Kalahari Red Dune Route
The Kalahari Red Dune Route is the Northern Cape at its most raw and remote — riding through the classic landscape of the southern Kalahari, where red sand dunes covered with camel thorn acacia march north toward Botswana in long parallel ridges, separated by compacted inter-dune corridors of calcrete gravel that provide riding surfaces alternating between firm hard-pack and loose, wheel-grabbing red sand.
What to Expect
This is not groomed trail riding — the dune tracks are informal, the distances between water points are significant (carry minimum 4 litres per hour of riding), and the terrain requires a capable mountain bike with 2.2 inch or wider tyres for the sand sections. A fat bike is the ideal tool in the dune terrain. The rewards are extraordinary: the deep red of the dunes against a cobalt Kalahari sky, gemsbok running alongside the tracks, meerkat colonies watching from burrow mounds, and the complete absence of other humans that characterises the deep Kalahari between the small villages.
Critical note: The Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park itself — the adjacent cross-border national park — is NOT accessible by bicycle. Free-roaming lions, leopards and cheetahs make cycling inside the park boundary extremely dangerous, and SANParks does not permit it. The dune routes described here are on public roads and private farm land outside the park boundary — confirm the boundary before riding any route in this area.
Getting There
Andriesvale and Askham are reached from Upington via Groblershoop and the R360 north (approximately 280-300km on gravel road). GPS for Andriesvale: -26.5667, 20.7833. High clearance vehicle essential — road conditions vary significantly after rain. Fuel at Andriesvale or Askham before riding.
Trail Overview
| 📍 Location | Andriesvale or Askham, Kalahari, Northern Cape (near Kalahari Tented Camp) |
| 📏 Total Distance | varieskm of trails |
| ⚡ Difficulty | Moderate to Difficult |
| 🚵 Discipline | MTB |
| 🛤️ Trail Type | Kalahari Dune Track, Inter-dune Gravel Corridor |
| 🪨 Surface | Loose red Kalahari sand on dune faces — compacted inter-dune corridor tracks — some hard-packed calcrete sections — fat bike or wide tyre MTB (2.2+ inches) strongly recommended |
| 🕐 Opening Hours | Kalahari Tented Camp (Askham — accommodation — book in advance),Mata Mata Gate (Kgalagadi Park — camping and gate accommodation — note cycling inside Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park NOT permitted — predators),Upington (300km — nearest city with full services),Andriesvale village (basic supplies) |
| 🏘️ Nearest Town | Classic red Kalahari dune riding in South Africa’s most remote cycling terrain — inter-dune corridors of compacted calcrete alternating with soft red sand faces, camel thorn woodland, open grass plains and close encounters with Kalahari gemsbok, springbok, red hartebeest and bat-eared fox. |
Trail Listings
| Trail Name | Distance | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| Andriesvale Red Dune Trail | varies | Difficult (informal — red Kalahari dune riding from Andriesvale toward the Nossob Valley — loose red sand and compacted inter-dune corridors — Kalahari game on open plains) |
| Askham Dune Circuit | varies | Moderate-Difficult (from Askham on dune corridor gravel tracks — camel thorn woodland and open red sand — excellent wildlife viewing) |
Permits & Costs
- Cost: Free on public roads and state land. Some inter-dune tracks cross private Kalahari farms — seek permission or join guided Kalahari cycling tours.
- Where to buy: Year-round during daylight. Best May-September. Carry minimum 4 litres of water — no refill points on dune routes.
Amenities & Facilities
- May to September. Kalahari dune riding is spectacular in autumn when the Kalahari bush is in seed. Winter nights are very cold (-10C). Avoid December-January — temperatures 45C+.
Contact & Getting There
- Address: Andriesvale or Askham, Kalahari, Northern Cape (near Kalahari Tented Camp)
- GPS: -26.5667, 20.7833
- Website: https://www.experiencenortherncape.com
Best Time to Ride: Andriesvale (base) | Askham (25km) | Upington (300km)
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