Mosu / Makgadikgadi, Botswana · Saturday, September 26, 2026

Fixed Distance 50K

Salt Pans Ultra Marathon 50 km

Race completed
51 km Distance
40 m Climbing
2.6 Grit · Entry level
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What the course asks

Climbing rate 1 m / km Fast & Flat. This course is relatively flat and fast. Ideal for PB attempts.
Time limit 10 hours 11:46 min/km average. Generous. Walkable throughout for most of the field. About average for a 50K. Measured against 1034 races of the same distance. Cut-off calculator →
Field size ~88 Mid-sized. Company early, well spread out by halfway.

DUV results for the 2025 edition (51km) — finishers only. Starters are not published, so the field was at least this big and no finish rate can be given.

Results history

Year Race Finishers Men's winner Women's winner
2025 51km 88 Jonathan Benjamin · 04:26:49 Nell Pollak · 05:14:29
2024 50km 36 Matthew Johnson · 06:11:55 Jodie Russell · 05:38:28
2023 50km 54 Peter Hollen · 05:34:11 Helena van Wyk · 06:56:59
2022 50km 34 Voight Uys · 05:20:00 Melinda Jacobs · 06:45:00

The field grew 144% between 2024 (36) and 2025 (88). 49% of the 2025 field were women.

DUV results for the 2025 edition (51km) — finishers only. Starters are not published, so the field was at least this big and no finish rate can be given.

The Aid Station

Course-specific beta from the community

⛰️ terrain

This is a fast & flat course. Expect fast, runnable sections where rhythm is key.

By UltraHub Expert
👟 gear

With trail terrain, choose a shoe with moderate cushioning for optimal performance.

By UltraHub Expert

Gear for this race

Chosen for 51 km of trail with 40 m of ascent.

  • Trail Running Shoes 51 km of trail — cushioning that is still there in the last quarter.
  • Race Nutrition 51 km of self-supported fuelling between aid stations.
  • Hydration Vests Flask capacity for 51 km, without the bounce.
  • GPS Watches Battery life first — a 51 km day outlasts most full-GPS modes.

Adidas

Terrex Agravic Speed Ultra

RunRepeat found the Adidas Terrex Agravic Speed Ultra to be perfect for midfoot and forefoot strikers, while iRunFar noted that the shoe feels incredibly effici…

★★★★★ 4.5

La Sportiva

Prodigio Pro

RunRepeat found the La Sportiva Prodigio Pro to have a secure, locked-in fit due to its premium upper, and also praised the shoe's energetic ride, particularly…

$225 ★★★★★ 4.6

Tailwind

Endurance Fuel

All-in-one calorie and electrolyte drink mix. 200 calories per serving.

$25 ★★★★★ 4.8

Nathan

VaporKrar 12L

12L race vest co-designed with ultra champion Rob Krar, with insulated bladder pocket.

$170 ★★★★★ 4.6

Garmin

Enduro 3

Ultra-endurance GPS watch with solar charging and 300+ hour battery in GPS mode.

$900 ★★★★★ 4.8
All gear guides →

Overview

The Salt Pans Ultra Marathon 50 km, organised by Outdoor Adventures BW, offers a single-day trail race in Mosu / Makgadikgadi, Botswana, each September. The course covers 51 km with a minimal 40 meters of elevation gain, equating to less than 1 meter of climb per kilometer. This makes it a flatter course than many 50k races.

With a 10-hour time limit, the cutoff pace of 11.8 minutes per kilometer is tighter than 53% of peer 50k races, requiring a steady effort. The latest edition in 2025 drew 88 finishers, a larger field than 75% of 50k races. The entry fee is 350 Euro.

Similar races

Other 50K trail ultras, closest in distance first.