Kubu Island — Gweta to Lekhubu via Sua Pan and the Makgadikgadi Salt Flats
Baobabs on a granite island in a salt sea.
Kubu Island, or Lekhubu, is a rocky outcrop of pink granite rising out of the Sua Pan, once the bed of a vast lake. Twisted baobabs, cairns, and stone walls built by people thousands of years ago sit on top of it. You start in Gweta, where the Nata road meets the village’s pan edge, then head south through Mmatshumo and onto the Lekhubu track. The last stretch crosses open pan, where the surface shifts between hard crust, powdery silt, and soft sand. Sunset here is something else. At night, with no light for fifty miles, the sky is almost too big.
Don’t underestimate the pan. In the dry season it’s fine, but one wet spell turns it into a trap that has buried plenty of vehicles. Go May through October, stay on existing tracks, and carry full recovery gear, extra water, and fuel for the round trip. Navigation needs GPS because tracks braid and fade. There is no cell service, so tell someone your plan. Camping is at the community-run site, which charges a fee, and you’ll need to bring everything, including firewood. Expect a lot of corrugation on the approach roads. It’s remote, and you’ll feel it. Have a dirty day.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Difficult |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Overland Route |
| Surface | Mixed, Sand |
| Features | Camping, Historic, Remote, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 93 mi / 149.7 km |
| Duration | 1-2 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 2950 ft |
| Best season | May-October |
| Minimum vehicle | 4WD with recovery gear, high clearance |
| Nearest town | Gweta, Botswana |
| Land manager | Gaotlobogwe community trust (Lekhubu / Kubu Island) |
| Permit required | Yes |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | No |
| Dispersed camping | No |
| Official sources | Botswana Tourism Organisation |
| Verified | |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
| Copy both for Google Maps directionsClick to copy the directions URL · or open it directly in a new tab | |
| Find on Google | Search on Google → |
Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Can a stock 4Runner or similar 4WD SUV make it to Kubu Island?
Yes, in the dry season, if it has real 4WD, decent clearance, and all-terrain tires you can air down for the sand. Carry recovery gear (traction boards, shovel, compressor, tow strap) and a full-size spare. Travel with a second vehicle if you can, because help is a long way off.
Can I drive Kubu Island during the rainy season?
Don't. The Sua Pan crust turns to soft mud after rain, and vehicles can sink to the axles with no good way out. Plan for May to October, and turn around if the pan surface looks damp or dark.
Do I need a permit or pay fees to visit Kubu Island?
Yes. Kubu (Lekhubu) is run by the Gaotlobogwe community trust, and you pay entry and camping fees to them. Book ahead in peak season and confirm current rates and booking details through the Botswana Tourism Organisation or the trust before you leave.
What's the hardest part of the route?
The soft sand on the approaches and the pan itself. The crust can look solid and then break through, especially near the edges and in damp patches. The pan is also flat and featureless, so navigation is the other challenge. Run GPS with a downloaded track, stay on established tracks, and don't cut across fresh ground.
What do I need to carry for the Kubu Island trip?
Everything. There's no cell service on the route and no fuel or reliable water at Kubu, so fill up in Gweta and carry extra fuel, since sand drinks it. Bring all your water, food, and firewood, and carry a satellite messenger or comms device. Pack out all your trash, and expect cold nights in winter.
Trail track
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