Makgadikgadi Pans Traverse
A dead sea you drive across by compass.
The Makgadikgadi is what’s left of an ancient inland sea that dried up thousands of years ago, and driving across it feels like landing on the moon — assuming the moon smelled of brine and had flamingos. The main crossing runs from Nata in the northeast toward Gweta, cutting across Ntwetwe Pan and Sua Pan. In the dry season (May through October) the salt surface hardens enough to support a vehicle, but localized soft spots and crust break-through zones can swallow a wheel without warning. Navigation is genuine dead reckoning — no tracks, no landmarks, just bearing and speed. The Kubu Island route is the classic anchor waypoint, a rocky outcrop with ancient baobabs rising from the white nothing.
You need a well-sorted 4WD with recovery gear and at minimum one other vehicle — getting stuck solo on a pan in mid-summer is a life-threatening situation. Tires at reduced pressure help on soft crust. Carry all water; the pans offer nothing drinkable. The salt is brutal on undercarriage — rinse everything as soon as you hit tarmac. Permits for the national park sections are handled through the Botswana Tourism Organisation or at the gate. Dry season only, full stop. What you gain is a navigation challenge and a landscape so alien it resets your sense of scale entirely.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Difficult |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | High Clearance, Overland Route, Remote |
| Surface | Mixed, Sand |
| Features | Camping, Historic, Remote, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 155 mi / 250 km |
| Duration | 3-5 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 3050 ft |
| Best season | May-October |
| Minimum vehicle | High-clearance 4WD, two-vehicle minimum recommended |
| Nearest town | Nata, Central District, Botswana |
| Land manager | Botswana Department of Wildlife and National Parks / Botswana Tourism Organisation |
| Permit required | Yes |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | No |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | Botswana Tourism Makgadikgadi page Botswana DWNP official site |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
| Copy both for Google Maps directionsClick to copy the directions URL · or open it directly in a new tab | |
| Find on Google | Search on Google → |
Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Can a stock Hilux or Land Cruiser 70 handle this, or do I need a built rig?
A stock high-clearance 4WD will get you across in dry season, but you need low range, a snorkel is strongly advisable, and aggressive all-terrain tires are not optional. Soft sand and unexpected wet sections during shoulder season will punish street tires and low-clearance vehicles fast.
What happens if you try this outside May–October?
The pans flood during the wet season (November–April) and become impassable — vehicles have been swallowed whole in salt crust that looks solid but isn't. The November and April shoulder months are especially unpredictable; a single rain event can trap you for days.
Do you need permits, and where do you get them?
Yes, permits are required through the Botswana Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP) for sections inside Makgadikgadi Pans National Park. Sort these in advance through the DWNP office or at entry gates — don't count on processing them on the spot at the pan edge.
What's the hardest section and what should I actually expect?
The central pan crossing is where it gets serious — no tracks, no markers, no landmarks, just flat white salt in every direction. Navigation is purely by compass or GPS, disorientation sets in fast, and if the crust is soft you'll be in the diff in minutes. Two vehicles minimum isn't a suggestion; it's survival logic out here.
There's zero cell service for 155 miles — what's the realistic water and fuel situation?
Fuel up completely in Nata before you leave; there are no resupply points on the traverse. Carry a minimum of 5 days of water per person — more than your planned duration — because a mechanical breakdown or soft sand bog can hold you far longer than expected with zero outside communication.
Trail track
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