Want to see Africa in a different way?.Get off the beaten
track and immerse yourself in the amazing back roads
of East Africa. Experience the culture, wildlife and
landscapes of an amazing place
‘The Ultimate Biking Adventure in Kenya and Tanzania’ Travel at the pace of Africa on this 16 day mountain bike adventure, Experience the culture, wildlife and landscapes of an amazing continent.
Enquire with us for our Early Bird prices for 2013
We are a small personal travel company with a passion for getting out and exploring new and exciting destinations around the world. Most people believe that the only way to see Africa is by vehicle. We know from experience that after a couple of days biking with us you will realise that this is the only way to truly appreciate this magnificent continent.
We have designed our 16 day biking adventure to bring you face to face with Africa in a way you cannot do by travelling in a vehicle or staying on luxury lodges. We travel from Nairobi in Kenya through Tanzania to Dar es Salaam on the Indian Ocean coast; or the reverse journey (see itineraries below).
Biking far from busy roads and main tourist routes you will experience a different face of Africa - local villages and traditional tribesmen, breathtaking scenery and wildlife grazing on the plains. We travel through open savannah, desert, mountain rainforest and tropical coastline. We follow the foothills of Mt Kilimanjaro with its snow-covered peaks and camp in the wilderness under a cloudless African sky.
We take a break from our bikes to view Amboseli National Park and Ngorongoro Crater, which hosts the largest concentration of plains game anywhere in the world and gives you the wildlife experience that East Africa is famous for. Enjoy a day hike and visit a local school in the unspoilt Usambara Mountains. Biking through the Usambara Mountains and down to the tropical coastal forest and villages brings us finally to Dar es Salaam, “Haven of Peace”.
Some people choose to extend their trip and follow with a trek of Mt Kilimanjaro or experience the culture and buzz of Zanzibar Island; either of which we can help you to arrange.
What is the Biking Like ? - 12 days biking - 90% on dirt and 4x4 roads, some paved roads, and a wee bit of non-technical single track. While most of the riding on this trip is non-technical some off road biking experience will help. - A good level of fitness will add to the enjoyment of your trip. - From 25km to 90km per day. Total distance approximately 550km.
The Basic Lo-Down We travel between Nairobi in Kenya and Dar es Salaam on the Indian Ocean coast in Tanzania.
100% vehicle supported. Our trusty support vehicle carries all your luggage, helps you up those hills (if you like) and always has lunch, snacks and water at hand.
Two Game parks included, Amboseli National Park (Kenya) and Ngorongoro Crater (Tanzania) included.
Group size minimum 4, maximum 12 plus leaders and local crew.
Accommodation is twin share - 4 night in hotels; 11 nights camping. (Upgrades to rooms are available at some campsites at your own expense).
Food includes 3 meals per day from dinner on Day 1 to breakfast Day 16. This excludes 2 lunches and 2 evening meals which are at your own expense to give you the opportunity to experience local cuisine.
Includes visit to a rural primary school in Tanzania.
Nairobi to Dar-es-Salaam Day 1 - Arrive in Nairobi. Day 2 - Biking across open savannah. Day 3-4 - Bike to Amboseli National Park. Day 5 - Game viewing, bike to Maasai Village. Day 6 - Bike to Tanzanian border. Day 7 - Bike to Arusha. Day 8 - Biking into the Great Rift Valley. Day 9 - Game drive in Ngorongoro Crater. Day 10 - Transfer west, pm bike to secluded river campsite. Day 11-13 - Bike and explore the Usambara Mountains, plus school visit. Day 14 - Bike to the Indian Ocean coast. Day 15 - Bike to Dar es Salaam. Day 16 - Fly out or relax by the ocean.
this cycle tour runs in the reverse direction as well
Prices for 2013 New Zealand dollars NZ$4490 (Plus local payment USD$300, bike hire in country USD$200
Prices for 2014 New Zealand dollars NZ$4490 (Plus local payment USD$300, bike hire in country USD$200
Departure Dates for 2013 Sat June 15th to Sun June 30th: Nairobi to Dar es Salaam Sat July 6th to Sun July 21st: Dar es Salaam to Nairobi Sat July 27th to Sun Aug 11th: Nairobi to Dar es Salaam Sat Aug 17th to Sun Sept 1st: Dar es Salaam to Nairobi
Departure Dates for 2014 Mon June 16th to Tue July 1st: Nairobi to Dar es Salaam Sat July 5th to Sun July 20th: Dar es Salaam to Nairobi Thurs July 24th to Fri Aug 8th: Nairobi to Dar es Salaam Mon Aug 11th to Tue Aug 26th: Dar es Salaam to Nairobi
Prices include transport, meals, accommodation and activities for the duration of the trip as per detailed itinerary.
Prices do NOT include airfares, visas, airport taxes, optional meals, optional activities and excursions, vaccinations and personal equipment.
Local Payment is a part of your trip cost and is payable at the beginning of your trip to your tour leader at the pre-departure meeting on your arrival in Africa, rather than at the time of invoicing.
What is Adventure Biking ? We get off the beaten track onto remote and little used dirt roads as much as possible. Some of the time we use paved roads and also at times single track, the later with not too much technical difficulty. There is sometimes the opportunity for getting off the main tracks and onto some more serious off road biking if you wish.
All our biking is vehicle supported which means all your gear is carried for you. Lunch and water are always at hand.
If you need a break from the saddle you can ride in the vehicle at any time.
You don’t need to be a fitness fanatic to come with us, but a reasonable standard of fitness is required and makes your trip more enjoyable.
This trip is not about covering as many miles as possible. It is about experiencing Africa from a different perspective, meeting the local people and experiencing the sights sounds and smells of Africa. You will become part of the landscape and environment we are passing through, merging with the people and wildlife that we encounter along the way.
People who come with us enjoy the active outdoors and want something different in a holiday. By doing one of our trips you’re not just a spectator, but part of the scene getting to touch, smell and see what’s going on from close-up rather than as a passer-by.
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Note: due to weather conditions this trip does not run between the months of November and May
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This trip: Kenya & Tanzania - The Ultimate Biking Adventure
Rating:
rating 9/10
Comment:
one criticism, a couple of comments, and lots of praise.
First, the criticism: We spent a lot of time riding the bus. I suspect that this was inevitable given the dangers of highway cycling in Africa and the goal of experiencing as much of Tanzania and Kenya as possible, but the itinerary really seemed to understate the bus riding. Perhaps the itinerary could be modified to make more clear that most cycling days also include some hops by bus.
Second, two or three comments and suggestions: (1) Contrary to the implications of the itinerary, and to the relief of our creaky old bodies, Mary and I were able to upgrade on all but three camping nights (and were duly voted as the couple with most upgrades of all time). The White Parrot Motel at Korogwe was nowhere near as bad as rumored (especially since the campsite was one of the least attractive), and all the upgrades, with the exception of Mtowambu, were reasonably priced (under $50 US). You might consider indicating that more upgrades may be available than shown in your itinerary. Notwithstanding the preceding, Mary and I really enjoyed our three camping nights; at Pangani River, Solomons Rock, and Leonard's Place, collectively we thought the three most attractive campsites. (2) A very minor suggestion: making the Ethiopian dinner at Spices and Herbs family style would expedite service and provide the opportunity to sample more dishes. (3) We were glad that our own schedule meant that we did the reverse tour. Starting in Dar, rather than Nairobi, seemed to give more of a build-up to the best features of the tour, and the Wildebeest Lodge was a terrific place to finish. (4) Although there were a couple of days early on, when heat, intercontinental travel, and getting used to mountain biking started to wear on us, we didn't feel that our ages (72 and 68) were inappropriate to the tour, just being in good cycling shape was enough (although we wished we'd had a couple of days of mountain biking experience ahead of time).
Last, and definitely not least, lots and lots of praise: Tim and Teresa were wonderful leaders, always upbeat, clear about requirements, empathetic, and good at bandaging. Joseph was a delight, a great cook, and instantly and unobtrusively helpful to the older members of the tour. The bikes were excellent and, thanks to Tim, still in great shape at the end of the ride. The mix of terrain was great, the countryside and villages delightful, and the off-the-beaten-track introduction to East Africa quite wonderful. (And our fellow cyclists were great as well, itis hard to imagine a better bunch of fellow-travelers! ) A fabulous, delightful, wonderful (and just a little challenging) vacation!!! THANK YOU.
2
Client:
Alison Ambridge - from United Kingdom
Trip:
This trip: Kenya & Tanzania - The Ultimate Biking Adventure
Rating:
rating 10/10
Comment:
I hoped this would be the holiday of a lifetime for our family as stated by previous travellers but it was so much more than that. Challenging and enlightening it was worth every penny and was good value for what we got.
The trip details had been painstakingly worked out so that even on the days where you thought things were less busy, there were still new experiences that you couldn't foresee. Food was good; trip leaders were exceptional; all the equipment was top-notch ( so that now I'm dissatisfied with the stuff we have at home ); the bus Sabrina was like a really good friend and was equipped and adapted perfectly.
Now we feel deflated that we are home and didn't want to leave Africa...none of us can imagine anything else living up to this :
Go on, do it, you won't regret it...and that's coming from a novice bike rider...
3
Client:
Kirsten Buist - from Australia
Trip:
This trip: Kenya & Tanzania - The Ultimate Biking Adventure
Rating:
rating 10/10
Comment:
They are amazingly organised, super ready and we all agreed at the end of the trip, it was well worth it. By the end, we had a routine, a team and a tight knit bunch of people, including the guides. Everyone was included and we all got something from the holiday.
A remarkable way to see Africa
4
Client:
Jim Eyden and Karen Nicholls - from Canada
Trip:
This trip: Kenya & Tanzania - The Ultimate Biking Adventure
Rating:
rating 10/10
Comment:
We had a fantastic holiday and it was everything we had hoped for and more.
We saw most of the wild animalsAfrica is famous for and in their natural habitat as we biked across the plains and mountains of Kenya and Tanzania. It is truly a thrill to be biking along and have a view of a herd of Giraffe, Zebra or gazelle pass in front of you. The views of the landscapes in the Ngorongoro Crater, Mount Kilimanjaro and Usambara Mountains were breathtaking.
The staff were very knowledgeable and offered unique insights into the cultural differences of the regions as well as interesting facts about the unique vegetation, farming practices and lifestyles. We particularly enjoyed visiting a small pre-school and conversing with local Masai people. The biking was challenging on some days but not too difficult so it appeals to a wide variety of capabilities and there were opportunities for more experienced riders to put the hammer down.
One other footnote is that the camp food on the trip was anything but camp food and we truly enjoyed the variety and the quality of what was provided.
Thanks for your recommendation and if I return to Africa I would most likely use them as the tour provider.
5
Client:
Audrey Silver - from United Kingdom
Trip:
This trip: Kenya & Tanzania - The Ultimate Biking Adventure
Rating:
rating 10/10
Comment:
Hi. I had a really great time.
Biking - what a great way to experience Africa. It was everything I have been looking for. Good preparation, support and organisation, the planning showed in the variety and range of experience.
Plus excellent food, bikes and kit, and interesting company. Although not a cheap holiday, it was certainly worth it, and I would like to go with them again next year. Loved it.
6
Client:
Megan Williams - from United States
Trip:
This trip: Kenya & Tanzania - The Ultimate Biking Adventure
Rating:
rating 10/10
Comment:
This trip offers a unique opportunity to those who wish to see Africa from more than a bus window or a lodge balcony. It is a once in a lifetime opportunity, and I would recommend it to anyone who likes to bike, be outside, and camp.
Mandy, John, and Nash, the trip leaders, are knowledgeable and personable. John's family immigrated from Kenya to New Zealand, Nash is from a village North of Nairobi, and Mandy is an awesome cook--plying us with fresh biscotti and fruit on our bike breaks and cooking us pancakes in the morning to get us jump started. They have carefully researched routes and places to give the group a diverse experience of the landscapes and people in Kenya and Tanzania.
A sample day best demonstrates this trip's character. We began the day early--breaking camp from inside Amboseli National Park with a game drive where we saw the big five. We then drove for about 45 minutes out of the park to bike across dry Lake Amboseli which was so hot that mirages of water shimmered on either side of us. We ended the day at the base of a huge rock outcropping near a Masaai village that they have developed a relationship with over the years.
That evening, we had a "colonial" dinner of wine, fresh cheeses, salads, and fruits, on the rock. With the sun setting in the distance over the savanna and the silhouettes of acacia trees and the occasional giraffe's head, we lit a camp fire and spoke (via Nash, our translator) with two of the leaders of the Masaai village as a prelude to our visit to their actual homes the next day.
As this stellar day should reveal, this trip offers a once in a life time opportunity to the person who wishes to learn more about the people, and not just the animals, in Africa.
Two thumbs up! Megan Williams
7
Client:
Tim - from Belgium
Trip:
This trip: Kenya & Tanzania - The Ultimate Biking Adventure
Rating:
rating 10/10
Comment:
I had a great time
8
Client:
Ellen Jane Siem - from United States
Trip:
This trip: Kenya & Tanzania - The Ultimate Biking Adventure
Rating:
rating 10/10
Comment:
I had a wonderful experience with knowledgable friendly guides.
We did a number of interesting and creative things: camped at Masaai villages (and drank Masaai chai and toured a hut!!), watched the sunset with wine on the top of a mountain, biked across a dried lake, learned local languages, played with local kids and accompanied them to school (classes held outdoors beneath a tree in the middle of nowhwere), and slept under the stars with baboons.... I would give the tour a rating of 99.9 out of 100. Thanks! Ellen.
