Makgadikgadi Pans, Botswana
This vast, emotive expanse of salt pan, the largest in the world, provides a unique and surreal landscape. Its stark emptiness and endless horizons evoke feelings of isolation, tranquillity and a sense of wonder at the sheer vastness of nature. It can make you feel small in comparison, inspiring introspection and contemplation. I especially love the stark beauty of the pans during sunrise and sunset, an other-worldly experience.
A few of my favourite experiences on the pans are:
Walking with the San Bushmen who are one of the oldest indigenous tribes in Southern Africa. This unique and fascinating experience offers a glimpse of a way of life that has remained largely unchanged for centuries. The San have a deep connection to the land and speak a fascinating click language. Often you have the opportunity to observe their traditional dances, songs and storytelling.
Quad biking across the pans is a thrilling and unique experience. Binding your hair in a local kikoy adds to the sense of adventure making you feel very ‘Lawrence of Arabia’! The feelings of freedom, speed and adrenaline as you ride across the flat white salt pans are ones that will stay with you forever!
And of course there is the unique wildlife of the pans. The area is an important breeding ground for flamingos. Meerkats are common and are known for their social behaviour and standing on their hind legs to watch for predators. Herds of zebras roam the plains around the pans and wildebeest are abundant in the area. There is a wide variety of beautiful bird species and occasionally you will spot elephants.
Jack’s Camp and San Camp are magical, small luxury camps that offer great comfort in classic 1940’s style walk-in tents. Views are mesmerising. For the more budget conscious I recommend Planet Baobab, a place of endless horizons and four thousand year old inverted trees.
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