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Nxai Pan National Park: A Kalahari Oasis

Explore Botswana's Nxai Pan: witness dramatic wildlife migrations, ancient baobabs, and stunning Kalahari landscapes. A unique safari adventure awaits!

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Nxai Pan National Park, located north of the Maun-Nata road in Botswana, is a captivating landscape of vast salt pans, grasslands, and iconic baobab trees. Known for its seasonal wildlife migrations and stark beauty, it offers a unique safari experience, especially during the rainy season.

A brief summary to Nxai Pan National Park

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Local tips

  • Visit during the rainy season (November-April) for the best wildlife viewing as animals congregate on the grassy plains.
  • A 4x4 vehicle is essential for navigating the sandy roads, especially during the wet season.
  • Bring your own supplies, as there are no fuel stations or restaurants within the park.
  • Book campsites in advance, especially during peak season (March-August).
  • Don't miss the Baines' Baobabs, a group of seven ancient trees that are a national landmark.
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Getting There

  • Driving

    The most common way to reach Nxai Pan National Park is by driving. The main entrance is located off the A3 highway connecting Maun and Nata. From Maun, the gate is approximately 138 km east, while from Nata, it's about 160 km west. A 4x4 vehicle is highly recommended due to sandy and potentially challenging road conditions, especially during the rainy season. Once on the A3, look for the clearly marked entrance gate on the northern side of the road. Here, you'll need to check in and pay park fees. Keep in mind that the nearest fuel station is in Gweta, about 65 km away from the park, so ensure you have sufficient fuel. Typical costs: * Park entry fee: $10 per person per day. * Vehicle entry fee: $4.20 per vehicle per day.

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Discover more about Nxai Pan National Park

Nxai Pan National Park, bordering Makgadikgadi Pans National Park, presents a dramatic landscape shaped by ancient geological processes. The park's defining features are its expansive salt pans, remnants of a prehistoric lake, which transform into lush grasslands after seasonal rains. This transformation attracts massive migrations of zebra, wildebeest, and springbok, creating a spectacle rivaling the Serengeti. The park's history dates back to 1970 when it was initially established as a game reserve, later expanding in 1992 to include the iconic Baines' Baobabs and gaining national park status. These ancient baobab trees, immortalized by painter Thomas Baines in 1862, stand as silent sentinels on the edge of Kudiakam Pan, offering a striking contrast to the surrounding flatness. Wildlife thrives in Nxai Pan, with the rainy season (November to April) offering prime game-viewing opportunities. The park becomes a haven for zebra, gemsbok, giraffe, and other antelopes, drawing predators such as lions, cheetahs, and hyenas. Birdlife is also abundant, with species like the kori bustard and secretary bird commonly sighted. Nxai Pan offers a more tranquil safari experience compared to other Botswana parks, with fewer visitors and opportunities for self-drive adventures. The park features two campsites, South Camp and Baines' Baobabs, providing basic facilities for self-sufficient travelers.

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