Makgadikgadi is believed to be the largest salt pan in the world. When dry, which is most of the time, it is 6,500 square kilometers of glaring saline sand, white and absolutely flat. When the waters of the Okavango spill down the Boteti River after good summer rains, the whole area of the pan is flooded to a depth of a few centimeters, providing rich feeding for aquatic birds. Flamingoes and countless pelicans descend on Makgadikgadi. During this time of year, great herds of big game - wildebeest, zebra and springbok - water here and herds 10,000 strong can sometimes be seen on the plains besides the pan. In the pan itself, animals stand out in startling fashion on the white salt, their legs shimmering and elongated through mirage caused by heat waves and glare.

This area was also once the center of a thriving salt trade. Due to the dry climate, if your lucky, you can find remnants of pottery and beads where trading centers were based over 1000 years ago.