large shorelines that have thus highlighted the beauty of the pans. The park’s main source of water comes from Tutume, Semowane and Nata Rivers located in the east.
Another source also comes from the Boteti River. The pans stay dry almost all year round. This forms layers of salt clay that hardens due to the sun’s heat during the dry seasons. The pans only get water during rainy seasons; this transforms the pans making it the perfect wildlife habitat. The Makgadikgadi Pans offer an amazing African safari experience, with a bare nature view one is reminded of the beauty of the earth.
Riding at the Makgadigkadi Game Reserve
The ecosystem is diverse with Baobab trees and palm groves the wildlife is rather unique. The national park is home to wildlife such as impalas; lion; cheetah; spotted hyena; kudu and porcupine. Visitors can be on the lookout for a rare white rhinoceros. There’s also an abundant bird life such as martial eagles, white-backed and lappet-faced vultures. Safari activities include quad-biking the pans, walking with the native Bushmen Trackers and meet the meerkats.
