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Tour d'Afrique Ltd. | Global Bicycle Expeditions, Races and Tours

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The 2013 Route

Sections

Masai Steppe

Nairobi to Mbeya

Masai Steppe
More friendly locals. Tanzanian landscape Misty morning on top of mbeya mountains. Slow slow Bike donation to women in action arusha More friendly locals. Shona bell and herman de grave.
Start: March 11, Nairobi, Kenya
Finish: March 23, Mbeya, Tanzania
Price: $1,800
Distance: 1,211km
Riding Days: 10 days
Resting Days: 3 days
If scenes of Wildebeest migration and big cat kills on the Discovery or National Geographic Channel are your favourite vision of Africa, then this is the section of the Tour d'Afrique for you. One day south of Nairobi, you will arrive at the border of Tanzania and immediately spot the unmistakable Mount Kilimanjaro and its smaller sibling, Mount Meru. From there, it’s a day’s pedal to the rapidly growing and vibrant city of Arusha. As the gateway to such famous attractions as Serengeti National Park, Ngorogoro Crater, and “Kili,” Arusha is East Africa’s safari capital. Here riders are given 3 days off, affording them the opportunities to experience wild Africa at its most spectacular, to shop in the local stores and markets, or simply to rest and replenish their energies.

Heading south from Arusha, the red-cloaked Masai tribesmen will be your constant companions as you spin along roads with relatively little traffic, keeping an eye out for zebra and giraffe. At Lake Manyara you trade the tarmac for several challenging days of ascents and descents – the Masai Steppe – on a rougher gravel road, that can be treacherous in places if the rainy season has arrived. However the friendliness of the villagers, the roadside banana stands, and the sheer beauty of this unique and verdant land ensures that come rain or shine, this stretch is one of the most memorable on Tour.

And in 2011 we have changed the route to make it even more incredible. Riders will now head into western Tanzania, cycling through isolated villages and skirting some of the country's most unknown game reserves. A highlight will be the last day on the section where cyclists will climb 1300m to the the 'World's End' viewpoint before speeding down 800m into Mbeya.

Countries: Kenya and Tanzania