31/03/2026
Makgadikgadi Pans National Park
PANS & PLAINS #1 RECCE (The Makgadikgadi Expedition)
6–20 February 2027
WHAT IT’S ALL ABOUT
There are places in Africa where the land seems to stretch forever.
Where the horizon disappears into shimmering heat, where ancient baobabs stand alone on endless salt pans, and where the silence of the Kalahari is broken only by wind, wildlife, and the distant calls of birds.
Pans & Plains – The Makgadikgadi Expedition takes you deep into one of Botswana’s most remarkable and mysterious landscapes.
This Waypoint Adventures expedition explores the vast wilderness surrounding the Makgadikgadi Pans, one of the largest salt pan systems on earth. These ancient lakebeds, formed thousands of years ago, create an otherworldly landscape of endless white horizons, remote wildlife areas, and some of the most spectacular sunsets in Africa.
Our journey begins in Maun, Botswana’s famous safari gateway. After gathering the convoy and completing vehicle checks, we head east toward the incredible landscapes of Nxai Pan National Park.
Nxai Pan is one of Botswana’s hidden gems. Vast grasslands stretch in every direction, attracting large herds of springbok, zebra, wildebeest, and giraffe, while predators such as lion, cheetah, and brown hyena roam these plains. The park is also home to the legendary Baines Baobabs, one of Botswana’s most iconic and photographed natural landmarks.
If seasonal rains arrive as they often do during this time of year, we may also witness one of Africa’s lesser-known but spectacular wildlife events — the Makgadikgadi zebra migration. Each year thousands of zebra move between the Boteti River region and Nxai Pan, following the rains across the grasslands. This migration is the second-largest zebra migration in Africa, and when conditions are right it transforms the plains into a sea of black-and-white stripes stretching across the horizon.
From Nxai Pan we continue south toward the great Makgadikgadi Pans National Park, where we explore the beautiful riverine forests and wildlife areas around Khumaga and Njuca. This region offers excellent wildlife viewing as animals move between the Boteti River and the surrounding grasslands.
The expedition then moves deeper into the pans, where we spend time at the breathtaking Lekhubu Island. This dramatic granite outcrop rises from the endless salt flats and is dotted with ancient baobabs that have stood watch over the pans for centuries. Few places in Africa feel as vast, surreal, and timeless as Lekhubu.
Our journey continues to Nata Bird Sanctuary, a seasonal wetland that attracts large numbers of flamingos, pelicans, and migratory birds when conditions are right. The contrast between the dry salt pans and these vibrant wetlands makes this area one of Botswana’s most fascinating ecosystems.
Throughout this expedition we travel remote sand tracks and gravel roads, exploring vast open landscapes and camping in some of the most remarkable wilderness locations in Botswana.
If the rains arrive and the migration begins, we may find ourselves driving through one of Africa’s great wildlife spectacles — thousands of zebra moving across the Makgadikgadi grasslands beneath enormous Kalahari skies.
Pans & Plains – The Makgadikgadi Expedition is a journey through ancient landscapes, big skies, wildlife migrations, and remote wilderness — a place where Africa still feels wild, raw, and wonderfully untouched.
EXPEDITION HIGHLIGHTS
• Explore the vast landscapes of Nxai Pan National Park, home to large herds of plains game and powerful predators.
• Visit the legendary Baines Baobabs, one of Botswana’s most iconic wilderness landmarks.
• Experience the dramatic landscapes of Makgadikgadi Pans National Park.
• Camp beside the incredible Lekhubu Island, surrounded by ancient baobabs and endless salt flats.
• Experience the possibility of witnessing the Makgadikgadi zebra migration.
• Visit Nata Bird Sanctuary, a seasonal haven for flamingos and pelicans.
• Travel remote sand tracks across one of the largest salt pan systems on Earth.
• Experience the adventure of travelling with a small expedition convoy.
ITINERARY (Preliminary)
• Day 1- Audi Camp – Maun
• Day 2 & 3 - Nxai South Camp – Nxai Pan National Park
• Day 4 & 5 - Baines Baobabs – Nxai Pan National Park
• Day 6 & 7 - Khumaga Wildlife Camp – Makgadikgadi Pans National Park
• Day 8 & 9 - Njuca Rest Camp – Makgadikgadi Pans National Park
• Day 10 & 11 - Lekhubu Island
• Day 12 - Nata Bird Sanctuary
• Day 13 - Woodlands Stopover
WHAT DO YOU NEED
• A fully serviced reliable 4×4 vehicle with low range in very good condition
• Fuel range for at least 850 km (mainly sandy travel, with possible mud and water crossings)
• Suitable recovery gear and quality tyre repair kit
• All your drinking water, meals, drinks, and snacks for at least 9 days
• All camping gear
• Firewood (as much as you can carry)
• First Aid kit according to your requirements
Travel Documentation
• Valid Driver’s License
• Passport valid for at least 6 months with minimum two blank visa pages
Children under 18 require:
• Valid passports
• Certified unabridged birth certificates
• Letter of consent if travelling with only one parent
Vehicle Documentation
If the vehicle is your own:
• Certified copy of vehicle registration / licence papers
• Bank letter authorising cross-border travel with travel dates
• Documents signed by a Commissioner of Oaths
If the vehicle is rented or not registered in your name:
• SAPS affidavit from the owner or rental company
• Registration documents signed by a Commissioner of Oaths
Additional requirements:
• ZA country sticker
• Third-party insurance valid for 90 days
• All border crossing fees payable at the border
Health
• Consult your doctor regarding Malaria prophylaxis
Trailers
• The tour is suitable for off-road camping trailers
WHAT DO WE SUPPLY
• A CATHSSETA-qualified guide with many years of experience
• Qualified Wilderness First Responder (Level 3) with advanced First Aid Kit
• A personalised tour magazine
• Pre-paid camping, park, and entrance fees (when accommodated inside parks)
• Radios for inter-vehicle communication
• Advanced recovery gear
• Printed map, photos, and a short trip video
• STARLINK satellite high-speed internet available most of the time near our vehicle
EXPEDITION SIZE
This Waypoint Adventure Recce expedition is intentionally kept small and personal to ensure an authentic wilderness experience. We will travel with a maximum of 10 vehicles. Once these 8 vehicle positions are filled, bookings will close.
PRICE
• R20 950 per person sharing
• Half price for children under 12
• Children under 6 are free (at the time of the tour)
• Single supplement: R26 200
• Pricing for non-SADC members available on request
ARE YOU COMING?
Some of the places on this expedition feel as if they belong to another world — endless salt pans, ancient baobabs rising from the desert, and vast Kalahari skies filled with stars.
We will drive remote sand tracks, explore wildlife-rich plains, visit some of Botswana’s most remarkable national parks, and possibly witness the Makgadikgadi zebra migration moving across the landscape.
Around the campfires in the evenings, the stories will begin to form — the kind that only happen when adventurers travel together into wild places.
If this speaks to you, then this expedition may have your name written on it.
HOW TO JOIN
This expedition will be very popular and will book out quickly, so secure your place as soon as possible.
Tour WhatsApp Group:
https://chat.whatsapp.com/BMuguZe6TH67hqW0NC53PX
Book and Pay Online:
https://waypoint-adventures.co.za/itinerary/pp1/
Once you join, we will contact you to obtain your name, surname, and email address, after which we will send the relevant tour documents and confirmation details.
If you do not respond to our messages, we may unfortunately have to remove you from the group to make space for others waiting in the queue.
LET'S GO!
