One of Botswana’s best-kept secrets plays host to Africa’s second-largest zebra migration, surpassed only by the famed Great Migration of the Serengeti. While still relatively under the radar compared to East Africa’s wildlife spectacles, this awe-inspiring natural phenomenon is gaining recognition — and for good reason. For travellers with the luxury of time, witnessing this migration offers a truly unique complement to the Okavango Delta experience, revealing a very different, yet equally compelling, side of Botswana’s wilderness.
From November to March, Botswana’s rainy season transforms the arid and lunar-like Makgadikgadi Salt Pans. These pans — remnants of an ancient super lake— become rich with mineral-laden grazing that draws tens of thousands of plains zebra and wildebeest in search of food and space to foal. During this time, the Makgadikgadi, typically more experiential than game-rich, bursts into life. Migratory birds arrive en masse, and the surrounding grasslands become a kaleidoscope of movement and sound, offering a rare chance to see this desert-scape teeming with wildlife.
As the rains subside around April and the pans begin to dry out, water sources dwindle. Beginning in May or June, some zebras migrate back north to the Okavango Delta in time for the arrival of the fresh floods, while others travel even further to Savute or Chobe. Others begin their westward migration to the Boteti River — a water source bordering the western edge of Makgadikgadi Pans National Park. The migration route for some zebra spans over 250 km. The Boteti River now provides critical dry-season water and lodges such as Meno a Kwena, Leroo La Tau, and Moela are strategically positioned along the riverbanks, offering unrivalled views of the herds as they thunder down steep banks to drink, often closely followed by predators.
The spectacle intensifies during the peak of the dry season in September and October, when water becomes even scarcer across the region and temperatures soar. By November, as the rains return to the eastern pans, the migration slowly reverses. The zebras, driven by instinct and the promise of fresh grazing, begin their long journey back to the salt pans, completing a remarkable seasonal cycle that is as ancient as it is dramatic.
Botswana's zebra migrations remain one of Africa’s most underrated wildlife events and are still being carefully researched and understood. It not only offers a rare glimpse into long-distance animal movement outside the better-known East African circuits but also illustrates the powerful role seasonal rainfall plays in shaping animal behaviour. What sets this migration apart is its raw, elemental nature — set in one of the most visually striking landscapes on the continent. For travellers looking to deepen their understanding of African ecosystems, or simply witness something extraordinary away from the crowds, this migration is a must-see marvel. When paired with a trip to the Okavango Delta or Chobe, it reveals the stunning contrasts and ecological richness of Botswana in full.