| Location |
Northern Tanzania |
| Attractions |
Mt Kilimanjaro, Ngorongoro Crater, wildlife, Rift
Valley, National Parks, Maasai Villages |
| Tour Operator |
KE Adventure Travel |
| Tour |
Out of Africa - Tanzania Mountain Bike |
| Land Content Start |
Arusha - Former headquarters of East Africa Economic
Community |
| Bordering Countries |
Kenya, Uganda, Zaire, Rwanda, Burundi, Zambia,
Mozambique |
| Time of Year |
June and September |
| Difficulty |
Demanding - Considerable challenge for the regular
weekend mountain bike rider. |
| Total Tour |
12 Days |
| Mountain Biking |
10 Days |
| Total Distance |
483 km |
| Percentage off-Road |
80% |
| Max Altitude |
2100 metres |
| Maximum Daily Distance |
68 kilometres - Mainly undulating and flat. Mixture of
single track and gravel roads in poor condition. |
| Maximum Daily Altitude Gain |
1450 metres |
| Biggest Single Climb |
900 metres |
| Average Daily Altitude Gain |
400 metres |
| Maximum Daily Decent |
1000 metres |
| Accommodation |
1 Night hotel, 11 Nights camping |
| Guides |
Two |
| Support Vehicle |
Yes |
| Inclusion |
Open top jeep safari in Ngorongro Crater |
| Meals Included |
Yes |
| Route Description |
Starting at Momella Lodge in the foothills of Mount
Meru (Tanzania's second highest mountain) just outside the Arusha NP,
the route went around the edge of the park to the Kilimanjaro plain
between Mt Meru and Mt Kilimanjaro. After travelling first north and
then south west the route then turned south through the Lake Natron
Game Conservation Area to pass to the west of
Arusha. We then headed onto the Simanjiro plain and through the
Simanjiro Game Controlled Area. From there we biked around the
northern end of the Tarangire NP, to the southern end of Lake Manyara.
After crossing Lake Manyara by canoe, we had the big climb to the top
of the Rift Valley escarpment. Continuing generally north at first we
dropped down off the escarpment towards the edge of Lake Eysai. The
route then heads generally east to take us near the southern entrance
of Norongoro Conservation Area. After a day off the bikes on a jeep
safari our last day's riding is generally south east to the town of
Mto wa Mbu. From here it is a three hour drive to Arusha. |
| National Parks included in the route |
Arusha N P, Tarangire N P,
Simanjiro Game Controlled Area, Lake Manyara N P, Ngorongoro Conservation Area |
| Wildlife |
giraffe, zebra, elephant,
lion, rhino, buffalo, hippopotamus, ostrich, gazelle,
monkeys, pelicans, stalks and huge flocks of pink flamingoes. |
| Group Size |
5 - 15 |
| Day Temperature |
20 - 30 Celsius |
| Night Temprature |
10 - 15 Celsius |
| Weather |
A few days were pleasantly overcast, and a few days
were blazing grilling sun. Most days were a mixture of sun and cloud.
We had only a small amount of drizzle, and no significant rain. |
| Possible side trips |
Zanzibar |