Lakes In Kalahari Desert: Rare Waterbodies In A Barren Land

With its extreme heat and parched terrain, the Kalahari Desert is sometimes considered the ultimate desert, with countless beautiful seasonal lakes in Kalahari Desert, salt pans and other hidden bodies of water. Each lake in Kalahari, from the ethereal salt flats to the shadowy depths, boasts dramatic landscapes, wildlife and unique travel experiences. While some are transient, appearing only after seasonal rains, others are permanent oases, drawing in flamingos, hippos and even zebras. Explorers looking for remote beauty, birders in search of rare species, these lakes are some of Southern Africa’s most spectacular hidden treasures.

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10 Lakes In And Around Kalahari Desert

Following are some of the must-visit lakes in Kalahari Desert, filled with wildlife and many things to do around them.

1. Makgadikgadi Pans, Botswana

Makgadikgadi pans in Botswana with a large salt pan, distant animals and dried-out trees

Photo: diego_cue / Wikimedia Commons

One of the largest salt pan systems on the planet, the Makgadikgadi Pans covers more than 16,000 square kilometres. The pans look like an endless white desert in the dry season, with shimmering mirages stretching away to the horizon. After heavy rains, every flat temporarily turns into a shallow lake in Kalahari Desert that attracts thousands of flamingos, pelicans and migratory birds. The floodwaters also attract grazing animals, including zebras and wildebeests, closely followed by predators like lions and cheetahs. One of the most spectacular areas inside the pans is Kubu Island, a granite outcrop in the middle of the vast, stark landscape.

Best Time To Visit: December to April, May to October
Activities: Quad biking, safaris, birdwatching, photography, camping
Nearby Attractions: Kubu Island, Baines’ Baobabs, Boteti River

2. Lake Xau, Botswana

Lake Dow with a small and still water body surrounded by greenery and animals grazing

Photo: Diego Delso / Wikimedia Commons

Lake Xau, or Lake Dow, is an intermittent lake located next to the Boteti River. Often neglected, it has only recently come to attention because of the role it plays in sustaining local wildlife, especially hippos, crocodiles and migratory birds. In years of rain, this lake in Kalahari Desert swells into a robust wetland ecosystem in an otherwise parched land. Birdwatchers can see species like African fish eagles, pelicans and herons, and large mammals frequently roam nearby. The lake also has slaughtered fishing villages, as one of its economic functions is to provide water for cattle. Lake Xau is still relatively intact and offers a unique off-road adventure for those looking for something more remote and natural.

Best Time To Visit: December to April
Activities: Birdwatching, photography, cultural visits, fishing
Nearby Attractions: Central Kalahari Game Reserve, Boteti River, Makgadikgadi National Park

3. Nxai Pan, Botswana

Nxai pan in Botswana with a large salt pan surrounded by brown dried grass and bushes

Photo: Ralf Ellerich / Wikimedia Commons

Nxai Pan, a seasonal wetland in Nxai Pan National Park, is known for one of the longest zebra migrations in Africa. As the dry, dusty plains turn into a shallow lake in Kalahari Desert during the rainy season, thousands of zebras, wildebeest, giraffes, and elephants flock to the area, followed closely by lions and cheetahs. The flooded pan shapes an ephemeral oasis that encourages a rich diversity of flora and fauna, resulting in good safari opportunities. Besides wildlife, Nxai Pan is also home to the Baines’ Baobabs, a cluster of ancient baobab trees famously depicted by explorer Thomas Baines in a painting in 1862. These enormous trees, aged over 1,000 years old, are a breathtaking contrast to the flat land surrounding them.

Best Time To Visit: November to March, June to October
Activities: Game drives, photography, birdwatching, camping
Nearby Attractions: Baines’ Baobabs, Makgadikgadi Pans, Kudiakam Pan

4. Sua Pan, Botswana

Plain pan in Botswana with a large salt pan body and small dry brown grass patches

Photo: Ana Isabel Alia / Wikimedia Commons / Image For Representation Only

Sua Pan, also known as Sowa Pan, is one of the major salt pans within the Makgadikgadi Pans system. While its neighbouring dry salt flats are dry, Sua Pan often contains water during the rainy season, creating a shallow lake that lures thousands of flamingos. This is one of Africa’s most important breeding grounds for lesser and greater flamingos, producing a stunning pink scene. During the dry season, the salt crust looks like an endless white desert, but when it gets flooded, it creates a perfect reflecting surface. The pan is a haven for desert animals like brown hyenas, springboks and jackals. The nearby Nata Bird Sanctuary, right at the edge of the pan, gives good access for birdwatching.

Best Time To Visit: December to April
Activities: Birdwatching, photography, nature walks, stargazing
Nearby Attractions: Nata Bird Sanctuary, Makgadikgadi Pans, Kubu Island

5. Dragon’s Breath Cave, Namibia

Inside of an underground cave with a person in the underground water wearing safety gear

Photo: JYB Devot / Wikimedia Commons / Image For Representation Only

Buried in the depths of the Kalahari Basin, Dragon’s Breath Cave contains the world’s largest underground non-glacial lake. Situated close to Tsumeb, Namibia, this natural marvel derives its name from the humid, warm air that emanates from its mouth, like the breath of a dragon. Located over a hundred meters below ground, the lakes are an extreme destination for cave divers and thrill seekers. The depth of the water remains unknown, although professional divers have gone as deep as 100 meters and the lake is estimated to extend over 200 meters wide.

Best Time To Visit: Year-round
Activities: Caving, technical diving (for professionals), photography
Nearby Attractions: Otjikoto Lake, Etosha National Park, Tsumeb Museum

6. Deception Pan, Botswana

Herd of kudus drinking water from a small waterhole in the Central Kalahari game reserve

Photo: Benjamin Hollis / Wikimedia Commons / Image For Representation Only

One of the highlights of the Central Kalahari Game Reserve is Deception Pan, a seasonal wetland that comes alive with water after heavy rains, transforming the arid landscape into a lush oasis. The Deception Valley gives its name to the surrounding area because mirages can cause the pan to look like a permanent body of water. With lions, cheetahs, wildebeests and oryx calling the area home, the pan is a top safari destination. In contrast to permanent lakes, Deception Pan evaporates during the dry season, exposing mineral-rich grasses that support grazing animals throughout the year.

Best Time To Visit: November to April
Activities: Game drives, cultural tours, birdwatching, camping
Nearby Attractions: Piper Pan, Central Kalahari Game Reserve, Passarge Valley

7. Ntwetwe Pan, Botswana

Ntwetwe pan in Botswana with marks making a trail, two men standing in the desert

Photo: Fabio Achilli / Wikimedia Commons

Ntwetwe Pan is one of many in the Makgadikgadi Pans complex, which is dotted with parched, lunar-like landforms. In the rainy season, the pan becomes a glimmering lake in Kalahari Desert, drawing migratory birds and Arabian Desert-adapted wildlife like bat-eared foxes, brown hyenas and meerkats. The dry season provides an entirely different experience, with massive sun-scorched salt flats that are ideal for quad biking, stargazing and adventure camping. The vast emptiness and eerie silence make Ntwetwe feel otherworldly and one of the most surreal experiences in Africa.

Best Time To Visit: May to October, December to April
Activities: Meerkat interactions, quad biking, stargazing, camping
Nearby Attractions: Makgadikgadi Pans, Chapman’s Baobab, Gweta Village

8. Lake Ngami, Botswana

Lake Ngami with a large water body, a cow grazing near the dry trees in the green land

Photo: EinfachFrankfurt1955 / Wikimedia Commons

Once described as a shimmering inland sea by David Livingstone, Lake Ngami is a seasonal body that appears and disappears dramatically based on rain and the water tables of the Okavango Delta. South of the delta’s main channels, it was a major stop for explorers and traders. Now, Lake Ngami is a birdwatcher’s haven, drawing African fish eagles, pelicans, herons and swarms of flamingos during high-water periods. The lake also supports local fishing communities, serving as a water source when it fills. Its lush, reed-fringed shores create a rich wetland ecosystem that nourishes both aquatic and terrestrial wildlife.

Best Time To Visit: May to September
Activities: Birdwatching, photography, fishing, cultural village visits
Nearby Attractions: Okavango Delta, Moremi Game Reserve, Maun

9. Lake Otjikoto, Namibia

Lake Otjikoto in Namibia with a small water body reflecting the surrounded rocky shores

Photo: Zairon / Wikimedia Commons

Lake Otjikoto is a large, deep sinkhole lake located close to the town of Tsumeb, Namibia, created by the caving-in of an underground cave system. Its emerald-green waters hide an intriguing history; during World War I, German troops disposed of military equipment and weapons in the lake so they didn’t reach enemy hands. Some of these artefacts, including cannons and rifles, lie submerged beneath its depths. Otjikoto is one of only two natural lakes in Namibia, so it’s an unusual sight in an otherwise arid landscape.

Best Time To Visit: Year-round
Activities: Sightseeing, photography, historical exploration
Nearby Attractions: Lake Guinas, Etosha National Park, Tsumeb Museum

10. Moanachira Lagoon, Botswana, Okavango Delta

Two elephants standing near the moanachira lagoon, their reflection, and distant people

Photo: Diego Delso / Wikimedia Commons / Image For Representation Only

One of the most beautiful bodies of water in the Okavango Delta, Moanachira Lagoon is characterised by dense papyrus-lined channels, turquoise water, and the surrounding wildlife. Unlike the pans and salt flats of the Kalahari, Mananchira is a permanent lagoon, making it an essential home for hippos, crocodiles and endless species of birds. Boat safaris through the lagoon give you a chance to see elephants wading through the shallows, African fish eagles hunting and the vibrant colours of kingfishers and bee-eaters.

Best Time To Visit: May to October
Activities: Mokoro (canoe) safaris, birdwatching, photography, fishing
Nearby Attractions: Moremi Game Reserve, Chief’s Island, Xakanaxa Lagoon

These lakes in Kalahari Desert bring their surrounding biodiversity, adventure, and beauty. Whether you are watching the flamingo migrations at a lake in Kalahari Desert or visiting the sunken military secrets of Otjikoto, each is a memorable experience. These bodies of water, although often seasonal, are essential to the region’s ecosystem and expose the secret treasures of Africa’s deserts. Plan your visit with TripXL and get ready for an unforgettable trip into one of Africa’s most exciting environments.

Cover Photo: wayne_ooone Wang / Unsplash / Image For Representation Only

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