National Park in Botswana
The zebra migration and Baines’ Baobabs
Nxai Pan National Park is a quiet corner of the Makgadikgadi system, a landscape of fossil pans, grassland and mopane scrub. It is famous for Baines' Baobabs, a group of ancient trees painted by the explorer Thomas Baines in 1862, and for the zebra migration that arrives from December to March, when the pans turn green.
Springbok, giraffe, gemsbok, kudu and lion live here in the green season, and the dry months bring a quieter, more austere beauty. The park is small and uncrowded, and has a rustic feel.
Nxai Pan is often added to a Makgadikgadi stay, or visited on the road between Maun and Kasane.
In the green season Nxai Pan hosts thousands of zebra and wildebeest, with springbok, gemsbok, eland, kudu, giraffe and ostrich. Lions, cheetah and spotted hyena follow the herds. Elephants come to the waterhole in the dry season.
Chance of seeing
Our estimate for a stay of two or three nights with a good guide. Wildlife is wild, so nothing is promised.
Wide, flat grass pans fringed by acacia and mopane, with the ancient baobabs standing alone on the horizon.
Activities here
Nxai Pan is hot in summer, with daytime temperatures of 33°C to 36°C, and cool to cold in winter. Rain falls from November to March.
| Month | Day °C | Night °C | Rain mm |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 34 | 20 | 90 |
| Feb | 33 | 20 | 80 |
| Mar | 33 | 19 | 65 |
| Apr | 31 | 16 | 30 |
| May | 28 | 11 | 5 |
| Jun | 25 | 7 | 0 |
| Jul | 25 | 6 | 0 |
| Aug | 28 | 10 | 0 |
| Sep | 32 | 15 | 5 |
| Oct | 35 | 19 | 20 |
| Nov | 35 | 20 | 50 |
| Dec | 34 | 20 | 85 |
Approximate long-term averages. Higher ground is cooler, and forests can rain in any month.
May to October is dry, with cold mornings and warm days. The pans are bare and the game concentrates around the artificial waterhole.
November to March is hot, with afternoon storms and green grass on the pans. The zebra migration arrives, and the park is at its best.
December to March is the best time, with the zebra migration and the green pans. The dry season is a good time for quiet, austere landscapes.
Best time to visit Dec to Feb
Nxai Pan is about 170 kilometres from Maun, a drive of around three hours, partly on sand. It lies on the road to Gweta and Kasane, and can be reached by light aircraft from Maun.
Park fees are included in our safaris. Citizens of many countries, including the UK, US, Canada, Australia and most of the EU, can enter Botswana without a visa for up to 90 days, but please check the rules for your passport.
Nxai Pan is hot by day and cold at night in winter. Bring sun protection and warm layers. The malaria risk is low in winter and higher in the rains.
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“Our take”
Come between December and April for the migration, and plan a sunset at the baobabs.
Safaris from
US$5,264 per person
Plan your time in Nxai Pan
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