5-Day Cycling Tour in Tanzania with Maasai Village and Ngorongoro

• Meet the staff and get introduced to the 3 Day Cycle Challenge in Tanzania.

• Later, transfer to Moshi.

Overnight at Kitolie Home & Lodge.

• Leave the hotel and cycle downhill for the first few kilometers on tarmac roads into Moshi.

• Continue for about 30 km on the tarmac over somewhat rolling terrain towards Arusha.

• Turn towards the bustling Maasai town of Sanyu Juu and continue cycling through lush landscapes with only a few moderate hills.

• Greet local children while cycling from village to village. The scenery gradually becomes drier and more scrub-like as the road surface changes from smooth asphalt to a more challenging, bumpier dirt road. Banana and mango plantations are replaced by more typical Tanzanian bushland vegetation, mostly dominated by the impressive acacia trees.

• Reach the overnight camp at Olpopongi Maasai Village and have the opportunity to explore the village and gain insight into the authentic Maasai way of life through the museum they keep.

• Enjoy a barbecue dinner around the campfire and be entertained by Maasai dancing and singing.

• Start today by cycling through an area sandwiched between Mt. Kilimanjaro and Mt. Meru (4565 m), which is an active volcano. The volcanic landscape offers a striking contrast to the lush surroundings of Kilimanjaro. There is a possibility of wildlife along the route today, including giraffe, impala, baboon, monkeys, and a variety of birds.

• Cycle through this parched landscape and witness everyday life as you pass a number of Maasai villages. Cycling becomes much smoother again when you reach the not-too-busy Nairobi-Arusha road. The price to pay for the smoother surface is a number of medium-grade climbs.

• Take a long descent and finish the day by cycling into the bustling town of Arusha.

• Leave the busy town of Arusha towards some of the most famous national parks in the world.

• Cycle on a very good tar road and descend steadily away from Mount Meru. The distance today is greater, but the terrain is much easier. Pass through many small villages along the way.

• End the cycling tour in the town of Mto Wa Mbu, adjacent to Lake Manyara National Park. This park is well known for its tree-climbing lions. It is not unusual to see elephants on the last part of the ride.

Overnight at a lodge.

• Head over to Lake Manyara. The tar road is very good but very steep in places. Pass through a number of villages and beautiful countryside.

• Steadily climb towards the gate of the world-famous Ngorongoro National Park. As you approach the gate, the ecology turns greener and the trees increase in size. Look out for monkeys and baboons along the way.

• Cycle to the gate of the park and, after celebrating this tough challenge, cycle back down to the town of Karatu.

Overnight at a lodge in Karatu.