Kenya Cycling Fundraiser

Jambo! Welcome to Kenya. Your adventure begins in the capital city of Nairobi with a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight. If you arrive early, maybe spend the afternoon browsing the artistic and cultural displays at Nairobi Gallery or lounge by the pool at your hotel. You might also like to visit Kiambethu tea farm or the Langata Giraffe Sanctuary. After your meeting tonight, maybe head out for an optional welcome dinner with your local leader and fellow travellers and tuck into some local cuisine, trying dishes like irio (mashed potatoes, corn, peas and greens), githeri (red beans, potatoes, meat and corn in a rich tomato and beef gravy) or nyama (stewed beef).

Depart Nairobi after breakfast and drive through the Great Rift Valley, stopping at a viewpoint along the way. Grab a window seat if you can, as you’ll pass Mt. Longonot, Lake Naivasha, Lake Elementaita and Lake Nakuru on your journey. This scenic drive will also take you through lush green tea estates in Kericho, sugarcane plantations in Muhoroni and rice fields in Ahera. As you arrive in the town of Kisumu, you’ll get a fantastic view of Lake Victoria. At your hotel, have lunch in one of the local restaurants for a glimpse into the local port city culture, then enjoy a free evening to rest and recharge.

Hop on the bikes for the first time and ride through the vast savanna to Kit Mikayi (meaning ‘the stone of the first wife’). This archaeological site features a vast granite tower, about 120 m high, with hanging stones and caves to explore. With a local guide, learn about the culture of the resident Luo community and the mystery behind this rock. Then, drive and take the ferry across to Ndere Island National Park on one of the islands in Lake Victoria. When you arrive, soak up the scenic landscape and tuck into a packed lunch. According to Luo legend, Ndere (meaning ‘meeting place’) is where Mikayi (the mother of the Luo) rested after her long journey down the Nile to Lake Victoria before reaching her home in Kit Mikayi. You’ll head out on a game drive with your group to look out for the resident hippos, snakes, impalas, monitor lizards, Nile crocodiles, baboons, warthogs, zebras and the rare sitatunga antelopes that call this park home. You’ll then return to the hotel for dinner and a free evening.

After breakfast at your hotel, jump on the bike for today’s cycle to Ruma National Park – meaning ‘last retreat of the Roan Antelope’, this park protects the only Indigenous population of the rare roan antelope within Kenya. Established in 1966 as the Lambwe Valley Game Reserve, it was later renamed ‘Ruma’ after one of Kenya’s most powerful wizards, Gor Mahia, who was said to have lived around the park. You’ll be cycling through woodlands and settlements, past towering cliffs and local wildlife. When you arrive, enjoy a well-earned packed lunch before heading out on a game drive in search of the resident antelope. Later, drive back to the hotel where you’ll have dinner as a group and enjoy a relaxing evening.

This morning, cycle to the Kisumu Museum, dedicated to the natural and cultural history of Western Kenya. Here, you’ll learn more about Luo culture at the homestead that sits within the museum, and you can even dance with The African Genre Shield – a group that keeps Luo culture alive through performances and teachings. Explore the flora and fauna of the snake park and check out the UNESCO-sponsored Ber-gi-dala exhibition. After, ride to Dunga Beach – a fishing village on the eastern shore of the Gulf of Winam on Lake Victoria – and rub shoulders with the locals as they sell the day’s fresh fish. Continue with an exploration of Kisumu City. Pass through the central park, then head to Kajulu Forest – the forest forms part of the Kajulu Community Forest Association, which promotes sustainable management and the conservation of forests by empowering local communities to manage and protect their natural resources. The afternoon is free to relax at the hotel or maybe visit Hippo Point for a sunset boat ride.

Today, you’ll get the chance to see firsthand the impact that your fundraising will have on Kenya’s community. Head out for a morning of cultural immersion with World Bicycle Relief. Visit the warehouse where the bikes are assembled – this warehouse ensures employment to locals and supports the local community – and meet the team of test riders and mechanics to learn more about what they do here. After hearing about how donations like yours offer the Kisumu community freedom, transport, inspiration and employment opportunities, head back to your hotel for a free afternoon.

Say goodbye to Kisumu this morning and start the journey back to Nairobi. As you drive past the everchanging scenery and rolling landscapes, maybe take the chance to get stuck into a good book, listen to your favourite podcasts or play some road trip games with your fellow travellers. You’ll have lunch on the way and arrive in the late afternoon, where you have a free evening. Explore the urban centre at your own pace tonight or maybe head out for an optional farewell dinner with your group – your leader will always have the best suggestions.

After breakfast, there are no activities planned and your adventure comes to an end. If you need to organise a departure transfer to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, just speak to your booking agent ahead of time.