5-Day Salt Pan and Baines Baobabs Explorer

Arrival Day – Welcome to Maun

Upon arrival at Maun International Airport, you will be warmly welcomed by your safari guide and transferred to your lodge or guesthouse in Maun. Take the rest of the afternoon to relax, settle in, or explore the town at your own pace. In the evening, your guide will give you a detailed briefing about the upcoming journey. Enjoy dinner and a peaceful night in Maun, preparing for your adventure into the salt pans and wilderness.

Day 1 – Maun to Makgadikgadi National Park

After breakfast, depart Maun and drive east toward Makgadikgadi National Park, a striking landscape of ancient salt pans, grasslands, and desert wildlife. Arrive at your campsite in time for lunch and settle in before heading out on an afternoon game drive. Explore the vast open plains in search of springbok, wildebeest, oryx, and ostrich. If you're visiting in the green season, you may witness large herds of zebra migrating across the pan. Return to camp for a delicious bush dinner and an overnight stay under the stars in a fully serviced tented camp.

Day 2 – Exploring the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans

Today is dedicated to exploring the beauty and diversity of the Makgadikgadi. Begin with a morning game drive or nature walk, focusing on the area’s fascinating geology, birdlife, and desert-adapted species. Learn about the ancient lake that once covered the region and the resilient animals that call this arid land home. After brunch and rest during the heat of the day, set out in the afternoon for another drive or a scenic sundowner outing on the edge of the pans. As the sun dips below the horizon, enjoy the surreal beauty of Makgadikgadi’s endless white landscape before returning to camp for dinner and storytelling by the fire.

Day 3 – Makgadikgadi to Nxai Pan National Park

After breakfast, break camp and travel north to Nxai Pan National Park, home to wide open grasslands, seasonal waterholes, and the legendary Baines Baobabs. En route, enjoy a picnic lunch and scenic stops as you transition between ecosystems. Arrive at your campsite in the park and enjoy a short rest before going on an afternoon game drive. Nxai Pan is known for elephants, lions, cheetahs, and large herds of herbivores, especially after the rains. Return to camp for dinner and overnight in a remote and peaceful setting.

Day 4 – Game Drives and Baines Baobabs Exploration

Today begins with an early morning game drive to take advantage of peak wildlife activity. Your guide will navigate the pans and waterholes, offering excellent chances to spot predators and grazers alike. After breakfast and rest at camp, set off in the afternoon to visit the iconic Baines Baobabs—seven towering trees painted by explorer Thomas Baines in 1862. Learn about their history and enjoy the mystical atmosphere of this ancient landmark. End your day with a sundowner, followed by a final dinner and overnight at the campsite.

Day 5 – Nxai Pan to Maun / Departure

After a relaxed breakfast and a short morning drive, pack up and begin your return journey to Maun. Along the way, enjoy final glimpses of wildlife and the ever-changing landscape. Upon arrival in Maun, you’ll be transferred to your lodge or directly to the airport for your onward travel. This marks the end of your salt pan and baobab adventure—leaving you with memories of vast horizons, dramatic skies, and the raw beauty of Botswana’s wilderness.