Makgadikgadi Pans - BREATHTAKING VASTNESS AND WHITE SOLITUDE IN THE NORTHEAST OF BOTSWANA

Archaeological excavations in the Makgadikgadi Pans have revealed the presence of prehistoric humans through abundant finds of stone tools; some of these tools have been dated early enough to indicate their origin predating the era of Homo sapiens.

The pans are a saline desert, with the only plant life being a thin layer of blue-green algae. However, the edges of the pans are salt marshes, which further out are surrounded by grassland and then a bushy savannah. The distinctive baobab trees found in this area serve as local landmarks. One of them, named after James Chapman, served as an unofficial post office for explorers in the 19th century.

During the harsh dry season, when strong, hot winds and only salt water prevail, very little wildlife can exist here. But after the rains, the pans become an important habitat for migratory animals, including wildebeests and one of the largest zebra populations in Africa, as well as the large predators that prey upon them.

A very special colony resides here: the meerkats, also known as suricates, which live wild but are accustomed to humans. Therefore, especially for families, visiting this region is rewarding, which can also be combined with a night spent in the salt pans under the open sky.