Thirty thousand animals on the move....
Southern Africa's largest migration takes place in Botswana's Makgadikgadi Pans on the edge of the Kalahari Desert.
Zebras in a hurry, Africa
© PFrench,Shutterstock
A dazzle of zebras
Each year tens of thousands of wildebeest and zebra are on the move through the Makgadikgadi area.
This is Botswana's migration and the biggest migration in southern Africa. It's not on the scale of the Serengeti migration, the herds are far more scattered, and it is far less predictable as to when it happens, but it still might be something you'd like to try to see.
It takes place during the green season as the rains begin and the once parched landscape begins to turn green. Food is abundant and this is the time of new life. Many babies are born and the circle of life begins once again.
- Around 30,000 animals on the move
- See huge herds of wildebeest and zebras
- Predators are often present for easy pickings
- Dramatic skies and lush green landscapes
- Migration without the crowds
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30,000 zebras
The desert landscape turns a lush green attracting thousands of animals as they make their way from the parched arid landscapes to feed.
© Shutterstock
© AGMarks
© AGMarks
Zebras on the move
The migration is constantly on the move. On some days you'll find you can watch them from the comfort of your own veranda with a cup of tea in hand. On others, you may have to game drive deeper into the Makgadikgadi National Park and beyond to see them on their journey. Wildlife is never predictable, and the zebra migration is not something you can expect to see, just hope to see if you're there.
When to see it
The best time to visit Botswana and witness the migration is late November through to March (though this can vary if the rains are late). The animals make their way from the parched dry areas to the Makgadikgadi where the rains begin to turn the desert landscape into a lush green oasis with fresh, juicy shoots of grasses.
Where to stay
The best places to stay are camps in the Makgadikadi National Park and Nxai Pan National Park. This will provide a good opportunity to see the migration whilst it is in the area. It’s also possible to stay in this area as part of a mobile safari.
