10 DAYS MOSHI CYCLE TO ZANZIBAR BIKING TOUR
You can tell people you’ve been around Kilimanjaro and to the top!
ABOUT 10 DAYS MOSHI CYCLE TO ZANZIBAR BIKING TOUR
For us, pure Tanzania riding is about challenge and reward. There are much more to explore within while riding apart from the Majestic Mountain, You got to test yourself on Moshi most exhilarating landscapes, while immersing you in the most authentic of hospitality of different culture from Chagga people, Maasai, Usambara tribesmen and Zanzibar people. It’s the best way to really see the true Moshi as the tour takes you from the colorful, bustling Moshi town to nearby picturesque villages, through forest and farm land paths towards Zanzibar, the spicy land which is full of fascinating history, incredible nature, enchanting sunset and magnificent beaches. At the end you’ll enjoy a cheeky beer.
Path: Off road & paved road
Total Distance:403kmGALLERY
ITINERARY
Upon arrival at Arusha/Kilimanjaro airport, your Tanzania KITANO TOURS AND SAFARIS guide will pick you up and transfer you to your hotel in Moshi Tanzania. in Moshi Tanzania (for budget hotels we recommend KILIMANJARO WHITE HOUSE HOTEL). Settle into your accommodation, relax and get used to the African atmosphere. Ready to start your BIKE TOUR CYCLE MOSHI TO ZANZIBAR the next day. Moshi is a town in northern Tanzania, near the Kenyan border. It's known as a gateway to Kilimanjaro National Park, home to Africa's highest mountain, Mount Kilimanjaro. Trails run up the mountain’s cloud-ringed, snow-capped dome, through alpine forests and meadows home to elephants and leopards. One of Tanzania's major coffee-producing hubs, Moshi is known for its coffee farms and auctions.
Lake Challa, a hidden gem, a perfect place to relax and unwind from the busy city life. The remote caldera lake on the border of Tanzania & Kenya is only 55km from Moshi and therefore the perfect get away for a day. Pure tranquility and beautiful nature await you at the lake. Explore the area on one of the many possible hikes, swim in the crystal-clear water, kayak across borders or simply enjoy the stunning vistas of an untouched Africa. In the morning your guide will pick you up from your accommodation. You will ride the bicycle to Lake Challa Safari Camp with a packed lunch box and drinking water. Upon arrival you will see the beautiful private game reserve overlooking the crater lake. Our guide will take you down to the lake.
Spend the day swimming, exploring, kayaking (optional). You will experience the natural beauties of the green scenery, landscape and will also have the opportunity to meet local people doing their daily activity. There is a very high possibility of spotting the baboon monkey, velvet monkey, blue monkey, and many different birds, that live in this wonderful savannah land. overnight in camping site. There is a bar that serves alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages and a restaurant that serves snacks and main meals.
Immerse yourself in the history Marangu and its people. Marangu, at the lower slopes of Kilimanjaro, is a small town with a great amount of history and ancient traditions. Get carried away by the Chagga tribe, unique rainforest landscape and coffee growing insides. This tour has it all: action, tradition and culinary.
In the morning we ride our bicycle to Marangu Gate (1900m), the starting point for all Kilimanjaro treks via the Marangu Route. You will have the opportunity to take pictures of the mighty Kilimanjaro and get a sense of the spirit of the mountain. The area around Marangu is home to the local Chagga tribe and you will learn all about their history and traditions on this full day excursion. Our second stop will be visiting a small coffee farm, where you will learn about how the coffee is grown, harvested and processed locally. Try your own hand at processing, roasting and preparing a fresh cup of coffee. Once you have finished enjoying your coffee break, we will depart for the Ndoro Waterfalls.
Our hike to the base of the waterfall will lead us through lush green landscape and the descend takes approximately 1 hour. Here you have the opportunity to relax and take a refreshing bath in the pool of the waterfall. Another highlight will be the visit to the Chagga Underground Caves and the Chagga Live Museum. In times of drought the Maasai migrated up the lower slopes of Kilimanjaro, in search of food and water. They enslaved and killed the local Chagga people. In defense of these attacks the Chagga built an extensive network of underground caves. Your guide will lively illustrate you the conflict while you visit the caves.
We then continue to spend some time at the Chagga Live Museum, a small outdoor museum, which will give you further insides into traditional chagga life. Our tour also includes a chagga culinary taste, when we stop for lunch in a small restaurant. Here you will be served a traditional hot meal, later you will also have the chance to try the local spirits such as banana beer and wine.
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.
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
Today we are already tackling our last bike stage. First, we drive about 15 km up until we arrive on a wide road. We follow this dirt road and enjoy the ride through the lush green vegetation. Beside us are many locals with simple bicycles or on the road. After another 15 km we reach the village of Marangu.
Today it’s 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.
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
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.
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.
It’s time to say goodbye to Zanzibar as our Tanzanian adventure concludes. Enjoy a delicious breakfast before we transfer you to the airport. End of our Adventures
Note: *Price may vary depending on the season and specific requests *Tours can be customized according to wishes and physical conditionWhat's included & excluded
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Information & FAQ
Useful things to know before you go
Most cycling holidays in Tanzania hug the Kenyan border, making the most of the cluster of highlights including Serengeti National Park, Lake Natron, the Ngorongoro Crater, the Rift Valley escarpment and traditional Maasai villages. However, in a little over two weeks you can also travel between Nairobi in Kenya to Dar es Salaam, interspersing time in a minibus with time in the saddle to cover more ground. Most trips will see you cycling for 11-7 days out of 15 or 16, with distances ranging from 25-100km per day; however, family cycling holidays stick to a far more manageable 40km maximum.
“It’s unusual! There are very few places that you can cycle side by side with wild animals, past volcanoes, through traditional Maasai villages that have rarely seen a cyclist (especially one wearing any type of Lycra!) and then roast and grind your own coffee at the end of the day. Equally this trip is also about time off the bike visiting the magnificent Serengeti National Park and wildlife spotting in the Ngorongoro Crater – it’s a great blend of cycling and sights! Oh, and don’t worry about not feeling ‘fit enough’. I’ll let you in on a secret when it comes to cycling holidays – before they arrive everyone thinks that they will be the slowest no matter how fit they really are – just relax and enjoy it.”
“A reasonable level of fitness is required so enjoy the trip but you don’t have to be really fit – the pace is usually fairly sedate, around 15km/h and we take regular rest stops to make sure everyone is okay to continue on. Tanzania is naturally hilly so there are a few uphill sections but as long as you stay within your limits then everything is achievable. I’d advise trying to ride a few hills back home to get used to both the uphill and riding downhill, and also to (slowly) ride a few times on a gravel track rather than just in smooth bitumen so when you get to Tanzania, you’ll be well prepared for the African roads. The one thing about cycling in Tanzania to be mindful of is the elevation. Much of the route is above 1,500m above sea level so cycling can sometimes affect your breathing; taking it easy until you become acclimatized is the best way to go. And we always have a support vehicle with us in case you need a quick (or long!) break. Mostly I’d advise just focusing on the amazing experience cycling in Tanzania will give you – there will always be challenges but the amazing scenery, people and unique nature of the experience will outweigh any challenge you may face.”
Think outside the Safari Landcruiser and explore some of Africa’s best parks, as well as Kilimanjaro bike hiking to the summit. We also offer customizable Tanzania Cycling Tours / multi-day trips, where you can ride through the slopes of Kilimanjaro and Tanzania’s National Parks. These unique cycling adventures have you cycling down Great Rift Valley escarpments, strolling through farm villages, wild plains roasting and grinding your coffee, drifting off to sleep among nocturnal creatures, experiencing the cultures of the Maasai & Chagga peoples, pedaling far off the beaten track to trails where no cars go, and enjoying dinner at sunset every night. With a support vehicle at every step of the journey, your time to discover Tanzania on two wheels is now!
Imagine riding all day and getting the best view of Tanzania’s landscapes from two wheels. Cycle in the shadow of Mount Meru, and ride along the west side of Mount Kilimanjaro to the plains of wildebeest, giraffe & zebras, & flamingos in Lake Natron. This is mountain biking in Tanzania! Cycle where tourists rarely go, across the remote, barely charted plains of Lengai in the realm of vast grasslands and misty volcanic peaks. While riding, refuel with a cup of Tanzanian coffee. Roast, grind and taste your own in the village of Moshi and get a closer look at local farm life.
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