AREA & ACTIVITIES

Habitat & Wildlife
The Makgadikgadi Pans are not a mainstream safari destination. Together with the adjacent Nxai Pan, the Makgadikgadi Pans cover an area of nearly 5500 sq. miles. The pans, remnants of a huge inland sea, are largely void of vegetation except for a few areas of open grassland and isolated baobab islands. During the rains, from December to March, the pans fill up and attract large numbers of water birds including flamingos and pelicans. Great herds of wildebeest, gemsbok, springbok and zebra also gather, as do predators such as lion and cheetah who move in during this time of plenty. The occasional elephant is even seen passing through! However, once the dry season sets in, the water reliant species migrate to leave an empty wilderness with an eerie silence and only specialist species remain in the grassland and scrub bush that fringe the pans. Brown hyaena and meerkats are two of the key species of interest found within the Kalahari ecosystem, whilst others include ostrich, aardvark, aardwolf, spring hare, black-backed jackal, African wild cat and porcupine.

The recent introduction of pumped water holes on the local concession is supporting the resident wildlife and encouraging more game to remain in the area during the long dry season. In particular, elephants are being seen more regularly. However, it is a delicate balance and it will take a few years to discover what the carrying capacity of the area is during the dry season.

Activities
Activities vary according to the season you visit. During the dry season, May to October, it is possible to explore the pans by quad bike and this is a key experience which is often undertaken in the afternoon and ends with a sundowner drink overlooking the pans. During the wet season, November to April, the use of quad bikes is limited and quad biking on the pans is not possible. Year round you may enjoy guided walks (usually hosted by Bushman trackers who can show you how they survive in this harsh landscape), day and night game drives (most game is seen during the wet season, including predators, but night drives are productive all year round and good for specialist species such as brown hyaena and aardvark) and the exploration of undocumented archaeological sites. A further highlight available throughout the year is a dawn visit to a local habituated meerkat colony where you can sit quietly and watch the meerkats at close range. Beware, they may use you as a lookout point!

Horse-back safaris are also available as a local activity, or for more experienced riders it is possible to arrange multi-day riding safaris across the pans.

For anyone really keen to explore the salt pans in depth by quad bike, camping excursions to a rocky outcrop in the middle of the pans known as Kubu Island may be arranged (this should be booked in advance and is only available during the dry season). It is also possible to enjoy a more in-depth bushman experience with a group of around 24 bushman from one clan, spanning all ages except school age children, who are residing traditionally in the area. The idea is that the family continue their traditions and pass on their knowledge to younger generations whilst at the same time earning a living in their rapidly changing world. Guests staying 4 nights or more are able to enjoy a full day bushman experience whereas shorter bushman walks are available for all guests as a standard activity.

The most recent addition to the portfolio is a small helicopter which is available for hire to undertake scenic flights over the pans, the surrounding grasslands and to Kubu Island.

Seasons
Camp Kalahari is open all year round and there are pros and cons at any time of year. Quad biking is only possible during the dry season, but traditional wildlife viewing is better during the rainy season.