The Makgadikgadi Pans, one of the largest salt flats in the world, offer a stark and surreal beauty that contrasts with Botswana’s more traditional safari landscapes. Located in the heart of the Kalahari Desert, the pans stretch endlessly, creating a vast expanse of white, cracked earth. During the rainy season, the pans fill with water, attracting thousands of flamingos and other migratory birds, along with zebra and wildebeest that follow the seasonal rains.

This remote region offers unique desert experiences, from quad biking across the salt flats to walking with the San Bushmen, learning about their ancient culture and survival techniques. Visitors can stay in exclusive desert lodges that provide a gateway to this otherworldly landscape, offering a serene and off-the-beaten-path experience in the heart of Botswana’s wilderness.