Out of Africa - Mountain Biking from Kilimanjaro
Tanzania, Bike - Semi Slick, 10 days - from $2,465 (land only)
Holiday Itinerary
Day 1: Rendezvous at the group hotel in Arusha. Kilimanjaro Airport transfers are provided on this day. KE Land Only services begin with the evening meal.
Day 2: After checking our bikes, we have a short morning ride to the Meserani Snake Farm. After lunch, we ride a loop from Meserani on sandy trails towards Mount Monduli and return to overnight at a camp at the farm. Ride distance 52 km (33 miles) with 400 metres of ascent.
Day 3: Bike on jeep tracks towards the Tarangire National Park and the Simanjiro Game Controlled Area. Today we may see gazelle, hartebeest and ostrich as well as larger predators. We set up our bush camp on a small hill. Ride distance 52 km (33 miles) with 220 metres of ascent.
Day 4: A long day of undulating trails, then a singletrack descent to Makuyuni and the southern end of Lake Manyara. Spectacular views of the Great Rift Valley and the lake today and an excellent camping place. Ride distance 65 km (40 miles) with 150 metres of ascent.
Day 5: Today we bike around Lake Manyara, visiting lakeside fishing villages en route. An excellent day of riding to Magara where we camp right at the foot of Rift Valley cliffs. Ride distance 45 km (28 miles) with minimal ascent or descent.
Day 6: A free day at Magara. Optional afternoon return ride to Lake Manyara or the day can be spent chilling, sightseeing or swimming in the nearby gorge's plunge pools. Optional 20 km (13 mile) ride.
Day 7: We have a 700 metre (2300 foot) climb to the top of the Rift Valley escarpment on a rough jeep track, then descend to Mbulu where we have lunch. Riding on to Aiche we camp nearby on a ridge - which can be cool! Ride distance 58 km (36 miles) with 1450 metres of ascent.
Day 8: Perfect biking terrain as we ride a dusty road to Karatu, then cross-country through coffee plantations and on to the welcome facilities of Doffa Camp at the bottom of the Ngorongoro Crater. We may see wildlife such as dik-dik antelope and baboons. Ride distance 60 km (38 miles) with 600 metres of ascent.
Day 9: Today is devoted to the splendours of the Ngorongo Crater, with game drives amongst the teeming wildlife, followed by sundowners on the crater rim. We spend a second night at Doffa Camp.
Day 10: In the morning we drive to Arusha and have the use of day rooms to freshen up. We also need to pack our bikes for the journey home. KE Land Only services end after lunch with complimentary transfers back to Kilimanjaro Airport.
