Nxai Pan National Park — North Pan Dispersed Bush Camp

Nxai Pan is the northern bookend of the Makgadikgadi Pans system and one of the great game-watching destinations in the Kalahari Basin — directly relevant to Trans-Kalahari crossings heading northeast toward Nata. The pan system allows camping in designated dispersed areas on the edge of the main pan, with zero infrastructure: no ablutions, no water, no bins. You camp on hard calcrete or short pan-edge grass under massive false mopane and umbrella thorn trees. The open sky here is spectacular — Milky Way views rival anywhere in Africa. Big elephant herds are a real factor; keep food secured and fire lit if they’re moving through.

Entry and camping require DWNP permits, bookable through the Botswana National Parks online portal or at Maun gate. The access track from the A3 Maun–Nata road is a reasonable sand road — manageable for a well-set-up high-clearance 4WD. Wet season (November–April) brings the game but turns some approach tracks soft. Dry season delivers firm roads and excellent dust. Fuel and water must be carried in — nearest resupply is Maun to the west or Gweta to the east.

Salt pan skies, elephant, and total quiet.