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

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 vary as animals migrate seasonally through the park. The network of pans in the park’s east attract wildlife, especially vast herds of zebra, in the wet summer months from December to May. The area along the Boteti River, in the park’s west, is best for wildlife viewing in the drier months from June to December.

Best Time

June to December (Best wildlife viewing at the river) and December to May (Best wildlife viewing and birding at the pans)

High Season

July to October (The park never gets crowded, but high-season rates may apply in lodges)

Low Season

November to June (Low-season rates may apply)

Best Weather

May to August (Less hot during the day, with dry conditions)

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 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 pans
• 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 from December to March
• The eastern pans fill up, and animals gather to drink
• Best time for birding as migrants are present and many birds are breeding
• Big flocks of flamingos come to feed on the algae
• Daytime temperatures can be very hot
• Roads often become boggy and it’s not possible to drive on the pans
• 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?

• Makgadikgadi Pans Safaris & Tours
• Tour Operators for Makgadikgadi Pans