Cycling Kilimanjaro to the Indian Ocean

Day 1 Meet in Moshi

Let our Tanzanian adventure begin! We will pick you up from your pre-tour hotel in Moshi at 13:00 (01:00 PM). We transfer around 1.5 hours to our scenic farm lodge near the western slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro, the “The Roof of Africa” and the world’s largest free-standing mountain. If you need assistance with your pre-tour hotel or airport transfers please let us know.

Simba Farm Lodge
Dinner

Day 2 Kilimanjaro Foothills - Maasai Lodge

Our inaugural ride has us cycling from the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro to the vast East African savannah, the homeland of the Maasai. With an early morning start directly from our lodge, we crisscross on dirt roads radiating across the landscape, at first surrounded by large wheat plantations and then the grasslands and open expanse of the plains. Towering In the background are the peaks of Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru, casting their shadows over the rugged terrain. This is also the ancestral land of the Maasai people who live in small villages dotted across the landscape. We will be welcomed in a village style eco-lodge, arriving in time for lunch with the rest of the afternoon left to experience Maasai lifeways characterized by a vibrant culture, distinctive attire, and deep connection to the land. In the evening we will enjoy a local dinner and then gather around the campfire to witness Maasai song & dance under cover of the vast night sky before retiring in our cozy eco-lodge.

Osiligilai Maasai Lodge
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 52km
+337m
-652m

Day 3 Maasai Lodge - Moshi Countryside

This morning, we say goodbye to our Maasai hosts and continue our ride eastwards. We begin by cycling on dirt roads in the savannah before our surroundings become decidedly more agricultural as we approach the southern slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro. This is the ancestral land of the Chagga, who have been expertly cultivating crops such as banana and coffee in the area’s fertile volcanic soil for many centuries. Riding primarily on paved rural roads at this point, we will pass by farmlands and Chagga communities that thrive in the shadow of the world’s tallest free-standing mountain. Our route ends at a cozy lodge nestled in the countryside near the town of Moshi.

Weruweru River Lodge
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 50km
+128m
-522m

Day 4 Moshi Countryside - Materuni Waterfalls & Coffee Farm - Same

We rise early for a gentle 24 km wake-up ride to the edge of Kilimanjaro National Park. We’ll first continue cycling through the countryside surrounding Mochi, and even zip through parts of the lively city. We then turn north, enjoying 15 km of dirt roads surrounded by endless coffee plantations. Once we reach the frontier of Kilimanjaro’s rainforest zone, we’ll saddle-off and hike through the lush jungle foliage to reach Materuni Waterfalls. One of the country’s most picturesque waterfalls, Materuni’s raging waters cascade from a height of 80 meters. We’ll take a moment to unwind surrounded by nature and then venture to a nearby Chaggu village. Local community members will share their culture with us and prepare a delicious traditional meal for lunch. Capping off the cultural experience will be a masterclass on the delicate art of Arabica coffee production, learning all about the process from seed to shelf. We’ll enjoy a fresh cuppa and then jump into our support vehicle for a 2 hour transfer south to the town of Same, the gateway to Mkomazi National Park.

Johnson Villas
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 24km
+61m
-183m

Day 5 Mkomazi National Park - Amboni Caves - Tanga

Today is entirely off the bikes as we immerse ourselves in Tanzania’s wild side! Just 30 minutes from our lodge lies Mkomazi National Park. This protected natural area of vast savannahs, rugged hills and acacia woodlands, harbors a diversity of wildlife, including endangered black rhinos and wild dogs. Herds of gazelles, giraffes, and elephants as well as lions and leopards also roam these lands. We’ll spend 3 hours on a guided game drive through the park - have your cameras ready as you never know when a wildlife sighting will present itself! We return to our lodge near Same where we’ll pack up our things and jump in the support vehicle for the journey south to the shores of the Indian Ocean. It is a long drive of around 4 hours but we’ll break up the journey with a visit to the mesmerizing Amboni Caves, Tanzania’s most extensive network of limestone caves. We’ll head into some of the chambers for a close look at the intricate formations of stalactites and stalagmites as well as listen to local folklore about cave-dwelling spirits! We then complete the transfer to our beach resort in Tanga. Welcome to the Indian Ocean!

Tanga Beach Resort & Spa
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6 Tanga - Pangani

We start directly from our resort and cycle through the bustling town of Tanga. Once an important trading port, influences of Arabic as well as German and British colonial styles can still be observed in the city’s architecture. As we head out of Tanga, our surroundings will become more subdued, with a long stretch of shrublands and plantations bordering the inland dirt roads. We’ll catch the occasional glimpse of the Indian Ocean in the distance and, at around 55 km, we reach the town of Pangani. Located at the mouth of the Pangani River, this town also holds historical significance, bearing witness to centuries of trade and cultural exchange along the Swahili Coast. We’ll catch a ferry to take us across the river and then continue cycling a final 15 km to the secluded, palm tree fringed, white sand beach of Ushongo. We arrive in time for lunch and the afternoon is free to relax and go for a swim in the ocean.

Mike’s Beach Cottages
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 70km
+230m
-231m

Day 7 Pangani - Saadani National Park

We continue south on dirt roads, gunning for Tanzania’s only wildlife reserve bordering the Indian Ocean: Saadani National Park. Starting directly from Ushongo beach, we head inland for 40 km of riding surrounded by shrubs, bushes, and small trees. This is a sparsely populated region of Tanzania, dotted with only a few hamlets and coastal villages. As we again begin to approach the coast, we’ll be accompanied by the glistening waters of the ocean leading us to the northern border of Saadani National Park. We embark on a 8 km safari by bike, traversing the homeland of elephants, buffaloes, lions and leopards. If we are lucky, we may be able to encounter some wildlife (from a safe distance, of course!), and we end the ride at our beachside accommodations. Tonight will be more rustic as we stay in “bandas” – basic yet comfortable cottages managed by the National Park.

Bandas Beach Lodge
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 72km
+154m
-156m

Day 8 Saadani National Park - Bagamoyo

Our final major day of riding takes us from the heart of Saadani National Park to the historic coastal town of Bagamoyo. We begin early for a hopeful chance to spot the grazers – including buffaloes, zebras and warthogs – enjoying their breakfast in the grasslands. Cycling south, we say goodbye to Saadani and find ourselves, once again, winding on dirt tracks through the backwaters of coastal Tanzania. Our ride concludes at Bagamoyo beach where the salty air of the Indian Ocean will greet us for a final time! We’ll celebrate our traverse from Kilimanjaro to the Indian Ocean with a final dinner at our seaside resort.

Family Cottages
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 72km
+127m
-115m

Day 9 Bagamoyo - Dar es Salaam - Departure

We end the tour with an easy morning ride around the town of Bagamoyo, stopping often to learn about its deep and complex history as one of the most important trading ports on the East African Coast. We will visit the Kaole Ruins, an ancient Swahili settlement dating back to the 13th century. Here, two well-preserved mosques and various tombs offer a window into the early Islamic influence along the coast. In the 19th and early 20th century, Bagamayo was a pivotal node in German East Africa and even briefly served as the capital. Many colonial-era buildings and heritage sites still stand as a testament to this period. We enjoy lunch at a local restaurant and relax before transferring around three hours to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania’s largest city, where we will drop you off at your hotel or the airport.

Breakfast, Lunch
Ride 12km
+64m
-64m

Disclaimer: The adventure cycling tours we operate often go beyond the beaten track, and the countries where we ride are not always predictable. Due to these reasons, it is occasionally necessary to reroute or update itineraries. Our guarantee is that we will not change a trip unless for safety or to improve it. Our listed hotels are always accurate at the time of writing, but should we have to change any hotel, it will always be for a similar or better one.