Cycling in Botswana
Including Makgadikgadi Pans, Northern Tuli Game Reserve, and Okavango Delta Buffer Zones. On the map.
The vibe
Cycling here is a test of endurance across deep sand and remote bush tracks, feeling more like a rugged expedition than a casual ride. The cooler, dry months are essential to avoid the stifling heat of the summer season. It is a niche, self-reliant pursuit that feels far removed from the typical tourist circuit.
Makgadikgadi Pans
Central District
Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)
Pedal across the vast, blindingly white salt flats of the Makgadikgadi Pans on a remote multi-day expedition. This otherworldly desert landscape offers boundless hard-packed sand and salt crust riding beneath endless African skies.
Access. Accessible via specialized expedition tour operators based in Maun or Francistown, providing support vehicles, guides, and specialized fat-tire or gravel bikes.
Notes. Dry season from May to October is essential; wet season turns the pans into impassable clay. Extreme remoteness requires full logistical support.
Northern Tuli Game Reserve
Central District
Northern Tuli Game Reserve — Wikidata / Wikimedia Commons
Experience wildlife cycling safaris through ancient baobab forests, rocky outcrops, and riverine thickets along the Limpopo River. Riders navigate rough farm tracks and singletracks while sharing the terrain with elephants, giraffes, and plains game.
Access. Access is managed through private game lodges in the Tuli Block, most easily reached via a flight to Polokwane (South Africa) and a border transfer or charter flight.
Notes. Guided rides only due to dangerous wildlife. Best ridden during the cooler dry winter months from May to September.
Okavango Delta Buffer Zones
North-West District
Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)
Cycle along the sandy tracks, floodplains, and mopane woodlands surrounding the edges of the Okavango Delta. This unique bike-touring region lets riders experience traditional rural settlements and pristine wilderness fringes.
Access. Hubbed out of Maun, where local tour companies organize supported multi-day cycling safaris using sturdy all-terrain and gravel bikes.
Notes. Deep sand sections require good bike-handling skills or fat tires. Best visited during the dry season between June and October.