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Jewel of Africa Safaris is a family owned, South African, luxury tour operator offering you effortless access to personalized, tailor-made safaris in Southern and East Africa.

Latest Safaris & Tours
Experience a once-in-a-lifetime completely immersive private trekking boat safari in the Okavango Delta, which will get you close to both the water and wildlife of this magical wilderness region.
9 Days 8 Nights
Your first-choice Botswana photographic safari offers unrivalled photographic experiences in three of the must-visit destinations, Chobe, Okavango Delta and Central Kalahari.
11 Days 10 nights
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Makgadikgadi Pans National Park

Makgadikgadi Pans

The world’s largest salt pan landscape offers a completely different kind of remote luxury African safari experience.

  /    /  Makgadikgadi Pans

A Silent, Remote & Surreal Desert Luxury Safari

Quite an unusual, but stunning luxury safari tour destination, the shimmering salt pans of Makgadikgadi along with the Nxai Pans are believed to be the largest in the world. Most of the time they appear as glaring, white, endless plains. However, during the rainy season they are one of the most important wetland areas in Botswana - when they transform and come alive into stunning grass-plains attracting a variety of water birds and large herds of wildlife. The Boteti River in the west, where our luxury safaris are mostly based, provides water to massive herds of zebra and wildebeest during the dry season. The annual summer zebra migration is also the second largest migration in Africa – a definitive must see for any visitor during a luxury safari in Botswana.

Makgadikgadi Pans National Park
Nxai Pan National Park

The World’s Largest Salt Pan Network with Endless Horizons

The Makgadikgadi Pans, which is situated South of the Okavango Delta is an unusual, but stunning luxury Botswana safari tour destination. The shimmering salt pans of Makgadikgadi combined with the Nxai Pans, the world’s largest salt pan landscape, offers a completely different kind of remote African safari experience. Easy to reach by charter flight, the Makgadikgadi Pans reveals itself as flat, endless plains stretching to the horizon, appearing hauntingly beautiful in their desolation. Covered by a dry, salty, clay crust during the dry parts of the year, the pans transform into nutritious water and grass-filled plains after the summer rains, offering a refuge for birds and animals in this very arid part of Botswana.

Africa’s Longest Zebra Migration, Charming Meerkats & Majestic Baobabs

Although it may not be immediately visible, the Makgadikgadi Pans harbors an assortment of interesting life forms. The Makgadikgadi Pans is especially renowned for its zebra migration spectacle in the rainy season, as thousands of these dazzling mammals head here from the north in search of greener pastures. As the Makgadikgadi Pans forms part of the Kalahari Desert, you can expect to see one of the most charming desert-adapted African animals, the meerkat (or suricate) here. This is also one of the best places to see the extraordinarily beautiful baobab tree, a Botswana national monument functioning as local landmarks.

A Flamingo Bird Photography Hotspot

The Makgadikgadi salt pans are considered one of the most important breeding sites in southern Africa for both the lesser and greater flamingo. These iconic and peculiar birds migrate to the Makgadikgadi to breed on unusual mud nests, as it provides an essential wetland feeding site. From the ground (and air) this annual spectacle turns the pans into a sea of pink, and while here you can also see a range of other migratory water birds such as pelicans, ducks, and geese. Therefore this area is considered a ‘jewel in the desert’ for bird photographers, and we can assist you in planning your ideal luxury Botswana photographic safari to the pans.

Ideal Destinations

For memories that last a lifetime, tailor your ideal luxury Makgadikgadi Pans, Botswana safari

Jewel of Africa works with your wish list, or offers obligation-free advice, on personally-curated safaris to fit your schedule, budget and desires.

Africa's Top Safari Experts

For experienced travel guides, personalized attention to detail, luxury travel and accommodation, choose jewel of Africa Safaris.

TrulyAfrican

The Real Africa

Jewel of Africa's local experts will take you to top safari destinations, and offer you experiences, way beyond anything you'll find in the average guidebook.

ExpertAdvice

Expert Advice

The passionate team has a vast knowledge of Africa and can offer advice on many areas of interest from city sightseeing to seasonal game viewing.

PeaceofMind

Safe and Comfortable

Luxury and safety are top priorities, from the vehicles Jewel of Africa uses to the guides it chooses and the accommodation it recommends.