The Makgadikgadi Pans National Park is situated amidst the vast dry savannah in northeastern Botswana. To the north of the park is the Nxai Pans National Park, and both the parks are separated by just a tar road. They are part of the Kalahari basin and are surrounded by the desert.
The Makgadikgadi Pans together with Nxai Pans are one of the largest salt pans in the world, covering over 16000 sq km. Makgadikgadi Pans are not a single pan but rather, a collection of two large pans (Sowa and Nwetwe) and thousands of smaller pans with stretches of desert in between. It was declared initially as a game reserve and later established as a national park in 1992.
You might be wondering how a hot salt bed is going to interest you, but wait till you discover how extraordinary this location is.
Origin
Eons ago, the Makgadikgadi pans were non-existent, and in its place was a vast lake. In fact, Lake Makgadikgadi was bigger than the size of Switzerland, spanning over 60,000 sq km! The lake was surrounded by wetlands and archaeological evidence proves that prehistoric men who existed even before the Homo sapiens, once lived here. (Chills!)
However, due to shifts in the earth’s tectonic plates, the water source for the lake was cut off, causing evaporation and leaving behind vast remains of salt beds that we see today.
Wildlife
During the dry season, there are barely any animals here, save for ostriches and a few species of plovers, as the conditions are very harsh and unfavourable for life. However, during the wet season, the salt pans turn into lush wetlands, inviting several animals to migrate and breed here. This contrasting change is one of the unique features of this park.
The pans are one of the most important breeding sites for pink flamingos which fly in from various parts of southern Africa. In addition to flamingos, waterfowl like ducks, geese and pelicans also migrate here.
And what’s more, these pans also witness the longest mammal migration in the world on record. Herds of zebras from Namibia and other parts of Botswana, travel over 300 miles (480 kilometers) to visit these pans. The meerkats that reside here are a favourite among tourists. Wildebeests, elands, hartebeests, cheetahs, elephants, giraffes, bucks and lions also visit these pans.
Kubu Island
Kubu island, protected as a national monument, is located on the southwestern edge of Sowa Pan. This island consists of a massive granite outcrop that is almost a kilometre long and a metre high. The dry, twisted baobab trees that make up the vegetation, are estimated to be more than 3000 years old. During the time of Lake Makgadikgadi, this was an actual island and a popular spot for hippos. Today it stands surrounded by a sea of salt. There is a stone wall and several stone structures that resemble a man, and it is believed that the island was once used for rituals and ceremonies.
Why should you visit?
Given that there are no structures visible as far as the human eye can see, the Makgadikgadi pans will give you an out of the world experience, quite literally. You can even notice the curvature of the earth. At night, you can see the flat pans enclosed by the infinite starry sky which creates a pseudo reality of being in outer space; the endless white land will make you feel like you are on the moon, cut off from the rest of humanity.
There are several accommodation options available in the nearby villages as well as campsites within the park’s premises. There are even helicopter rides during the breeding season, and you can observe the pink clouds of flamingos amidst the silvery wetland. In addition to this, there are several safaris, birdwatching tours, quad biking and game drives. You can also go on a guided historical trail with native bushmen as they narrate interesting pieces of history about their ancestors and their land.
The unique landscape of these pans will remind you how our planet is constantly changing. The heavy silence will be incomparable with any of your past experiences and makes this location unique and memorable.
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