The Makgadikgadi Pans offer a truly unique experience for visitors, with a landscape and ecosystem that cannot be found anywhere else on earth. Whether visitors come for an off-the-beaten-path adventure or a luxury safari, the Makgadikgadi Pans offer a diverse range of experiences that cater to all interests.

One of the most popular activities in the Makgadikgadi Pans is a guided safari tour. Visitors can explore the vast expanse of the pans and the surrounding grasslands with experienced guides, who have an intimate knowledge of the area and its wildlife. Guided tours offer a chance to see some of the region's most iconic animals, such as lions, hyenas, and cheetahs, as well as lesser-known species like the aardvark and the pangolin.

Another popular activity is a guided walking tour. This is an excellent opportunity for visitors to explore the area on foot and to gain a deeper appreciation of the ecosystem and its flora and fauna. Visitors can also take a hot air balloon ride over the pans, which offers a breathtaking view of the landscape and its wildlife.

The Makgadikgadi Pans also offer a unique cultural experience for visitors. The San people, who have inhabited the area for thousands of years, offer guided tours that provide insights into their traditional way of life. Visitors can learn about the San's hunting and gathering techniques, their spiritual beliefs, and their customs and traditions.

For those seeking a luxury experience, there are several high-end lodges in the area that offer world-class amenities and service. Visitors can relax in luxurious accommodations, dine on gourmet cuisine, and enjoy spa treatments while taking in the stunning views of the pans.

Visiting the Makgadikgadi Pans is a thrilling experience regardless of the season, and it's a popular destination for international travelers. However, understanding the best time to visit can be helpful in planning your trip, depending on what you hope to see and experience.

From March to October, the park experiences the dry winter season, characterized by sunny and warm daylight hours, but extremely cold nights. While it may not be the best time to see large herds of wildlife, it's perfect for exploring the rugged terrain of the pans and spotting some of the park's hardy desert-adapted animals, such as Oryx and Kudu. It's also the time when zebra and wildebeest migrate in their thousands to the Boteti river, which provides a life-giving source of water in this harsh environment.

From November to March, the wet summer season transforms the park into a vibrant and lush ecosystem, where the desert teems with life. This is the only time of the year to witness the second largest migration in Africa, with herds of zebra and wildebeest grazing on the wide-open green grassland plains of the Makgadikgadi. It's also the best time to see wildlife in the actual pans, attracting animals from December to May.

Visiting the Makgadikgadi Pans during the dry season from June to December provides the best opportunity for wildlife viewing, particularly around the Boteti river area. Springbok, brown hyenas, wildebeest, zebras, and oryx are particularly well adapted to the arid environment of the pans and can be spotted here even when there isn't much else around. Predators such as aardwolf, bat-eared fox, and striped polecat can also be found lurking around the fringes of the pan at dusk.

The weather is typically the best from May to August, with cooler temperatures during the day and dry conditions. This is also an excellent time to combine a trip to the Makgadikgadi Pans with tours to other nearby parks, such as the Okavango Delta and Chobe National Park.

January:

The weather in January is hot and humid, with high temperatures averaging 35°C (95°F) and low temperatures averaging 23°C (73°F). There is an average of 51 mm (2.0 inches) of rainfall during the month, and around 7 rainy days.

February:

February is still hot and humid, with high temperatures averaging 34°C (93°F) and low temperatures averaging 22°C (72°F). There is slightly less rainfall than in January, with an average of 42 mm (1.7 inches) and around 6 rainy days.

March:

Temperatures in March start to cool down a bit, with high temperatures averaging 32°C (90°F) and low temperatures averaging 20°C (68°F). There is an average of 30 mm (1.2 inches) of rainfall during the month, and around 5 rainy days.

April:

April is the start of the dry season, with high temperatures averaging 32°C (90°F) and low temperatures averaging 16°C (61°F). There is almost no rainfall during the month, with an average of only 5 mm (0.2 inches) and around 2 rainy days.

May:

The weather in May is still dry, with high temperatures averaging 30°C (86°F) and low temperatures averaging 11°C (52°F). There is almost no rainfall during the month, with an average of only 1 mm (0.0 inches) and around 1 rainy day.

June:

June is the coolest month in the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans, with high temperatures averaging 27°C (81°F) and low temperatures averaging 7°C (45°F). There is almost no rainfall during the month, with an average of only 0.2 mm (0.0 inches) and no rainy days.

July:

Temperatures start to rise again in July, with high temperatures averaging 28°C (82°F) and low temperatures averaging 7°C (45°F). There is almost no rainfall during the month, with an average of only 0.2 mm (0.0 inches) and no rainy days.

August:

The weather in August is hot and dry, with high temperatures averaging 32°C (90°F) and low temperatures averaging 10°C (50°F). There is almost no rainfall during the month, with an average of only 0.3 mm (0.0 inches) and no rainy days.

September:

September is the hottest month in the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans, with high temperatures averaging 36°C (97°F) and low temperatures averaging 15°C (59°F). There is almost no rainfall during the month, with an average of only 0.5 mm (0.0 inches) and no rainy days.

October:

Temperatures start to cool down again in October, with high temperatures averaging 36°C (97°F) and low temperatures averaging 19°C (66°F). There is almost no rainfall during the month, with an average of only 4 mm (0.2 inches) and around 1 rainy day.

November:

November is still hot and dry, with high temperatures averaging 36°C (97°F) and low temperatures averaging 22°C (72°F). There is almost no rainfall during the month, with an average of only 12 mm (0.5 inches) and around 2 rainy days.

December:

The weather in December is characterized by high temperatures and low rainfall. The average high temperature is 37°C (99°F) with an average low temperature of 24°C (75°F). The average rainfall for the month is only 9 mm (0.4 inches), and there are typically only 2 rainy days in the month.