Cycle Tanzania

13 days531 reviews
Cycling
From
ZAR  77,320

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

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.

Map of Cycle Tanzania including Tanzania, United Republic Of
Trip code: YTXC
Start
Arusha, Tanzania
End
Arusha, Tanzania
Destinations
Tanzania
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)
Days
13
Group size
Min 1 - Max 12
Ages
Min 16
Theme
Every trip caters to specific interests and activities, such as wildlife or family.
Cycling
Style
Basix: Simple accommodation, local transport and lots of free time

Original: Tourist-class hotels, some meals included and a great mix of included activities and free time

Comfort: Comfortable accommodation, with a relaxed pace of travel and many included meals and activities

Premium: 4+ star accommodation, exclusive premium inclusions, our most experienced leaders
Basix
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
This trip generates 18 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.

Itinerary

Map of Cycle Tanzania including Tanzania, United Republic Of

Inclusions and activities

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)

Included 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

Optional 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) - USD800

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!

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 31 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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Jessica · Traveled September 2024
Review submitted 02 Oct 2024

William · Traveled September 2024
Review submitted 20 Sep 2024

Martin · Traveled September 2024
Review submitted 21 Sep 2024

Abby · Traveled July 2024
Review submitted 04 Aug 2024

Meyer · Traveled July 2024
Review submitted 31 Jul 2024
Cycle Tanzania
From
ZAR  77,320