Makgadikgadi Pans National Park Best Time To Visit
Anthony is the author of the Botswana & Namibia Lonely Planet guide.
Makgadikgadi Pans National Park can be visited throughout the year. It’s a seasonal park and wildlife migrates through it. The actual pans attract wildlife in the wet summer months, from December to May. However, most of the park and lodges are concentrated around the Boteti River area, which is best visited for wildlife viewing in the Dry season from June to December.
April to October Dry Season
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June to December are the best wildlife-viewing months at the river area
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Roads are in good condition and it is easier to drive in the park
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It is possible to drive onto the pans
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It is cooler in the middle of the day from April to August
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July to October is high season, and some lodges might charge higher rates
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It gets very dry and dusty
November to March Wet Season
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Zebras migrate across the park in great numbers from December to March
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The pans fill up, and animals gather to drink
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Best birding time as migrants are present, and many birds are breeding
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Big flocks of flamingos come to feed on the algae and might breed if conditions are right
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It is very hot
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Roads become boggy and it isn’t possible to drive on the pans
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Afternoon thundershowers can interfere with activities
Best Time To Go by Major Park
- Central Kalahari GR
- Chobe National Park
- Makgadikgadi Pans NP
- Moremi Game Reserve
- Nxai Pan National Park
- Okavango Delta