Makgadikgadi Salt Pans Traverse
A white void that swallows the unprepared.
The Makgadikgadi is what’s left of an ancient super-lake that once covered most of northern Botswana — today it’s a blinding white salt crust broken by grass islands, baobab stands, and seasonal flamingo migrations on the pan edges. The traverse typically runs from Gweta on the Nata-Maun road south across Ntwetwe Pan, aiming for Kubu Island — a baobab-crowned granite outcrop that rises like a mirage from the flat — before looping back through Mmatshumo village. The pans are only crossable in the dry season when the salt crust is hard enough to carry vehicle weight; pick the wrong line or hit a thin section and you’re buried to the axles in mud-salt mix with no anchor points for miles.
Navigation here is GPS-mandatory — there are zero visual landmarks once you’re on the pan surface and tracks blow away overnight. A recovery-equipped 4×4 is essential; travel in convoy minimum two vehicles. Kubu Island requires a community permit purchased at the gate or in advance through Botswana Tourism. Fuel from Gweta or Francistown before entry; there is nothing inside the pan. Best months are June through September — the dry season crust is solid and night temperatures are cold but manageable. What you get is one of the most otherworldly environments on the continent: flat to the horizon, dead silent, and humbling at scale.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Expert |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | High Clearance, Overland Route, Remote |
| Surface | Mixed, Sand |
| Features | Camping, Historic, Remote, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 149 mi / 240 km |
| Duration | 3-5 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 3100 ft |
| Best season | June-September |
| Minimum vehicle | Recovery-equipped 4x4, GPS mandatory, two-vehicle minimum |
| Nearest town | Gweta, Central District, Botswana |
| Land manager | Botswana Tourism Organization / Makgadikgadi Pans National Park |
| Permit required | Yes |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | No |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | Botswana Tourism – Makgadikgadi |
| 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 lifted Tacoma or stock Land Cruiser handle this trail solo?
No solo rigs — two-vehicle minimum is non-negotiable out here. You need a recovery-equipped 4x4 with a quality compressor, sand tracks, hi-lift jack, and a full spare. The surface shifts from hard crust to soft sand without warning, and a bogged vehicle on the open pan with no backup is a life-safety situation, not an inconvenience.
What happens if you try to cross in the wet season?
The pans flood and become completely impassable — vehicles sink and the surface turns to deep mud beneath shallow water with zero traction. Stick to June through September when the pans are dry and firm enough to drive. Even then, late September can see soft edges depending on the prior rain season.
Do you need a permit to drive the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans, and what does it cost?
Yes — you need a permit to enter Makgadikgadi Pans National Park, issued through the Botswana Tourism Organization and the Department of Wildlife and National Parks. Fees vary by nationality and vehicle type; check current rates directly with the BTO or DWNP before departure as fees are updated regularly and must be paid before entry.
What's the hardest section of the traverse and what makes it dangerous?
The open pan crossings are the crux — there are no landmarks, no tracks, and GPS drift combined with featureless white terrain makes navigation genuinely disorienting. A wrong line can put you on soft subsurface crust that collapses under vehicle weight. Waypoints loaded before you leave pavement aren't optional; they're how you survive the crossing without a compass-spinning breakdown in the middle of nowhere.
How much fuel do you need to carry, and is there any water on route?
Plan for full self-sufficiency — the nearest reliable fuel is in Gweta or Maun, and there is no fuel or potable water anywhere on the 240km traverse. Carry a minimum 200L of fuel capacity across your vehicles and enough water for your full team for 5 days plus emergency reserves. There is zero cell service on route, so if you run dry, you're waiting for another party to find you.
Trail track
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