Nxai pans

[Fredp]

Hi

Would like some advice from the experienced.

Planning a trip to Botswana and Nxai pans is one of the intended stops and would like to know which is the better camp from the available options.

Secondly if you had to choose between Nxai pans and Central Kalahari which would be your preference.

Appreciate

[slodj]

I've only been to Nxai pan. I'd give my left $#%& to go back.

There was only South Camp when we were there, with North Camp abandoned (+- 10 years ago). South Camp was 4 camp sites only IIRC.

Beautiful place. Hope you have an awesome trip.

NB: the +- 40km sand road to Nxai takes much longer to travel than one might imagine. Plan accordingly.

[visconeng]

I am following this thread. We hope to do our 2020 Botswana trip this year (2021) and I want to stop over at Nxai Pan as well

[Fredp]

Thanks Stuart

[lekhubu943]

I don't think one should choose. CKGR and Nxai pans are not comparable. They are not the same type of experience and each has an allure of their own making each worth a visit.

Time of year might play a role in choosing between the 2 of them for a single trip, but I would try to include both in one trip if you have enough time on your hands. With the bulk of the time spend in the CKGR and 3-4 nights in Nxai pan.

The only camp in Nxai pan is South camp and there are 10 sites. At Baines baobabs there are 3 (or maybe 4) sites with no facilities.

[Half-Pint]

Between Baines and South camps I would take South Camp. One can very easily view the baobabs on the way in or out as you virtually go right past them. Yes one loses the sunrise / sunset over the baobabs but if you need to make sacrifices this isn't the worst one to make.

Between Nxai Pan and CKGR I would prefer to spend my time in CKGR. The purists will probably have my all terrains for this comment but I found Nxai Pan to be a bit one dimensional. The time of year we were there certainly played a role but for me the CKGR is simply in a class of its own.

[Stan Weakley]

Between Baines and South camps I would take South Camp. One can very easily view the baobabs on the way in or out as you virtually go right past them. Yes one loses the sunrise / sunset over the baobabs but if you need to make sacrifices this isn't the worst one to make.

Between Nxai Pan and CKGR I would prefer to spend my time in CKGR. The purists will probably have my all terrains for this comment but I found Nxai Pan to be a bit one dimensional. The time of year we were there certainly played a role but for me the CKGR is simply in a class of its own.

In total agreement.

[RonS]

The last time I was at Nxai Pan the overhanging thorn bushes on one of the internal roads destroyed the paintwork on my vehicle.
Not sure if these roads have improved.
Beautiful area.