AAC Journey Specialist Nell undertook a journey through Botswana last autumn. She started her trip by running the Salt Pans Ultra Marathon 50k (placing first in the women’s category and second overall!). She joins us on the blog to share more about her experience.
In late 2025, I had the extraordinary opportunity to take part in the Salt Pans 50K Ultra Marathon across the Makgadikgadi Pans in northeastern Botswana. I didn’t run it just for the adventure. I ran to raise awareness and funds for women in northern Botswana; women working tirelessly to lift their families out of poverty while protecting their environment. With the support of my team at Africa Adventure Consultants, I was able to combine two of my greatest passions, travel and running, in a profoundly meaningful way.
The race itself was humbling, meditative and unlike anything I’ve ever experienced: no markers, extreme heat, relentless headwinds, mud and miles upon miles of vast, empty solitude. To my surprise, I finished first in the women’s category and second overall out of 88 runners from all over the world. It was grueling, yes, but it was also deeply transformative. Every step pushed me inward, demanding mental and physical strength. There’s nothing quite like being alone on a sprawling salt flat in the middle of Africa. It forces reflection, gratitude and a deep sense of connection to life.
What moved me the most was the community that formed around this race. Every runner had a story. The salt pans became a kind of spiritual ground, a place where people showed up open, honest and ready to support one another. Experiencing all of this while uplifting the women of nearby villages, women whose resilience far surpasses any race, made the journey even more meaningful.
I ran in support of two remarkable community groups:
After the race, I spent a week on safari in the Okavango Delta, learning more about the communities whose livelihoods these initiatives directly support. I arrived in Botswana eager to learn and see something new and I left with so much more. I was met with warmth, generosity and a spirit of resilience that will stay with me forever.
To those who donated: thank you. Even if you may never see the results firsthand, your contribution is making a lasting impact in someone’s life and that is something to be profoundly proud of.
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Photos courtesy AAC Journey Specialist, Gareth Roberts and Shorobe Basket Cooperative