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SPU 2025

27 September

Entries OPen

SPU 2025

27 September

Entries Open

SPU 2025

27 September

Entries Open

SPU 2025

27 September

Entries Open

SPU 2025

27 September

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Salt Pans Ultra Marathon

The World's Toughest Flat Route Ultra

The Salt Pans Ultra in Botswana is the world’s toughest flat race. Choose your challenge: 50km or 100km across the vast, ancient Makgadikgadi Salt Pans, the World’s second-largest.


With no markers, extreme heat, and endless solitude, this bucket-list run pushes limits while connecting you to humankind’s origins.

Incredible, one of a kind event but not for the faint of heart.
Taylor Rocha
Taylor RochaWinner 100KM 2024 - USA
This is hands down the best well organised running racing event in Botswana! It's a mind over matter to get to the finish ...
Zuleikha Steinbach
Zuleikha SteinbackBotswana
I loved the Salt Pan Ultramarathon 100km! It’s a tough race especially for 100km. I was really impressed by the value and quality.
Harvey Lewis II
Harvey Lewis IIUSA
One of the craziest things ive done. Will i do it again? Hell yea! What a race, what an experience
Matthew Cross
Matthew CrossSouth Africa
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Racecheck Gold Award
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Salt Pans Ultra Marathon

SPU 50 KM

Where the Journey Starts

The SPU 50 is a tough ultra trail marathon in the Sua Pans Botswana. 

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Salt Pans Ultra Marathon

SPU 100 KM

The Ultimate Race

The SPU 100 is the ultimate ultra trail marathon and the toughest flat ultra race in the world.

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Qualifier 100K
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SPU Race Ambassador

No Tears on the Salt Pans

A great article and overview of one runner’s race written by our first Salt Pans Ultra Race Ambassador Carla Lea Farina. Enjoy!

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Racecheck Gold Award

Gold Awared

We’re incredibly proud to announce that the Salt Pans Ultra 2024 has been awarded the Racecheck Gold Award, with an impressive 4.93-star average rating from over 50 reviews!

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Salt Pans Ultra Marathon

Tylor Rocha Shatters Record

The Salt Pans Ultra 2024 witnessed an extraordinary feat as Tylor Rocha claimed victory in the 100km race, setting a new course record with an astonishing time of 11 hours and 37 minutes.

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Salt Pans Ultra Marathon

Russell won SPU 50KM

In a stunning display of endurance and speed, Jodie Russell claimed first place in the 2024 Salt Pans Ultra 50km

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Salt Pans Ultra Marathon
Salt Pans Ultra Marathon
Salt Pans Ultra Marathon
Salt Pans Ultra Marathon

Main Sponsors

Desert and Delta Safaris
Blue Crystal Sukiri

No Tears in the Salt Pans

Read the article from Carla Farina. 

She’s a Hoka ONE ONE runner, our Salt Pans Ultra Race Ambassador and also writes a monthly column in the South African running magazine “Trail MisAdventures”.

You can read the article here:

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Racecheck Gold Award 2024 for Salt Pans Ultra Marathon

We’re incredibly proud to announce that the Salt Pans Ultra 2024 has again been awarded the Racecheck Gold Award, with an impressive 4.93-star average rating from over 50 reviews! This milestone brings us closer to earning a spot among the Top Rated Races on Racecheck, a platform dedicated to helping athletes find, review, and choose the best endurance events worldwide.

Ranked 13th out of 1,750 off-road running races in 2024 we are high in the Top 1% of races.

Racecheck connects a global community of runners, cyclists, and triathletes, allowing them to share race experiences and recognize events that truly stand out. Achieving this award reflects the passion and commitment of everyone involved—from participants to volunteers, to our dedicated team behind the scenes.

Thank you to each and every one of you who voted and helped make this possible. We look forward to creating even more memorable moments together at future events!

Tylor Rocha Shatters Record to Win 2024 Salt Pans Ultra 100km

Tylor Rocha shattered the Salt Pans Ultra 100km record with an impressive 11:37 finish in 2024. The grueling course, softened by the absence of mud this year, allowed Rocha to push limits and set a new benchmark. Battling winds and the vast salt flats, the ultra runner effort’s are all the more impressive as he is new to the sport.

In his post-race interview, Rocha expressed gratitude for the support from fans, fellow runners, and his team. He also credited the unique beauty and challenging terrain of the Salt Pans for pushing him to reach new levels in his performance. “There’s something about the salt pans that pulls you in,” he shared. “It’s humbling, but it’s also inspiring. It makes you give everything.”
Congratulations to Tylor Rocha on this incredible achievement! His record-breaking time is sure to be celebrated by the ultra-running community and will serve as a high benchmark for future competitors aiming to tackle the Salt Pans Ultra.

Jodie Russell's Remarkable Victory at the 2024 Salt Pans Ultra 50km

In a stunning display of endurance and speed, Jodie Russell claimed first place in the 2024 Salt Pans Ultra 50km, finishing with an impressive time of 5 hours and 35 minutes—just 3 minutes shy of the course’s fastest record. Known for its demanding terrain across Botswana’s vast salt flats, the Salt Pans Ultra is a true test for any ultra-runner, and Russell rose to the challenge with grit and determination.

Russell’s near-record time is a testament to her relentless training and racing prowess, as she maneuvered through the rugged landscape with an impressive pace and strategic precision. The Salt Pans’ harsh environment, with its expansive, barren flats and ever-changing weather conditions, tested every runner, but Russell stayed focused, drawing strength from the raw beauty and challenge of the terrain.

After the race, Russell shared her excitement about her win and the unforgettable experience. “Running on the salt pans is unlike anything else—it’s challenging, yet incredibly rewarding,” she said. “It was just me and the elements out there, and that pushed me to dig deeper.”

Congratulations to Jodie Russell on her outstanding performance in the Salt Pans Ultra 50km! Her remarkable achievement brings her within reach of the course’s fastest time, setting the stage for future challenges and inspiring the ultra-running community.