Place to Visit: Nxai Pan National Park

Seasonal Grasslands of the Kalahari

Northern Botswana, Botswana

One of Botswana’s lesser-visited protected areas, Nxai Pan National Park lies just north of the Maun to Nata road and adjoins the Makgadikgadi Pans National Park. The main feature of the park is the pan itself – an ancient lakebed that provides rich grasslands for wildlife during the November to April hot summer rains. During this period large concentrations of antelope, such as springbok and oryx are prey to predators such as lion and leopard. Large numbers of elephant and zebra also migrate to the pan and surrounding area at this time and are easy to spot on safari.

Great Reasons To Visit

  • Large concentrations of seasonal and permanent wildlife
  • Remarkable baobab trees, ‘Baines Baobabs’
  • Wide variety of raptors (birds of prey)

Background

‘Nxai’ is often claimed to be the San Bushman word for a type of hooked springhare trap.

Relaxing

Nxai Pan National Park

Unlike other parks, game viewing is particularly good during the rainy season as multitudes of zebra and springbok drop their young, tracked by predators. Giraffe, kudu, wildebeest, eland, red hartebeest, cheetah, spotted hyena, buffalo, impala, ostrich, jackal and bat-eared fox are permanent residents here. In the north, the landscape is adorned with majestic umbrella acacia trees and mopane woodland.

In 1861, the famous artist Thomas Baines arrived in the area and painted an unusual group of Baobab trees. A visit to these remarkable trees, known as 'Baines Baobabs', is highly recommended. Another local point of interest is the ‘old trek route’, a trail pioneered in the 1950’s and used until 1963 as a short cut through Ngamiland to Kazungula. 4WD transport is essential due to sandy track conditions.

Baines' Baobabs

Baines Baobabs

Northern Botswana, Botswana

Overlooking Kudiakam pan, on the south side of Nxai Pan National Park, is a group of 7 giant baobab trees. These 7 impressive baobabs, originally known as the Sleeping Sisters, were immortalized for p...

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