Skip to Content
SafariBookings® - Compare African Safari Tours
List

Best Time To Visit Makgadikgadi Pans National Park (Month by Month)

Great Park Makgadikgadi Pans Safaris Botswana
  1. January: Good
  2. February: Good
  3. March: Good
  4. April: Good
  5. May: Good
  6. June: Good
  7. July: Good
  8. August: Good
  9. September: Good
  10. October: Good
  11. November: Good
  12. December: Good
  1. Excellent
  2. Good
  3. Fair
  4. Poor

Makgadikgadi Pans National Park is a year-round destination, although the best times to visit different areas vary as animals migrate seasonally through the park. The network of in the park’s east attracts wildlife, especially vast herds of zebra, in the wetter months from December to March. The area along the Boteti River, in the park’s west, is best for wildlife viewing from June to December.


53 Makgadikgadi Pans Safaris
calendar Best Time
June to December (Best wildlife viewing at the river) and December to May (Best wildlife viewing and birding at the pans)
clock High Season
July to October (The park never gets crowded, but high-season rates may apply in lodges)
percentage Low Season
November to June (Low-season rates may apply)
sun Best Weather
May to August (Less hot during the day, with dry conditions)
raincloud Worst Weather
January to March (It is hot and it can rain a lot)

April to October Dry Season

  • June to December are the best wildlife-viewing months at the Boteti River area
  • Most roads are in good condition and it is easier to drive in the park
  • It is usually possible to drive onto the
  • It is cooler in the middle of the day from May to August
  • July to October is high season and some lodges charge higher rates
  • It can get very dry and dusty

November to March Wet Season

  • Zebras migrate across the park in great numbers
  • The eastern fill up and animals gather to drink
  • Best time for birding as are present and many birds are breeding
  • Big flocks of come to feed on the
  • Daytime temperatures can be very hot
  • Roads often become boggy and it’s not possible to drive on the
  • Afternoon thundershowers can interfere with activities

Wildlife Photos

+13 Photos

Best Time To Go by Major Park

  1. Excellent
  2. Good
  3. Fair
  4. Poor
  1. Central Kalahari GR
    1. January: Excellent
    2. February: Excellent
    3. March: Excellent
    4. April: Excellent
    5. May: Excellent
    6. June: Good
    7. July: Good
    8. August: Good
    9. September: Good
    10. October: Good
    11. November: Good
    12. December: Excellent
  2. Chobe National Park
    1. January: Good
    2. February: Good
    3. March: Good
    4. April: Good
    5. May: Excellent
    6. June: Excellent
    7. July: Excellent
    8. August: Excellent
    9. September: Excellent
    10. October: Good
    11. November: Good
    12. December: Good
  3. Makgadikgadi Pans NP
    1. January: Good
    2. February: Good
    3. March: Good
    4. April: Good
    5. May: Good
    6. June: Good
    7. July: Good
    8. August: Good
    9. September: Good
    10. October: Good
    11. November: Good
    12. December: Good
  4. Moremi Game Reserve
    1. January: Fair
    2. February: Fair
    3. March: Fair
    4. April: Good
    5. May: Good
    6. June: Good
    7. July: Excellent
    8. August: Excellent
    9. September: Excellent
    10. October: Excellent
    11. November: Good
    12. December: Good
  5. Nxai Pan National Park
    1. January: Excellent
    2. February: Excellent
    3. March: Excellent
    4. April: Good
    5. May: Good
    6. June: Fair
    7. July: Fair
    8. August: Fair
    9. September: Fair
    10. October: Good
    11. November: Good
    12. December: Excellent
  6. Okavango Delta
    1. January: Fair
    2. February: Fair
    3. March: Fair
    4. April: Good
    5. May: Good
    6. June: Good
    7. July: Excellent
    8. August: Excellent
    9. September: Excellent
    10. October: Excellent
    11. November: Good
    12. December: Good

Want To Visit Makgadikgadi Pans NP?

53 Makgadikgadi Pans Safaris