The spectacular zebra migration

Arrive at your clifftop lodge where floor-to-ceiling glass windows offer unrivalled views of the Boteti River and its endless wildlife encounters. Before you feel tempted to retreat to the sundeck, cocktail in hand, tune into to the surroundings with an afternoon game drive to explore the area’s flourishing wildlife. Scan the plains for lions, cheetahs and wildebeests, as well as smaller creatures such as impalas and Chobe bushbucks. It’s a ten-minute boat ride to and from your open-sided vehicle, a small journey with huge birding opportunities.

Following the December rains, some 25,000 zebras amass from their summer grazing ground to the edge of the Makgadikgadi Pans. Usually barren, salt-encrusted and thirsty, from April through to November, the plains transform into a lush oasis of vibrant grasslands and glistening pools. Enjoying a combination of boat and 4x4 safaris will give you different perspectives of this wildlife extravaganza. You’ll not only see a mosaic of zebras but the predators such as lion, leopard and spotted hyena prowling in their wake.

Visit Baines’ Baobabs, a grove of ancient trees, whose bulbous trunks have been a natural landmark for years. They owe their moniker to Thomas Baines, an explorer and contemporary of Livingstone, who immortalised them in paintings in the 1860s. They have changed little in the intervening 150-odd years. They rise majestically out of the vast, flat Nxai pans. It’s the ultimate picnic spot. Sit shaded under the sprawling branches with views of elephants and springboks dotting the untamed terrain. After spending time here, return to your lodge to catch the sunset over the Boteti River. 

It’s your last day, so we recommend making the most of the wildlife by spending the morning in your camp’s river-facing hideout. It’s a great way of experiencing prime animal viewing. Hidden completely from view, you can enjoy close up encounters of zebra drinking from the river and pods of hippos wallowing in the cool waters. Soak up your last glimpses of the untrammelled game in these blissfully quiet wilds. There’s also time for a dip in the pool before you depart.