Nxai Pan National Park

The 2578-sq-km Nxai Pan National Park lies on the old Pandamatenga Trail, which once connected a series of bore holes and was used until the 1960s for overland cattle drives. The grassy expanse of the park is most interesting during the rains, when large animal herds migrate from the south and predators arrive to take advantage of the bounty.

The region is specked with umbrella acacias, and resembles the Serengeti in Tanzania (but without all the safari vehicles). The entrance to the park is at Makolwane Gate, which is about 140km east of Maun and 60km west of Gweta. The Park Headquarters is another 35.5km north along a terrible sandy track. A 4WD is required to get around the national park.