Natural Selection Botswana Guided Cycling Safari

7 days
4.9 /5
Feefo Widget starFeefo Widget starFeefo Widget starFeefo Widget starFeefo Widget star

Based on over 1000 Verified Reviews.

Highlights

  • Stay at traditional mobile camps that offer an authentic safari experience
  • Spend 2 nights at the luxurious and stylish Little Sable camp
  • Sleep under the stars at Hyena Pan’s magical Skybeds (optional)
  • Explore the famous waterways and plains of the Okavango Delta
  • Cycle through parts of Botswana that few have seen
  • Be one of the first to cycle in the footsteps of elephants around the Delta
  • Two professional safari guides lead you throughout your journey
  • Enjoy game drives, mokoro trips and boating
  • Spend each day covering between 40-70 kilometres (25-44 miles) on bike

Overview

This 7-day itinerary offers a perfect blend of authentic safari experiences, thrilling action and unforgettable adventures in Botswana. You have the unique opportunity to explore and traverse the famous woodland and grasslands of the Okavango Delta like never before – on a bike!

The first cycling safari of its kind in the Okavango Delta sees you strapping on your helmet, hopping on your bike and following the ancient elephant paths that have been carved out over decades by Botswana’s gentle giants. You’ll be led by 2 professional safari guides, who’ll take up the front and rear of each cycling expedition, while logistical support is provided by professional experts. You’ll be in the very best hands as you cycle alongside acacia woodlands, winding riverbanks, mopane forests and vast savanna grasslands.

Naturally, no safari journey (whether on bike or not) is complete without encountering Africa’s wildlife. The Okavango Delta is renowned for its abundant game, and your safari guides will take exceptional care to not only show you the secrets of Delta’s road less travelled by bike, but also the exceptional wildlife that traverse these plains. So, grab your helmet and hold onto your handlebars for a safari adventure of a lifetime!

Summary

  • Tour Duration: 7 Days

Destinations Visited

Accommodations Visited

Botswana, Okavango Delta

Okavango Mobile Expedition Camp

4 Nights
Day to day

Itinerary

arrow Back to Map
8.-Cycling-Safari-Campsite
Cycling-Safari, Okavango Delta-Campsite
Cycling-Safari-Campsite

Day 1-2: Your Adventure Begins Here!

Okavango Delta, Botswana
Detailed breakdown

Day 1-2: Your Adventure Begins Here! | 4 Nights

Up arrow
Okavango Delta, Botswana

Your trip begins in the charming city of Maun. On arrival, your safari guide will be there to greet you and help load your bike and luggage onto the bike trailers. You’ll then hit the road in a comfortable safari vehicle to the first stop on your journey.

After an hour-and-a-half drive, you’ll arrive at your home-away-from-home for the first two nights. A mobile safari camp is erected just south of the Moremi Game Reserve, offering authentic yet comfortable accommodation. On your arrival, you’ll have the chance to get settled in camp and grab a refreshment and light snack before carrying out any necessary bike assembly and checks. Once the day is done, you can enjoy a warm shower and end your night with a delicious dinner around a crackling fire.

Day two sees you being woken at sunrise with a piping hot cup of coffee or tea. A hearty breakfast provides you with energy for the day’s activity before you grab your cycling gear and set off. Two experienced guides will take up the front and rear as you follow a route from the camp through the woodlands and vast plains of Botswana’s wilderness. On your journey, you’ll weave through Mopane forests, taking in the sounds and stunning views of nature. The bike ride will take five to six hours but includes stops for wildlife spotting and snacks.

You’ll arrive back at camp just in time for a delectable lunch, followed by a siesta to recoup your energy. After your short rest, you’ll enjoy a late afternoon game drive and sundowner before dinner is served. Then it’s time for a well-deserved rest before the next day’s adventure.

8.-Cycling-Safari-Campsite
Cycling-Safari, Okavango Delta-Campsite
Cycling-Safari-Campsite

Day 3-4: Track Gentle Giants Through Botswana’s Woodlands & Grasslands

Up arrow

After breakfast, you’ll pack your bags, hop on your bike and cycle to your next campsite. Elephant trails and jeep tracks left by previous adventurers’ maps put the way through the woodland and grassland that runs alongside the Khwai River. This leg of the trip takes five to six hours, with a break for lunch along the way. If you prefer to give your legs a break, you always have the option to swap your peddles and handlebars for a comfy seat at the back of the safari vehicle. Eventually, you’ll find your camp set up next to the tranquil water of the Khwai River. Enjoy a sundowner before tucking into a delicious dinner and spending the rest of the evening around a warm, cracking fire, with the sounds of nature as your soundtrack and a canopy of stars as your view.

Another sunrise wake-up call awaits you on day four – but rest assured, it will be well worth the lost sleep. Today, you’ll be tracking elephants by bike, following ancient elephant paths through wide, open plains and Mopane forests. If you’re lucky, you’ll get to see elephants, as well as buffalo, giraffes, and lions. This bike ride is a little longer than the others, taking about six to seven hours to complete, depending on the animal spotting opportunities along the way. You’ll arrive back at camp by lunchtime to enjoy an incredible lunch before lazing the rest of the day away under the shade of the Mopane trees.

Lion in Okavango Delta
Cycling-Safari, Okavango Delta

Day 5-6: All Bike Trails Lead to a Luxury Safari Camp | 2 Nights

Up arrow
Okavango Delta, Botswana

After one last breakfast next to the Khwai River, it’s time to trade your mobile camp for a stylish yet relaxed safari experience at Little Sable. You’ll pack your bags, grab your bikes and start the trek, enjoying a picnic lunch on the way.

Little Sable is found in the northern reaches of the Okavango Delta, tucked away in a 200,000-hectare (2,000-square-kilometer) area of pristine wilderness. This is the Khwai Private Reserve, one of the most beautiful and iconic landscapes in Botswana. Here, you’ll experience the world-renowned Delta in all its glory – whether it be on traditional game drives or mokoro trips and boat safaris on the famous waterways. It’s also known for its excellent animal sightings – especially the rarer species, like a wild dog, serval cat, honey badgers, and the elusive pangolin.

When not out exploring the wonders of the Okavango Delta, you can enjoy unwinding and connecting with nature at this intimate, private camp. Stunning traditional tents stand on raised wooden platforms, serving as a private viewing deck for armchair safari moments. En-suite bathrooms and outdoor showers provide heavenly moments of bliss after a long day of game drives. And the understated simplicity and style of Little Sable ensure that you enjoy an authentic safari experience in Africa while maintaining the comforts and convenience of a modern 5-star hotel.

 

 

Little-Sable--Wild-dog
Little-Sable---Bedroom-interior1
Little-Sable---Bedroom-exterior2

Day 6: Optional - Trade in a Night Under Canvas for a Night Under the Stars

Up arrow

If you want to pack as many exciting adventures into your itinerary as possible, then you’ll be delighted to know that there’s an option to swap one of your nights at Little Sable for the chance to sleep under the stars. When opting for this experience, you’ll be transferred via helicopter to the gorgeous, tented camp, Hyena Pan.

Before arriving at your final destination, you’ll stop at Hyena Pan’s underground hide to snap up-close pictures of any wildlife that may be quenching their thirst at the nearby waterhole. Then it’s off to the magical skybed to enjoy a sundowner and traditional dining experience before heading for bed.

 The skybeds offer an experience that is nothing short of breathtaking. Can you imagine spending the night atop a 5-meter-high wooden platform, under a blanket of a billion stars, while the soothing sound of nature lulls you to sleep? The best part is that the skybed overlooks the only permanent water source for 2,000 hectares (20 kilometers). This waterhole is popular with the local wildlife, being frequented by 400 bull elephants, lions, leopards, eland, zebra, and other resident animals. Each of the two skybeds available comes fitted with a flush toilet, shower and basin, and sleeping area – meaning that you’ll be kept comfortable for the duration of your stay.

Little-Sable---Bedroom-exterior2
Little-Sable---Elephants-near-camp
Hyena-Pan---Watching-Elephants-from-camp

Day 7: Hit the Breaks, Hang Up Your Helmet, and Say Goodbye to the Delta

Up arrow

Whether you wake up at Little Sable or Hyena Pan, your day will begin with a delicious breakfast in camp to fuel you for one last morning bush walk. On your return, you’ll be transferred back to Maun to catch your flight back home.

Hyena-Pan---Sunset-drinks-&-ellies
Hyena-Pan---Tent-&-ellies-outside
Hyena-Pan
Inclusions tick icon

Inclusions

  • Charter flight from Khwai Private Reserve to Maun
  • Laundry Service, All meals
  • Park entrance fees, Expect guide & Daily activities
  • Road transfers between camps and airstrips.
Exclusions tick icon

Exclusions

  • International flights
  • Airport taxes
  • All meals and drinks not specified
  • Tips and gratuities
  • Items of a personal nature

Rates

Select your preferred currency below and view rates over specific seasons.
Country flag for USA USD Up arrow
  • Country flag for South Africa ZAR
  • Country flag for USA USD
  • Country flag for Canada CAD
  • Country flag for Australia AUD
  • Country flag for UK GBP
  • Country flag for Europe EUR
Dates Price
2022-11-01 — 2022-12-19 $8,575
2022-12-20 — 2022-12-31 $8,975
Our rates are per person sharing unless we note differently. Please treat all pricing as a guide only:
  • All rates are subject to availability and may change without notice.
  • Single supplements may apply.
  • Request a quote or speak to one of our African Safari Experts for the best, most current rates available.