Overview

Basic info:

Where: Moshi | Uru | West Kili | Kamwanga – Amboseli National Park | Lake Chala | Marangu / Moshi
Terrain: Paved road and off road
Activity level: Leisurely to tough
Existing pre-planned dates for 2020: Departing on 12/1, 28/2, 11/6, 25/7, 11/8, 25/9, 15/10, 1/11 and 23/12.

Tour highlights:

This 6-day Maasai cultural adventure will take you through the contrasting landscapes that Tanzania has to offer, from dry acacia to tropical rainforests, where you will see elephants, giraffe, zebras and tropical birds. On day 3 you’ll get to experience an evening with the Maasai full of traditional food, stories and dances.

Bike hire:

We have standard hard tail mountain bikes for hire for this trip @ $90 each. However, we recommend that you bring your own bike with you, if you can, as we cannot guarantee our bikes will be a perfect fit for you.

Alternatively, you might like to just bring your own saddle and pedals. Please note that all bike transit costs will be at your own expense.

If you have a spare bike that you’d like to use for your adventure and then donate to TVA Cycling Club, we will pay your shipping costs as a thankyou for your gift.

Day 1:
Arrive in Moshi, Tanzania – Jambo! And welcome to Tanzania!
Riding Distance: 0-36km – it’s up to you!
Accommodation: Chanya Lodge
Included meals: Lunch and dinner

Following your transfer from Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), there will be time for a bit of bike set up, followed by a meet and greet at 6pm. After that, you can take a stroll to acquaint yourself with the capital of the north eastern region of the country, which enjoys good weather all year-round. Or alternatively, why not take the chance to get a feel for the terrain and go for a spin with our very own cycling club, Tanzanian Velo Adventures Cycling Club.

Notes: If you can’t arrange a flight that will arrive in time for the meet and greet, you may wish to arrive a day early so you’re able to attend. As well as setting you up for the journey ahead, we’ll be collecting your insurance details and next of kin information at this meeting, so please ensure you have all these details to provide to your leader. We’d be happy to book additional accommodation for you. If, due to any unforeseen circumstances, you’re going to be late, then please let us know.

Day 2:
Moshi to Uru
Riding Distance: 28km
Altitude gain: +1,600m
Accommodation: Chanya Lodge
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Today’s immersion into Tanzanian culture starts with a traditional breakfast consisting of Maandazis and chapattis, but there will be a more familiar breakfast available on offer too! When we’re fully fuelled, we’ll set off riding from Moshi town and make our way up to Uru, which is approximately 1,600m above sea level for our coffee and a dip at Materuni waterfall.

In the Materuni village, the local Chagga tribe will show us around their coffee plantations, as well as demonstrate their way of farming and processing the coffee beans. We’ll even get the chance to prepare the beans and make our own coffee.

After that, we’ll join our family friend for lunch – Chagga’s favourite dish of Mtori / Ndizi – and a chat, where we’ll get to hear a little bit about the history of the Chagga tribe.

After lunch, we head out to the waterfall by taking a 45 minute hike through a scenic rainforest path with plenty of local fruits, such as avocados, mangos, lemons and bananas, providing a fruity scent in the background. Also watch out for the flower of love and forgiveness in case you need it!
The waterfall provides a great opportunity for a swim and a cool off. Be warned though, the water is VERY cold!

At the end of this busy day, we’ll welcome the chance to jump back onto our bikes and enjoy a downhill descent all the way back to base without the need to pedal.

Day 3:
Uru to West Kilimanjaro
Riding Distance: 30km
Accommodation: Osiligilai Maasai Lodge
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

After breakfast, we’ll take a short transfer in the jeep to Machame Gate, which is the start point for trekking to Mount Kilimanjaro through the Machame route.

We’ll ride north along the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro where we will meet the Maasai for the first time. Living in the vast plains of South Kenya and North Tanzania, the Maasai are probably the best-known ethnic group in East Africa, and are known for their distinctive customs and dress. During our adventure to West Kilimanjaro we will stop to meet the Maasai, get to know them and even have the chance to try on their striking clothes. And in the evening, we will listen to stories from our hosts and share the dancefloor with them as they show us some traditional dances.

Day 4:
West Kilimanjaro to Kamwanga
Riding Distance: 45km
Altitude gain: +1,100m
Accommodation: Tent at a local school in Kamwanga
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

With an altitude gain of 1.1km, today’s journey will push the boundaries for some riders, but by encouraging you to ride out of your comfort zone we hope to enable you to experience something new and exciting.

We’ll tackle the hilly Maasailand and head off to Kamwanga – a small village at the northern foot of Kilimanjaro. From here, we’ll enjoy the most fantastic views of Amboseli National Park in Kenya, as well as the northern slopes of Kilimanjaro, and spot tropical birds, zebras and giraffes along the way.

Having spent the night chatting and getting to know the Maasai, this route gives us the chance to see their way of life in practice. We’ll see Maasai women heading to the market and carrying heavy loads in their unique way – strapping round their foreheads with the load hanging down their back – while men, and especially young boys, herd their cattle amongst the wildlife.

Day 5:
Kamwanga to Lake Chala
Riding Distance: 88km
Altitude gain: +600m
Accommodation: Tent at Lake Chala
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

As we depart the Maasai plain and ride round the east side of Mount Kili, we will tackle the adventure’s longest day of cycling, which is predominantly downhill.

We will ride through the contrasting landscape of the flat, unforested acacia Maasai land to a more green and forest-type vegetation of the Chagga land. And we’ll be able to see the distinct contrast in the two tribes’ way of life. From the Maasai’s reliance on their livestock and love of drinking milk and cattle blood, to the Chagga’s farming techniques and love of Mbegge – a banana beer. We will get the chance to taste some Mbegge during a pitstop in a local bar.

When we get to the natural crater Lake Chala there’s time set aside to have a swim in its crystal-clear waters and to reset for the day.

Day 6:
Lake Chala to Marangu then Moshi
Riding Distance: 30km
Altitude gain: 700m
Accommodation: Chanya Lodge
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

We start today’s ride with a tricky 15km stretch which connects us to a wide dirt road towards Marangu. This route takes us through the lush green vegetation of tropical forests, and banana and coffee plantations, and we’ll get to ride alongside some of the locals on their simple Chinese bikes with no gears. After another 15km we’ll arrive at the village of Marangu. Here we’ll visit a small coffee farm, Chagga cave and the Ndoro waterfall (if time allows), before jumping back on our support vehicle for the transfer back to Moshi, or the airport for those who are due to catch the late flight home.

Day 7:
Transfer to Kilimanjaro airport and journey home
Riding Distance: 0km
Accommodation: None
Included meals: Breakfast

You are free to depart at any time on the final day of your trip. Your transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), Arusha Airport (ARK) or a shuttle to Nairobi will be ready for you, as agreed in your welcome meeting.