Cycle Tanzania

13 Days | Venture off the beaten track on a two-wheeled trip across Tanzania.

5 out of 5 based on 22 reviews submitted.
Cycling
From
EUR €3,645
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Brimming with mighty predators and birds, the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater are must-visits for any Tanzania trip, but safaris are only the beginning. This unique cycling adventure has you cruising down Great Rift Valley escarpments, strolling through farm villages, roasting and grinding your own coffee, drifting off to sleep among nocturnal creatures, experiencing the culture of the Maasai people, pedalling far off the beaten track to trails where no cars go, and of course sipping sundowners at sunset. With a support vehicle at every step of the journey, take your time to discover Tanzania on two wheels.

Trip overview

Map of Cycle Tanzania including Tanzania, United Republic Of
Start
Arusha, Tanzania
Finish
Arusha, Tanzania
Theme
Cycling
Destinations
Tanzania
Physical rating
Indicates how physically exerting a trip is, and how fit you will need to be to enjoy it. More info on physical ratings
Style
Basix
Ages
Min 16
Group size
Min 1 - Max 12
Trip code
YTXC
This trip generates 38 kg of CO2-e per person per day.
We offset these emissions on your behalf. But we know that is not enough, so we also have a carbon reduction target.

Why you'll love this trip
  • Get the best view of Tanzania’s landscapes from two-wheels – cycle in the shadow of Mount Meru in Arusha and ride alongside wildebeest in Lake Manyara.
  • Refuel for the ride with a cup of Tanzanian coffee. Roast, grind and taste your own in the village of Tengeru and get a closer look at local farm life.
  • Cycle where tourists rarely go, across the remote, barely charted plains of Lengai in the realm of vast grasslands and misty volcanic peaks.
  • The Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater are two of Africa’s very best wildlife arenas. Fall asleep to the sounds of the African night and take a safari in search of the rare black rhino.
  • Stretch your legs on an optional hike to the volcanic peak of Ol Doinyo Lengai, a challenging trek that will reward you with superb sunrise views.
  • By travelling on this trip, you’ll directly support our Intrepid Foundation partner, World Bicycle Relief. Donations provide school kids, health workers, and farmers in far-out areas with bicycles that provide access to education, healthcare, and income.

Is this trip right for you?
  • To complete this trip, it is important that you are both confident and competent in riding a bicycle.
  • On this trip we have a single leader that rides with the group, and another that drives the support vehicle (acting as a back-marker where needed). Where the vehicle cannot travel directly with the cyclists due to cyclist-only paths, your leader will assign a person from the group to act as a back-marker.
  • The cycling distances are mostly short, but the roads can be rough, and the terrain of Tanzania can be hilly and the climate warm, so you'll need to be reasonably fit. Keep in mind the support vehicle will be on hand if you need a break.
  • Riding is done along both sealed and unsealed roads, but there are no special technical skills needed. Some practice at home is a great idea, however, especially for downhill sections.
  • This trip involves a partial camping experience, giving you access to more remote destinations at close proximity, and the joy of experiencing the elements. This is a participatory trip – a fancy way of saying you’re not just along for the ride, but you are part of a team! Be prepared to roll up your sleeves and help out with camp activities like food prep and washing up. It’s all about giving your new travel mates a hand, and everyone knows there’s nothing worse than trying to put up a tent on your own!

Itinerary

Map of Cycle Tanzania including Tanzania, United Republic Of

Inclusions

Meals

12 breakfasts, 11 lunches, 10 dinners

Transport

Bicycle, Jeep, Overland vehicle (or 4WD jeep only for groups smaller than 5)

Accommodation

Camping (8 nights), Hotel (2 nights), Dormitory with shared facilities (1 night), Guesthouse (1 night)

Activities
  • Arusha National Park Entry
  • Serengeti National Park - Overland Vehicle Game Drive
  • Ngorongoro Crater - 4x4 Game Drive
  • Mto Wa Mbu - Village walk & local dinner
  • Lake Manyara - Game drive
  • Masai village visit
  • Tengeru - Local family farm visit and community walk
Add on activities
  • Ol Doinyo Lengai hike - USD$100 per person plus jeep hire cost (jeep costs US$70 in total, split between participants) The jeep can carry up to 6 pax. - Free
  • Serengeti National Park - Balloon Ride (from price) - USD745

Dates and availability

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Important notes

1. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement applies to all nights of your trip and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
2. Bicycle hire is included in your trip price. Please advise your height at time of booking so as we can organize a suitable sized bike.
3. Bike helmets are compulsory on this trip. We are unable to hire bike helmets locally so please ensure you bring your own bike helmet from home.
4. On this trip we have a single leader that rides with the group, and another that drives the support vehicle (acting as a back marker where needed). Where the vehicle cannot travel directly with the cyclists (e.g., a cyclists-only path) your leader will assign a person from the group to act as a back marker.
5. To help cut carbon emissions and increase comfort, for group of 4 or less travellers we will use private 4WD jeeps rather than a large overland trucks.
6. For groups of 4 or less we stay in permanent tents rather than participatory camping.
7. Due to heavy rainfalls making the mountain hiking trails far more technical than usual we have suspended climbing Mt Ol Doinyo Lengai. We will assess the situation on a trip-by-trip basis but please be aware you may not be able to climb the mountain.

Essential Trip Information

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.

Read Essential Trip Information

Reviews

5 out of 5 based on 22 reviews submitted.
Reviews are from travellers who have completed their trip and want to share their experience. We show all reviews, but may remove any that include profanity or inappropriate content, are unrelated to the trip or reveal personal details.

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Oliver · Traveled December 2023
The tour was great. Tony is an excellent tour guide. He took great care of us and the bikes. We didn't have to worry about anything. The accommodation was very well chosen and gave us a great insight into the country. I would do a tour with Tony again at any time. Thank you very much
Review submitted 28 Dec 2023

Andrew · Traveled October 2023
Was a great trip to immerse yourself in the Tanzania culture . Good balance between cycling and safari and we saw some beautiful scenery and variety of animals including the big 5 .The crew of Koine Makumi (group leader .Rasta,(driver)Wycliffe (chef)and Godfrey (helper)all amazing In their roles.
Review submitted 14 Nov 2023

Matthew · Traveled September 2023
The biking tour was epic. It was the perfect way to adventure the Serengeti regions and get a true taste of the people, culture, wildlife and so much more. I highly recommend anyone seeking a bike tour and Intrepid was spot on with everything from the trip leader, driver, and more.
Review submitted 27 Oct 2023

Chris · Traveled June 2023
Fantastic trip. I was great to do a some light exercise while discovering the joys that Tanzania has to offer. This was first big trip and I loved it. I would have no hesitation in booking another trip with intrepid. The team were absolutely fantastic
Review submitted 22 Jun 2023

Kelly · Traveled June 2023
Amazing way to see Tanzania, but does require high level of fitness and experience riding on rough roads. . Our crew were fabulous and we learned so much about the culture and places we visited. If you want to see the real Tanzania this is the trip for you. Loved the interactions with the locals and the Longido and Masai experience. Loved everything about the trip. This is my second Intrepid trip and they really care in their approach to tourism.
Review submitted 22 Jun 2023
Cycle Tanzania
From
EUR €3,645