Tanzania Bike Tour

Mountain Biking Tour Tanzania from $6731 NZD
16 Days
  • 2016
  • 2017
  • Best time to travel: June - October
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  • Availability Guide:
  • Current date selected
  • Plenty
  • Limited
  • Closed or too close to departure (Call Us for options)

Great diversity, great biking, great wildlife, fantastic landscapes — see the best of Africa in Tanzania.

Including national parks and game drives, this tour gives you the chance to see the Big Five — the African elephant, black rhinoceros, cape buffalo, lion and leopard.

Ride from the lower slopes of Mt Kilimanjaro to the Rift Valley, where some of the world’s oldest, largest and deepest lakes are located. You’ll go game driving in the vast Ngorongoro Crater and relax on the stunning beaches of Zanzibar.

On biking days you will ride between 30-90km per day.

Moshi to Zanzibar

Mt Kilimanjaro Airport
  • Mountain Biking
  • Grade
  • Minimum group size: 4
  • USD 500 single room surcharge
  • USD 350 mountain bike hire
  • Tour extension available here
  • This tour is invoiced in USD
  • We can customise this tour to suit your group. Call us for details!
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Tanzania Bike Tour Fitness and Preparation
From basic tent accommodation to luxury camping; a boarding school dormitory to 4 star hotels, there's a great mix of places to stay. This trip offers a moderate biking challenge, and can be altered to fit everyone's interest, abilities and fitness level. Non-biking partners are welcome to join. This is biking as it should be — off the beaten path, and great fun!

Full Itinerary

DAY 1

Arrival day: Moshi (Tanzania)

No biking / Accommodation: hotel

On arrival at Kilimanjaro International airport, you will be met and transferred 50km to the town of Moshi (journey time is approximately 45 minutes depending on traffic). This evening there will be a tour briefing before dinner.

Meals: Dinner

DAY 2

Moshi to Mta wa Mbu

No biking / Accommodation: fixed tents (shared facilities)

After a leisurely breakfast, spend some time exploring Moshi at leisure. In the late morning or early afternoon we'll drive to the world famous Ngorongoro Crater (at 2000m above sea level), which takes about 5-6 hours. The journey leads us through hilly farmland with cornfields and coffee trees. We may see our first monkeys, and trees full of storks and their nests. Our tent site is a lovely natural camp, with amenities including toilets and hot showers.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 3

Ngorongoro Crater (Hole-Hole)

No biking / Accommodation: fixed tents (shared facilities)

After approximately one hour's drive we'll have a full day of game viewing in this world-famous Ngorongoro Conservation Area. There's an excellent chance of seeing the so-called Big Five traditionally most-prized game animals: elephants, lions, black rhinos, buffaloes and leopards. With luck we'll see many others, including giraffes, baboons, hippos, etc. In the middle of the day when the animals are elusive, we'll have a picnic lunch beside a lake and at the end of the day we'll return to our camp site.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 4

Lake Manyara to Mkuru Training Camp

Biking/Climbing: 15 km/130m Accommodation: fixed tents

An early morning game drive through Lake Manyara National Park, takes us alongside the 600 m high Rift Valley escarpment. You'll see flamingoes, pelicans, and with luck, lions resting in trees. Then it's back to Arusha for lunch in a beautiful African restaurant, where you can buy handcrafts from local disabled people. From Oldonio Sambu we cycle to a remote (and permanent) campsite north of Mt. Meru. At night you'll probably hear the sounds of animals in the plains nearby.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 5

Mkuru Training Camp to Monduli

Biking/Climbing: 40 km/206m Accommodation: Maasai hut

We start biking to Tinga Tinga, passing Maasai settlements along the way. During lunch, zebras and cattle may roam nearby and we could also see many birds and other animals including giraffes and elephants. Mount Kilimanjaro (5895 m) is just ahead, and we'll overnight at the Olpopongi Maasai Cultural Village, which was planned and built by a multi-cultural construction team in the traditional way. This is a unique experience sleeping on a comfortable cowhide bed in your own private Maasai hut. It will be an unforgettable evening with a BBQ and traditional ceremony.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 6

Monduli to Nalemoru

Biking/Climbing: 85km/1300m Accommodation: cottages

As you cycle along the rolling foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro through grain fields, you'll very likely see many traditionally dressed Maasai people. They are very welcoming, and children in particular will call out 'Jambo' ('Hello' in Swahili). Our accommodation tonight is alongside the Nalemoru River amongst the Rongai forest, north east of Mt Kilimanjaro. From the grounds, there are views to Kibo and Mawanzi peaks. This is a popular base for climbers of Mt Kilimanjaro via the Rongai route.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 7

Nalemoru to Lake Chala

Biking/Climbing: 68km/300m Accommodation: Tented Lodge

We'll bike around a quarter of Mt. Kilimanjaro as our route leads us through savannah, forests and banana plantations. As we ride, you'll see local Chagga people in their daily work. Remote single trails lead us to tonight's destination, set in savannah-like grounds and just a short walk from Lake Chala, a sparkling crater lake. A swim may be an option before we finish this memorable day around the campfire.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 8

Lake Chala - Marangu

Biking/Climbing: 26 km/755m Accommodation: hotel

This morning there's a short ride up to Marangu, the main village which services Mt Kilimanjaro's tourism. The higher we climb, the greener our surroundings become. We'll stop to have our packed lunch before riding to our hotel. The afternoon is yours to relax or to explore.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 9

Marangu to Mambo View Point

Biking/Climbing: 19 km/1400m Accommodation: fixed tents

After breakfast we'll drive about 250 km south to the ecologically important Usambara Mountains. After lunch at the foot of the road to the beautiful village of Mtae, cycle, bike/walk, walk or just take the van up the steep climb ahead! However you get there, the panoramic views are well worth it. Then, drive/cycle along the ridge through picturesque villages to the Mambo View Point eco-lodge at 1900 m. From here there are fantastic views over the Pare Mountains, the Mkomazi National Park and Kilimanjaro.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 10

Mambo View Point to Lushoto

Biking/Climbing: 58 km/885m Accommodation: bungalows

Much of Tanzania's produce is grown in the Usambara Mountains, and today offers idyllic biking through well cultivated farmland. We'll take time to sample the local coffee or tea at the lodge. Our accommodation tonight is modeled on traditional and modern homesteads, wet in a natural garden only 1.5km from the city centre of Lushoto, the main town of the region.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 11

Lushoto to Korogwe

Biking/Climbing: 96 km/815m Accommodaton: Motel

Today we'll bike through terraced hillside plantations to the southern edge of the mountains. This is the region's main tea growing area, and just before lunch we'll climb into the rainforest for the last time. This is followed by an amazing long downhill out to the plains. We'll stay in the town of Korogwe in a motel.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 12

Korogwe to Pangani

Biking/Climbing: 92km/600m Accommodation: tented lodge

Today its a long ride on a mostly flat trail alongside sisal plantations and palms to the Indian Ocean. Our accommodation for the next two days is a small and friendly tented lodge built in a coconut grove on the shores of Tanzania's mainland, just opposite Zanzibar Island.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 13

Pangani

No biking / Accommodation: tented lodge

Pangani is an ancient town believed to date from before the 6th Century BC and was once a strategic point on the caravan route for exporting slaves and ivory. Now it is mainly a fishing and vacation town. You have all day to explore the town or visit Pangani Falls, a stunning waterfall which provides electricity to several major towns. Another option is to just relax on the beach for a well-earned rest after yesterday's long ride!

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

DAY 14

Pangani to Nungwi (Zanzibar)

No biking / Accommodation: hotel

An early boat transfer takes us to Nungwi at the north end of Zanzibar Island (also called Unguja). Zanzibar is known as the 'Spice Island' for its cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon and pepper. The boat trip takes about 2 hours. Nungwi is a vibrant fishing village loved by its many visitors. Our hotel overlooks the sea to the distant island of Tumbatu and its lighthouse. The beautiful white coral and seashell beach is the perfect place to watch an incredible sunset.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

DAY 15

Nungwi to Zanzibar Town (Stone Town)

Biking/Climbing: 56 km/386m Accommodation: hotel

Zanzibar Island has lured traders, adventurers and explorers for centuries. We explore it by bike, ending up in Stone Town, the island's main town. Named for the coral stone of its buildings, Stone Town was once the heart of the slave and spice trades. Its winding alleys, bazaars, mosques and grand Arabian houses have changed little in 200 years. You can spend many hours exploring the fascinating labyrinth of narrow streets and alleyways. Today we ride on single speed local bikes, and stay in a local hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 16

Departure Day: from Zanzibar

No biking

It's time to say goodbye to Zanzibar as our Tanzanian adventure concludes. Enjoy a delicious breakfast before we transfer you to the airport at which time your tour with us ends.

Meals: Breakfast

Tour Inclusions and Exclusions:

Tour Includes:

  • Accommodation (10 nights hotels or tented lodges, 3 nights fixed tents, 1 night Maasai house)
  • Meals as listed in the itinerary
  • Support vehicle(s) according to group size
  • Experienced tourguide(s) and crew
  • Arrival & departure airport transfers (day 1 & day 16 only)
  • Entrance fee to 2 Game Parks
  • Boat transfer from Pagani to Zanzibar
  • Bottled drinking water on riding days

Tour Excludes:

  • International and domestic flights
  • Travel Insurance
  • Passport and travel visa requirements (Tanzania visa is required)
  • Single room surcharge
  • Personal expenses & drinks (except water while riding)
  • Mountain bike hire

Tour Video

Mountain biking tours off the beaten track in Tanzania. This movie gives an overview of what you can expect on a Global Cycling Adventures mountain biking tour of Tanzania.