​Birds – Makgadikgadi Pans NP

Anthony Ham
Expert
By Anthony Ham

Anthony is a renowned Africa expert and author of many Lonely Planet guidebooks, including the guide to Botswana.

Anthony is a renowned Africa expert and author of many Lonely Planet guidebooks, including the guide to Botswana.

Anthony is the author of the Lonely Planet guide to Botswana.

Makgadikgadi Pans National Park is an excellent birding destination, and the birding can be phenomenal in the wet summer months. This is especially true if the pans fill up with water and flocks of lesser and greater flamingo, accompanied by pelican, come feeding in the shallows. The flamingo breed on the pans when the water is high enough to protect their nests from predators.

Notable Birds in Makgadikgadi Pans NP
› ‹
Burchell’s coucal
Common
Common ostrich
Common
Great white pelican
Common migrant
Greater flamingo
Common migrant
Lesser flamingo
Common migrant

Birding Rating

Birding Specials –Treats for Avid Birders

Facts & Figures

Birds in Makgadikgadi Pans NP
Bird Species
317
Migratory Birds
Nov to Apr

Best Time for Bird Watching

Makgadikgadi Pans is great for bird watching year-round, but the real highlight is the thousands of flamingo that flock here in the wet summer months. The timing depends on rain and algae levels, and varies greatly from one year to the next. In general, the best months are from November to April, when migrants are present and many birds are breeding and show their mating plumage.

Want To Visit Makgadikgadi Pans NP?

20 Makgadikgadi Pans Safaris

Birding Rating

Facts & Figures

Birds in Makgadikgadi Pans NP
Bird Species
317
Migratory Birds
Nov to Apr