I am looking at Meno a Kwena or Leroo la Tau as alternatives to Jack's/San which are out of my price range. I really want to see the pans in December, and the migration there, although I understand that with the fences there isn't anywheres near as much as there used to be. Oh, well...

What little I have found on this forum on either camp hasn't been very good or complete, but my Bradt's says they have decent game, although it is confusing - they say that the viewing is good in the wet season, then a little further along they say it's great Sept-Nov, then the herds disperse.

Also, it looks like there are no lodges, only campsites in Nxai Pans. True? Bradt's says the game in December can be great, but isn't always. I wonder if we will risk it...?

MomLiz - Nxai has only camping. Planet Baobab is probably the nearest permanent accommodation along with Meno.

I've topped my botswana desert camps/lodge thread for you to peruse

sorry momliz, I can't get that thread to top.

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=35047433

thanks 321. fodor's was not in good working order this morning.

Momliz: Makgadikgadi Camp is situated on the edge of Ntwetwe pan just like Jack's and San but in December it is available as part of the Kalahari summer special so it will cost about 1/2 as much as San Camp.

A nice thing to consider with Meno-A-Kwena is they will include a 1 1/2 hour road transfer from Maun so you can get to the area without paying for flights, which depending on what camp you are coming from and where you are going will be roughly $500 per person to get out to the camps on the pans and back.