Makgadikgadi Pans National Park

Beautfiful...though there is plenty of wildlife, it does not compare to the chobe nat park for example. The baobabs steal the show here anyway. Amazing trees...

Amazing scenery, feeling of complete isolation.

Large variety of animals and limited amenities.

It was winter so that may have impacted the "beauty" a little but getting to see the nesting vulture community was awesome. The way out was very bumpy but it's the bush of Africa and I wouldn't expect, nor want, anything else.

A huge salt pan...did not view a lot of wildlife but the scenery went on forever...so beautiful.

One of the most magical places on earth

We drove into Makgadikgadi NP, in a hired 4x4, from the south (from Lethakane) on a spur of the moment decision, we had an extra two days to get to Maun and thus decided to take the detour. Probably one of the best decision ever made. After a small town (I think it's called Mmatshumo) the road gradually gets narrower and after reaching the salt plains it now and then was completely gone. The salt plains give a tremendous feeling of freedom, but don't wander of too far from the tracks, because your vehicle will get stuck if you crack the crust of the salt and you'll probably damage the landscape.
We camped at the campsite at Kubu Island, a rocky outcrop just east of the central grassy peninsula. Although the "island" is rather small, it's full of Baobabs, a rather strange sight if the surrounding area is only salt plains and grassland. Watching the sun set from the top of the island was beautiful, the moment the last part of the sun sinks behind the horizon, absolute darkness engulfs the plains. During the five minutes walk back to our tent we lost our way in the darkness, ending up at someone else's camping spot.
If you've got the choice, try to make it to Kubu Island on a night, or at least evening, without a moon. The night skies were some of the best of seen in Africa.

While I'm not a birder, it's a great place to see a lot of birds. The harshness of the land there and high salinity of the water mean that not that many animals can live there. Still there are wildebeests around and zebras.

Let me qualify this review -- I went to the pans in the winter (July) which is not the height of its wildlife season. If you can get there in the African summer when the rains are falling and animals are bearing their young and the birds are migrating, I think it would be a very different experience.

Nice detour/side-visit between Chobe and Okavango. Not as great as those but still good for a sunset drive into the pans. May be different (much better) in low (water) season.

A Night on the Moon

It’s like being on the moon. The horizon is perfectly flat and you can’t see where it ends. I was there at the end of dry season so there was a delicate crust where the mud had dehydrated, lifted up all pitted and mottled, curling in spots like a decaying leaf. When you walk on this crust it poofs around your feet in little clouds as it turns into incredibly fine dust that gets into every crevice. At first – the only sounds are those you make – so quiet you can hear yourself breathing. Every step crunches so loudly I found myself wanting to tip toe. Despite the fact that there are no plants or animals to be seen, after about 20 minutes you hear a loud drone – you think maybe an ultralight is heading your way – and then you realize the mosquitos have found you! How? Where did they come from? No idea but since you are the only thing out there to feast on – you had better hope you have good bug spray! Because there is nothing on the horizon, sunset and sunrise seem to last much longer and turn the whole world pink. It feels like you’ve been dropped into a sci-fi movie. I found myself whispering – not wanting to disturb the surreal quality of the experience.