Botswana cycling route: A 9-Day Safari from your bike

Explore Botswana’s amazing wildlife and landscapes on two wheels: the Okavango Delta, endless salt pans, and Chobe National Park. Encounter wild elephants during your ride, share the road with giraffes and zebras, and if you’re (un)lucky, spot a lion!

⚠️Wild animal warning: Camp in protected (or fenced) areas, or if sleeping in the open, light a fire and watch out for eyes at night!

ℹ️ This is a self-guided itinerary, feel free to adapt it to your needs!

Day 1: Maun (Okavango Delta)

0 km (Rest day)

Route

Book a day tour into the delta with the Okavango Kopano Mokoro Community Trust.

Climb on a Mokoro (traditional boat) and glide silently through the delta. Spot the birds and the hippos!

You’ll need to arrange a transfer from Maun to one of the local villages where the tour starts, or cycle there yourself, but be warned the roads are really sandy!

Sleep

Island Safari Lodge (110P pp to camp).

Day 2: Start cycling east

80 km

Route

Head east along the A3. Flat and tarred, with a good hard shoulder to ride on. Pack food for 2 days, there aren’t many options to buy food on this stretch.

Sleep

Wild camp at a fenced transmission tower, listen for animals at night!

Day 3: to Gweta

120 km

Route

Ride alongside Makgadikgadi Pans National Park for a taste of the salt pans. A few dirt roads cut through the pans if you’re feeling adventurous. You might spot large groups of zebras along this stretch.

Sleep

Planet Baobab ($18 pp) or another guesthouse in Gweta

Day 4: Explore the salt pans (optional)

0 km (Rest day)

Route

Depending on the season, arrange a visit to the salt pans (check with your accommodation).

Sleep

Planet Baobab (18$ pp) or another guesthouse in Gweta

Day 5: Nata

100 – 120km

Route

Continue east until you reach Nata. Sleep in town, or push an extra 18km to the very nice Nata Bird Sanctuary, where you can also peek at the salt pans and spot wildebeest.

Sleep

Nata town, or Nata Bird Sanctuary campsite

Day 6: Along the Elephant Highway

87 km

Route

Head north on the A33, aka the Elephant Highway! You might spot these stunning animals along the road, give them plenty of space and be patient. You can also ask passing cars to “shield” you from an animal while you cycle past. Adrenaline rush guaranteed! Pack enough food for 2 days.

Sleep

Wild camp at abandoned buildings

Day 7: Through Pandamatenga

100 km

Route

Continue north, through the agricultural zone of Pandamatenga, the whole area is fenced to keep elephants from destroying the crops! Stop for great coffee at Hills Roast (closed Sundays).

Sleep

Touch of Africa Safari Lodge. Enjoy a well-deserved beer at the restaurant while watching their waterhole from your table, we saw a leopard there!

Day 8: To Kasane

104 km

Route

Ride through the protected area of the Kasane Forest Extension. Lookout for elephants, zebras, girafes (hopefully not lions!).

Sleep

For cheap camping you can stop in Lesoma, at Tilodi Safari Lodge (sandy access road). Alternatively you can stay at the very nice Elephant Trail Guesthouse

Day 9: Safari & Cruise at Chobe National Park

0km (Rest day)

Route

Treat yourself to a safari into Chobe National Park and a sunset cruise on the Chobe River. Look out for lions, buffaloes, hippos, elephants, and crocodiles. We recommend booking through Elephant Trail Guesthouse: good prices, good service.

Sleep

Tilodi Safari Lodge or Elephant Trail Guesthouse

Got more time? Victoria Falls is one day away!

The legendary Victoria Falls are just a stone’s throw away! Ok, they are actually 80 km away. Pretty close!

You can embark on a day trip from Kasane or cycle there yourself, via Zambia or Zimbabwe.

Via Zimbabwe

If you decide to visit the falls from Zimbabwe, you can enjoy a short hike with 19 different lookouts.

Beware that the entry fee to the park is pretty steep for foreigners: $58.

Alternatively you can view the falls for free from this bridge.

Visa

30$ for single entry visa, $45 for double-entry visa. Check your eligibility

Sleep

Victoria Falls Backpackers. Beware of elephants at night! We saw one roaming in the streets really close to the hostel.

Via Zambia

Visiting the falls from Zambia costs $20. We haven’t visited this side personally, but we could see people on the Zambia side get really, really close to the falls!

Visa

$50 for single entry visa, $80 for double-entry visa. Check your eligibility.

Want to learn more about Botswana before you go?

Check out our Cycling Botswana Quick Guide