Makgadikgadi Pans

Makgadikgadi Pans

Tailor-made Makgadikgadi Pans Holidays

One of the largest salt flats in the world, the Makgadikgadi Pans are an astonishing visual treat. This salt-encrusted expanse resembles a moonscape with undisturbed views of a flat horizon and that satisfying crunching sound below your feet. During the rains, the water attracts flocks of flamingoes that settle their pink wings on vivid blue lakes, while in the dry season it’s easier to spot the oft-camouflaged game in the wide-open terrain.

While the land is flat, the safari here is anything but bland. Few places in the continent offer thrilling horseback safaris like the ones in the Makgadikgadi that reveal sights such as vast herds of zebra and wildebeest migrating to the grasslands. It’s the only place in the world where you can go quad biking over the brilliant white pans to remote spots for sundowners and embark on explorative walks with the Zu’Hoasi bushmen who will unveil all the intricacies of this ancient arid desert.

Unravel the surprises of the Makgadikgadi Pans with insiders whose knowledge opens up this extraordinary place, whether that’s visiting a curious meerkat colony at sunrise or embarking on a night drive spotting bat-eared foxes and brown hyena.

Plan your holiday withAlfred&

Your journey will start with one of our UK team – someone like James, who's travelled extensively in Botswana. They’ll shape your ideas into the trip of a lifetime. But they won't do it alone. They'll draw on the expertise of our contacts on the ground, connecting you to the people who'll make your holiday one you'll always remember - the rangers who'll ensure you'll spot the best wildlife in Chobe, the village chiefs who'll give you an insight into local life and the helicopter pilots who can land you on an island in the Delta never visited by humans before.

James Davinson

Botswana Travel Expert for Alfred&

Botswana’s engaging mix of wild experiences is what most appeals to James Davinson, whether that’s the joy of gliding along in a traditional wooden canoe through the reedy channels of the Okavango or sleeping out under a night sky laden with stars in the heart of a vast and empty salt pan. His ambition is to witness the twice-yearly zebra migration, which was only recently noticed.
Harrison Mangwegape

Guide at Camp Xakanaxa

Harry was born in the Botswanan village of Thamaga, near capital Gaborone. He loved wildlife growing up and trained at the Okavango Guiding School in Maun to pursue his passion. He started working as a guide at Desert & Delta’s Savute Safari Lodge in 2010 and later joined Leroo La Tau in Makgadikgadi Pans National Park, before moving to Camp Xakanaxa.
Keitumetse 'KT' Mogale

Guide at Camp Okavango

Keitumetse has been guiding for 12 years. He grew up in the village of Mogotho in the Okavango Delta and began his career as a tracker. He now leads walking safaris and game drives at Camp Okavango and enjoys sharing his stories with guests from all over the world.
Andrew Baker

Founder and Managing Director of Helicopter Horizons

Andrew grew up in Zimbabwe before moving to the US to train as a pilot. Botswana had always held a place in his heart, so he began his aviation career as a fixed wing pilot in the Okavango Delta. He founded Helicopter Horizons in 2004, offering photographic flights - without doors - for organisations such as the BBC and National Geographic. The company now offer scenic flights for tourists in the Okavango Delta, Linyanti region and the Makgadikgadi Pans, as well as transfers between safari camps.
Florence Kagiso

Senior Guide at Chobe Game Lodge

Florence grew up in a farming family in the Okavango Delta and has been a guide at Chobe Game Lodge for 17 years. When she joined in 2004, she was the first female guide at the camp - she now mentors a team of 17 women. Her work was recognised in National Geographic Traveller’s recent Reader Awards 2021, where she won The Innovator award.
Ollie Maitapiso

Guide at Leroo La Tau

Ollie grew up in the village of Xaxaba in the Okavango Delta and began his career as a trainee poler in 1999, taking guests out on mokoro trips. He started guiding in 2004 and joined Camp Xakanaxa in the Moremi Game Reserve in 2007, before moving to Leroo La Tau in 2014.