6 Days | 5 Nights – Thamo Telele, Meno a Kwena, Planet Baobab to Camp Kalahari
This guided Botswana cycling safari has been designed for small groups of trailblazers, adrenalin junkies and wildlife enthusiasts looking for an incredible biking experience. You’ll get to explore this intriguing Botswana landscape by bike as you cycle from Maun towards the Kalahari Desert ending at the salt crusted Makgadikgadi Pans. You’ll follow ancient elephant paths, cycle alongside acacia woodlands, wandering riverbanks and beautiful savannah grasslands, uncovering the rich history, archaeology and wildlife that have shaped this Botswana landscape for centuries.
On arrival in Maun by air or road, you will be greeted by your safari guide who will help load your bike and luggage onto the bike trailers.
You will then travel together by safari vehicle to Thamo Telele, approximately 30 minutes from Maun airport, where you will spend your first night. This is a little bush haven conveniently close to Maun. Set amongst the lush forest of old growth leadwood, bird plum and acacia trees, this is a safari style camp located in a 250-hectare private reserve on the banks of the Thamalakane river.
Once here you will be briefed on everything you need to know about the days adventures that lie ahead. We will check that all bicycles are prepared (with our team on hand to help). There will be a possible 2-hour cycle around the reserve.
Teaming with plains game and incredible birdlife, you’ll enjoy cycling along the river bank, ending in camp with a sundowner followed by a tasty dinner.
After an early-morning wake-up call with tea or coffee, please arrive at breakfast with your packed luggage. Your bags will be transported on ahead to camp. After a delicious breakfast, we will jump on our bikes and cycle along the Thamalakane River, crossing the river with our bikes (this will be water dependant) and then again at the Nhabe River, further down the track before reaching the headwaters of the Boteti River.
From here you will cycle along the original gravel road running parallel to the Boteti River, with the opportunity of exploring single track trails as you ride.
When at Samedupi bridge, we turn and head towards the Samedupi Pan area, stopping for lunch and a well-deserved rest.
After lunch your bikes will be loaded onto the trailer and we will transfer by vehicle to Motopi (Moreomaoto village). We then get back on our bikes here and cycle the last 20km to Meno A Kwena camp, where you will be staying for the night.
This camp is a hidden gem perched on a rocky clifftop above the Boteti River. From this lofty position, you will enjoy relaxing around the pool, watching the comings and goings of the wildlife below.
In the late afternoon you’ll also have the opportunity to enjoy a Bushman experience, followed by sundowners and dinner, before retiring to your tent overlooking the water below.
Waking early, delight in the birds morning chorus whilst sipping your cup of tea or coffee overlooking the Boteti river below. After breakfast you’ll head off by bike, riding along a gravel road which at times runs parallel to the Boteti River. You’ll be joining single track trails in places, until you reach the Moreomaoto river crossing for lunch.
After lunch your bikes will be loaded onto the trailer and we will transfer by vehicle to Planet Baobab (a 1.5hr drive).
Once we get to Planet Baobab you can spend the afternoon shaking off the heat of the day and the dust of the desert in the largest, coolest swimming pool in the Kalahari.
Sleep in basic but oh so Afro-chic Bakalanga Huts; enjoying great grub and cold beers, while experiencing the vast remoteness of the Makgadikgadi Pans and Kalahari Desert, a place of endless horizons and dotted with towering Baobab trees.
Up and out after an early breakfast, grab your helmet and your bike, today you cycle to Camp Kalahari located in the heart of the Makgadikgadi. This camp is refreshingly simple, without sacrificing on comfort and style and the perfect place to spend your last two nights.
You’ll be cycling along the zebra migration trails, close to the salt pans and in between dotted clusters of palm trees (planted by the elephant dung) and shooting up towards the skies.
Cycling on a mixture of firm, fast flowing and smooth terrain. This desert landscape is pulsing with wildlife and once you crack open the crust and the dust settles, you’ll find yourself in a world of wildlife adventure.
On arriving in camp, enjoy a tasty lunch and a dip in the pool. There will be a game drive in the late afternoon, ending with sundowners on the pans.
After breakfast enjoy a ‘game ride’ out to the pans to hang out with the “Kalahari cool cats,” the habituated meerkat family who like nothing more than to use unsuspecting guests as lookout points.
A private (back-up) game vehicle will stay in close proximity just in case a rare sighting like a lion or aardwolf is called through the radio. You’ll then get to jump on board and drive (or cycle) to where the action is. Your private vehicle will also offer refreshing tea-stops along the way.
Your last day will get you uncovering the unique desert wildlife that inhabit the pans, you will also have the opportunity to go on a horse safari or meet the Kalahari bushman. There’s so much more to enjoy before heading home.
End this big cycling adventure with a sundowner on the pans, keeping an eye out for aardvark and brown hyena – a lucky sighting after dark. As you take your last sips watching the fiery sun disappear beneath the desert horizon, reminisce about the exceptional encounters and experiences you’ve had over the past 5 days.
Today we pack our bags and our bikes after an early breakfast and drive back to Maun so that you can continue your onward journey.
OR EXTEND YOUR STAY…
To make the most of this Makgadikgadi cycle safari you can extend your stay by 2 to 3 extra nights. Staying at either Camp Kalahari, Jack’s Camp or San Camp (at an additional cost). You’ll enjoy morning cycles out to the pans to meet the bushmen, hang out with the “Kalahari cool cats,” the habituated meerkat family who like nothing more than to use unsuspecting guests as lookout points. On these ‘game rides’ you’ll have a private (back-up) game vehicle in close proximity at all times, offering refreshing tea-stops along the way.
This safari starts and ends in Maun in Botswana. One of the best times to visit the Makgadikgadi Pans is during the dry season, which runs from May to October. During this time, the pans are dried up and you can easily access them for activities like, game viewing, and stargazing. During green season, which runs from November to March-June, witness the second largest migration of zebra and wildebeest in Africa (and it’s the last remaining one in Southern Africa). You will need to bring your own bicycle and basic biking equipment specific to your make and model. Please bring your own spare derailleur hanger, cycling gear (neutral colours, helmet, shirt/pants, shoes/cleats, gloves, glasses etc), a tool set, small binoculars, a hydration backpack and preferred cycle foods. You will also need comprehensive travel insurance including cover for a medical evacuation and repatriation. This is compulsory.
Be inspired by our other suggested safari packages below and remember, all our packages are totally flexible and can be adjusted to suit you.
