The Great Migration Nobody Talks About

Mention the word migration and most people immediately think of the Serengeti. But what many safari travellers don’t realise is that Botswana is home to the second-largest zebra migration in Africa—and in my opinion, it’s one of the continent’s best-kept secrets.

I’ve been fortunate enough to witness this spectacle, and it’s difficult to describe the feeling of standing in the middle of the Makgadikgadi, watching hundreds upon hundreds of zebra stretching across the horizon. There’s no rush of safari vehicles, no crowds gathering around a river crossing—just endless open landscapes and the sound of thousands of hooves moving across the plains.

Each year, with the arrival of the summer rains, the zebras leave the Chobe region and begin an incredible journey south towards the lush grasslands of the Makgadikgadi and Nxai Pan. It’s a remarkable reminder that Botswana’s wilderness still functions much as it has for thousands of years, driven entirely by nature.

For photographers, it’s a dream. Vast herds gathering beneath dramatic storm clouds, foals taking their first tentative steps, and predators never far behind. For everyone else, it’s simply an unforgettable experience—one that feels wonderfully authentic and surprisingly uncrowded.

The migration also challenges one of the biggest misconceptions about Botswana—that it's only worth visiting during the dry season. Green season, from around January to March, transforms the landscape into a vibrant oasis of fresh grass, wildflowers and abundant birdlife, while many of Botswana's finest safari camps offer significantly reduced seasonal rates. It can represent some of the very best value you'll find all year, allowing guests to experience exceptional wildlife, beautiful camps and remarkable scenery at a fraction of peak-season prices.

It's a wonderful reminder that in Botswana, some of the most rewarding safari experiences happen when everyone else is waiting for the dry season.

Like so much of Botswana, timing is everything. Knowing where the herds are likely to be, how to combine the migration with the Okavango Delta, and which camps offer the best access can make all the difference.

It’s one of the many reasons we spend so much time exploring these wild places ourselves—so we can help our guests experience Botswana at its very best, often in ways they never expected.