A Traveller’s Guide to Nxai Pan National Park

Nxai Pan National Park is one of Botswana’s extraordinary places. The name is as rooted in the land as the trees themselves: it comes from the San word for the curved digging stick, the “nxa”. This ancient fossil lake bed lies right next to its more famous neighbour, the Makgadikgadi Pans National Park.

But where the Makgadikgadi has that silver-white, salt-encrusted lunar look, Nxai Pan is different. It’s dotted with clusters of that quintessential African tree, the umbrella thorn, and mopane woodland. In the rainy season, from November to April, the pans become a grassy feast, drawing in thousands of migrating mammals and vibrant birdlife.

Why You Should Go to Nxai Pan National Park

Visit for the unique, desolate beauty, iconic Baines’ Baobabs, and the seasonal wildebeest and zebra migration during the rainy season.

• Baines’ Baobabs: Seven ancient baobab trees in the pan were first documented by explorer Thomas Baines in the 1860s. They’re estimated to be more than 1,000 years old.
• Seasonal transformation: Like Makgadikgadi on its southern border, Nxai almost magically transforms from a barren expanse into lush, grass-covered pans and plains after the rains.
• Unique wildlife: Africa’s great desert-adapted mammals are at home in Nxai – you’re likely to see gemsbok or oryx, springbok, giraffes, zebras, lions, and cheetahs.
• Zebra migration: Tens of thousands of zebras migrate to the lush plains of Makgadikgadi and Nxai Pan during the wet season, attracting hordes of predators.
• Exceptional birdwatching: The rainy season is also particularly good for birding, with raptors, kori bustards, korhanns, and red-necked falcons joined by large flocks of waterbirds and flamingos.
• Photography: Think beautiful landscapes, stark views, iconic baobabs, and the opportunities for lining up subjects with striking sunsets.

When to Go

Wet season (December-April): Most game parks in Africa are at their best during the dry winter months, when short grass makes game viewing easier. At Nxai Pan National Park, it’s the opposite. The park is at its most beautiful, with lush landscapes, animal migrations, and excellent birding opportunities in the wet months. Roads can be challenging, though, and some areas may flood. Cheetah activity is also at its peak during the green season.

Dry season (May-October): Roads are more accessible as the pans dry out, and the zebra and wildebeest can be seen moving to water sources. There are only two pumped waterholes in the park, so expect to see plenty of wildlife, including jackals, bat-eared foxes, brown and spotted hyenas, and wild dogs.

What to See

• The ghosts of Nxai Pan: The desert-adapted elephants are often covered in clay soil, turning them a ghostly light grey. For photographers, the opportunities for eerie images are exciting.
• Cheetahs: It’s one of the best places in Botswana for excellent cheetah sightings because the flat ground is well suited to these cats, which can generally outrun any prey in these conditions.
• Baby boom: The zebras reach Nxai around November to December, when their babies are born. At the same time, thousands of Nxai Pan springbok are also dropping their young.

What to Do

• Sunrise and sunset game drives show off the park’s diverse wildlife in the best light. Baines’ Baobabs in the early morning have a beautiful soft light.
• Walk with local San guides to hear insights into their lives, including some survival skills, tracking and trapping, plant gathering, and fire-making in the arid environment.
• Go on a helicopter flip to see the astounding pan and its massive herds of antelope and flocks of flamingos from the air.
• You can also go on a horse riding safari on the Makgadikgadi pans.
• Like Makgadikgadi, Nxai Pan National Park in Botswana is an incredible location for stargazing thanks to its remote location and minimal light pollution.

Where to Stay

Nxai Pan Camp

Nxai Pan Camp is the only permanent, luxury accommodation option in the park, which means you get the park pretty much to yourself.

What it Offers

• Eight suites and one family suite, airy rooms under thatch
• Private viewing deck with a clear view of the waterhole
• Spacious lounge areas
• Swimming pool with waterhole views, limited Wi-Fi

Activities

• Game drives
• Bushman walks, learning San survival skills, medicinal plant lore
• Visits to Baines’ Baobabs
• Helicopter safaris

Nxai Pan National Park, and it’s in an ideal spot for witnessing the zebra migration between December and March. But you’re also treated to an endless parade of elephants drawn to the waterhole.

Book Your Nxai Pan National Park Stay

Nxai Pan is the perfect destination for slowing down and letting Africa get under your skin. Many a visitor has lost their heart to Botswana at Nxai. Browse our tours or get in touch and we’ll build a trip based on your idea of a dream safari.