Tour
Total tour distance: 400 miles
Daily tour distance: 40 miles
Difficulty: 60 / 100
Description
Travel at the pace of Africa on this 16 day camping & cycling tour; experience the people, culture, wildlife and landscapes of this amazing continent.
Baisikeli Maridadi is a 16 day camping cycle tour from Nairobi to Dar es Salaam using remote back roads and visiting local families and villages along the way. Our route varies from the chaos of Nairobi city to the sudden sparseness of open savannah with wildlife grazing the plains. We pass beneath the imposing Mt Kilimanjaro, visit Amboseli National Park in Kenya and the Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania before heading for mountain rain forested Usambara Mountains and ultimately the tropical Indian Ocean coast.
Biking far from the tourist routes you will experience Africa at face level – you’ll view wildlife from the saddle of your bike, meet Maasai tribesmen and camp in the wilderness under a cloudless African sky.
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 point you in the right direction.
What is the biking like?
We ride between 20-90km per day; a total distance of 550km spread over 12 days of biking. The terrain is flat and gently undulating; and the riding surface is made up of 80% dirt roads, 15% paved roads, and about 5% non-technical single track so a mountain bike with front suspension is the ideal bicycle. The trip is suited to riders with a good level of cycling fitness and some off-road biking experience will add to the enjoyment of your trip.
The Low-down:
Your trip will start in Nairobi in Kenya and finish in Dar es Salaam in Tanzania. Your group will be made up of 4-12 bikers from around the world and our Escape Team of three trip leaders. Our trusty support vehicle carries all your luggage, has lunch, snacks and water at hand, and is always there if you feel like a break from the saddle. Accommodation includes four nights in local guesthouses on a twin-share basis and 11 nights camping in spacious dome tents. (Upgrades to rooms are available at some campsites at your own expense). We take care of your meals and snacks throughout your journey with us; this excludes two lunches and three evening meals which are at your own expense to give you the opportunity to explore and experience local cuisine of your own choosing. Also included in your trip are three game parks Amboseli National Park, Saadani National Park and the Ngorongoro Crater, and a visit to a rural primary school.
Nairobi to Dar es Salaam
Contact Us for a more Detailed Itinerary
DAY 1: Arrive Nairobi, pre-departure meeting and first dinner together. Safari Camp
DAY 2: A gentle day getting used to bikes from the city out into the savannah. 25km. Camping
DAY 3: A good day's biking in the real African savannah. 82km. Camping
DAY 4: Cyclng to Amboseli National Park. 35kms + game drive. Camping
DAY 5: Morning game drive, afternoon bike around the lower slopes of Mt Kilimanjaro. 20km. Camping
DAY 6: Relaxed start, visit Maasai Family. Continue cycling around lower slopes of Mt Kilimangaro. In the afternoon we cross the border into Tanzania and transfer by vehilce to Arusha City. 45km. Camping
DAY 7: Paved road ride out to the foot of the Rift Valley Escarpment. 105km. Camping/Upgrades available
DAY 8: All day game drive Ngorongoro Crater. Guesthouse
DAY 9: Heading towards the coast, cycle through the wide open spaces of the Maasai Steppe. 20km. Riverside Camping
DAY 10: Driving for the main climb we head up and explore the Usambara Mountains. 45km. Camping/Upgrades available
DAY 11: A well earned rest day OR optional hike, viisit a local school or help with a local reforestation project. Camping/Upgrades available
DAY 12: "The Ultimate Day" exploring the smooth trails through rain forest and highland villages. 60km. Camping/Upgrades available
DAY 13: Cycling to the tropical coast through sleepy palm lined villages. 72km. Beachside Camping/Upgrades available
DAY 14: Short ride into the coastal Saadani National Park. Afternoon game drive to coastal campsite. 15km. Camping
DAY 15: A morning game drive then back on our bikes through small fishing villages to the historical town of Bagamoyo. 37km. Coastal Lodge.
DAY 16: Final breakfast together and a morning transfer to Dar es Salaam for those who are flying out. / enjoying the beach / onward travel.
Trip Price
New Zealand dollars $4540 (Plus local payment USD$300, bike hire NZD$300)
Single Supplement if requested NZD$655.
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 activities and excursions, vaccinations, personal equipment and a couple of meals as per the detailed itinerary.
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.