Botswana by Bike

A unique and adventurous exploration

Take a two-wheeled safari ride along the wildlife-filled plains of beautiful Botswana for your most unforgettable getaway yet!

You don’t have to be an expert biker to set out on this type of safari adventure, although it does help if you have a passion for the saddle and a love of the trail.

Find yourself completely ‘in the zone’ in the silence of the ride, with the wind in your hair, the great plains stretching out before you, and close encounters with wildlife sharing the off-the-beaten-track terrain…

Beautiful Botswana

Take a ride on the wild side and start your journey by exploring the Okavango Delta. The unique region attracts a large variety of wildlife to its reed-lined waterways. Cycle along ancient elephant paths and see the elusive, often missed, small wildlife as they take confidence in the engine-free silence and leap from bush to bush right before your eyes…

Experienced rangers will accompany you along the 40 – 70 km cycle, and help you spot the more elusive animals and fleeting moments. They will also take you to places that few tyres have dared to tread!

Along the Khwai River, you will move through woodland and grasslands, and find rest right next to the river, with everything you need for beautiful sundowners and a hearty meal next to a crackling fire, without any barriers to the bush or the stars above.

Wondrous Wildlife

During this leg of the cycle safari, you will have a great opportunity to spot elephant, buffalo, giraffe and lion. On the next section, towards Little Sable, your chances of discovering rarer species such as wild dog, honey badger, pangolin and other types of wild cat will increase.

Wild Style

In the morning, a scrumptious and sustaining breakfast will await you at the mobile camp, as well as the promise of a picnic lunch on the trail.

Past mopane clusters, savannah grasslands and lively water holes you will cycle, until you reach the private and intimate camp of Little Sable, which will act as your wilderness home for the next night. With wide open views, comfort and simplicity of style, Little Sable offers a sense of freedom and an opportunity to be fully immersed in your surroundings.

You can also swap sleeping in your room for an opportunity to sleep in one of the magical skybeds. For an even more spectacular experience, take to the helipad and fly across to the Hyena Pan, then take a short drive to the skybeds, where you will sleep atop a five-metre high wooden platform, with only a mosquito net between you and the stars, the busy waterhole. and the lion, leopard, eland and zebra that call this area home.

Botswana by Bike Basics

The best time to set out on this adventure is between April and August, as the days are generally cooler but also more dry, sunny and clear.

You will just need a bicycle and basic biking equipment. It is best that this gear, as well as your clothing, is of neutral tones so as not to alarm the animals and allow you to camouflage in the bush.

Don’t forget a small tool set for your bike, a hydration backpack, small binoculars and dried foods for your long rides.

Everything else will be catered for, including sundowners at the end of an adventurous day; warm showers and quenching refreshments at mobile camps; and delicious and filling lunch and dinner to fuel you for the next leg of the safari.

Hang onto Your Handlebars

There are many other destinations in Africa that are great for cycling safaris for a small group of adrenalin junkies and wildlife enthusiasts…

Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

Witness the majesty of Victoria Falls from your saddle by following the route along the Zambezi River, which calls wildlife from far reaches to its shores for a revitalising drink.

Cycle across the Victoria Falls Bridge and feel the spray on your face as you rest at this relic of history which links Zimbabwe and Zambia. See rainbows stretch across the transcendental beauty of the falls and stop at Batoka Gorge, below the Falls, to take in another perspective.

Continue down this route and find yourself in town, with its colourful local markets ready to be explored.

South Peninsula, South Africa

Start a journey along the South Peninsula of South Africa from the shadow of the fifth natural wonder of the world, Table Mountain, and follow the Atlantic coast to Cape Point Nature Reserve. Here you will see many small creatures, such as penguins and dassies, as well as the beautiful views of the surrounding mountains.

Hop back onto your bike to adventure further to Hermanus. Along this leg of the trip, you will cycle through the most incredible indigenous plant life and potentially spot southern right whales giving birth in the bay after their migration from Antarctica.

After this, continue along the coast until you reach the Cape of Good Hope, where the Atlantic and Indian Ocean meet. There you can see baboon, zebra and ostrich, along with beautiful beaches, mountains and natural vistas.

Western Uganda

Discover all the beautiful nooks and crannies of Uganda by hopping on your beloved bike and cycling through national parks, local communities and culture-filled towns.

Start your route in Kampala, the capital city of Uganda, and make the 4-hour journey to one of the area’s most unique parks, Lake Mburo National Park. Take to one of their many cycling tracks and come up close and personal with wildlife. Each trail offers a new perspective and opportunity to spot fantastic wildlife such as zebra, buffalo, antelope, and giraffe, to name just a few.

Head further south west, stopping at the little villages along the way to touch base with the locals, until you reach Kibale National Park, a lush tropical rainforest and region of the crater.

The Kibale crater lakes were formed millions of years ago and are of two different formations, one filled with ash and lava, and the other filled with water, becoming a crater lake. With a number of different craters and crater lakes varying in size and character, cycling through the area and spotting not only the diverse range of birds and wildlife (such as black and white colobus monkeys, bush babies, elephants and warthogs, among others), but also the different craters is a truly unique experience.

Congo Nile Trail, Rwanda

Follow the Congo Nile Trail from Rwanda, along the lakes through Uganda and to the border of Congo. Along the primitive dirt roads and single trails which wind through jungle, forest and farmland, adventurers will find villages brimming with kind people and abundant culture.

Unlike cycling through Botswana, which focuses on wildlife spotting, this route is more about meeting people, finding uninhabited spaces of natural beauty and witnessing the diverse biodiversity that makes up this hilly (more mountain bike appropriate) land.

The route will take you up terraced hillsides, along the coastline of Lake Kivu, around enchanting tea plantations and past the divide that separates the Nile and the Congo rivers. You are likely to come across tropical birds, chameleons and at least one primate species.