The great Makgadikgadi Pans, covering approximately 10000 km² of the Kalahari, are nothing but salt. While some of the pans are enormous, others are the size of a small pond and surrounding them are rolling grasslands and the occasional picturesque palm-tree island. The main objective of visiting the Makgadikgadi National Park is to experience true remoteness and absolute isolation. It is vast, wild and beautiful. The subtle hues at sunset transform Makgadikgadi into a surreal wonderland unlike anywhere else. During the day, the dusty pans, with whirlwinds skirting across a seemingly endless desert, offer the best way to come face to face with true isolation.

The variety of birdlife in the Makgadikgadi area is outstanding, with white-backed and lappet-faced vultures, bateleurs, tawny and martial eagles, black-breasted snake eagles, lanner and red-footed falcons, gabar and pale chanting goshawks. Also seen are red-billed and orange river francolin, ostrich, secretary bird, guineafowl, black and red-crested korhaan, kori bustard, crowned plover, double-banded courser, spotted dikkop, all species of sandgrouse, giant eagle and pearl-spotted owls, lilac-breasted and purple rollers and large numbers of the hornbill species.

The Makgadikgadi region is home to large numbers of animals, especially zebra and wildebeest, who migrate to grasslands in the west of the park after the rains when it is possible to see these animals in their thousands. During the dry winter months, the migration moves westwards to the water available in the Boteti River. Still, many desert-adapted creatures, including meerkats, yellow mongoose, ground squirrel, aardwolf, African wildcat, caracal, spring hare, porcupine, steenbok, kudu, jackal, honey badger, genet and the occasional lion, remain resident. This is also the domain of the brown hyena, a shy and elusive creature, as well as suricates, aardvarks and small bustard species. The Boteti River is a seasonal river that relies solely on Angola's flood waters. Some years, the flood exhausts itself before reaching the river leaving it dry; other years see a transformation as the river begins to flow. The heavily wooded areas beside the Boteti River contain shy antelopes like duiker and bushbuck.