Spanning some 16,000 square kilometres, the vast Makgadikgadi Pans are the largest salt pans in the world and the remnants of an ancient lake. The almost blindingly white expanses of Ntwetwe, Sowa and Nxai pans make up the bulk of this stark and breathtakingly beautiful national park, are are interrupted by stretches of sandy desert, mysterious islands of ancient baobabs and dramatic rock formations and the occasional patch of sparse vegetation.

The Makgadikgadi comes to life each year during the wet season when the pans fill with rain, attracting a rich diversity of wildlife. Huge flocks of flamingos and pelicans make the flooded pans their home and vast herds of zebra and wildebeest migrate here for the grazing, followed (of course) by predators like lion and hyaena. It's one of Africa's great spectacles and makes the Makgadikgadi an absolute must for any Botswana safari itinerary at this time of year

Around 25,000 zebra and 10,000 blue wildebeest migrate to the Makgadikgadi from the Boteti River in the west as well as from the Linyanti and Savuti regions to the north during the rainy season. They leave again between March and April once the rainwater has dried up. The pans are also home to large populations of brown hyaena as well as meerkats and aardvarks. Gemsbok, eland, red hartebeest and caracal are also seen regularly.

During the dry season (May to September) the pans are incredible to explore, especially by quad bike, with more than 1600 square kilometres of untouched land available to travel over, stopping at islands along the way to camp, sleeping under incredible star-lit skies. This is one of Africa's most unique experiences and is not to be missed.