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Makgadikgadi Pans travel info The name Makgadikgadi means "vast, lifeless land", a pertinent description of the pans, which are bordered by saline-and drought- tolerant vegetation, whereas the pans themselves sustain little or no vegetation.
The Makgadikgadi Pan is believed to be the largest saltpan in the world and is composed of the Ntwetwe and Sowa (Sua) pans, covering an area of
5 000 square kilometres. Its sister park - Nxai Pan National Park - lies nearby. When dry, which is most of the time, the pans are an image of glaring saline sand; white and absolutely flat. When the waters of the Okavango Delta spill down the Boteti and Nata Rivers after good summer rains, the whole area of the pan is flooded to a depth of a few centimetres, providing rich feeding for aquatic birds such as flamingos and countless pelicans. The rains bring with them herds of big game - wildebeest, zebra and springbok, and huge herds can sometimes be seen on the plains besides the pan. In the pan, animals stand out in startling fashion on the white salt, their legs shimmering and elongated through mirage caused by heat waves and glare. The pans themselves are a treasure chest of untouched artifacts - among them hominid stonetools dating back thousands of years.
Seasons
The climate in the pans is extreme. Summer temperatures (Oct-Mar) can range from 33 to 44 degrees, where as daily winter temperatures (May-Aug) can range from below zero to 17 degrees. Rainfall is variable falling mostly in summer, triggering the arrival of flamingoes and a mass migration of wildebeest and zebra. Most of the rain falls as thunderstorms. Game viewing is best from Apr-Ju; birding is at its best during the rains. A fierce wind howls across the pans during Aug-Sep.
Wildlife
You should see: brown hyaena, springbok, gemsbok, wildebeest, zebra, duiker, meerkat, mongoose, black korhaan, kori bustard,
You may see: bushbuck, lion, cheetah
Precautions
Malaria area - minimize mosquito bites by wearing light, long sleeved clothing and using effective insect repellents (containing Diethyltoluamide DEET) on exposed skin. Sleep under treated mosquito netting or ensure that the doors and windows of your accommodation are screened against mosquitoes. Having a fan or air-conditioner on at night will further suppress mosquito activity. Currently, the three effective anti-malaria tablets are Mefloquine (Lariam or Mefliam), Doxycycline and Malarone (Malanil). It is still possible to contract malaria while on malaria prophylaxis. Note that Lariam may present serious side-effects - please test before you depart.
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