Mountain Bike Safaris in Kenya
Attached are a selection of itineraries. Most trips require a good level of fitness but itineraries can be varied to meet the particular requirements of your group. We tend to insist that people within a group have a similar level of fitness / technical ability - that said our support vehicles maintain good radio contact and you can always hitch a ride with them if you're struggling!
Note: for the most part these are fairly challenging adventure safaris, not luxury safaris. We can combine fly-camping with overnights in luxury (permanent) tented camps to ensure a good balance between comfort and adventure.
All trips require a minimum of 3 pax (although we can run trips for couples by special arrangement).
For groups of 4 or more we can create bespoke trips.
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(photo copyright Blake Jorgenson)
For more images of mountain biking in Kenya click here.
1. Loita Hills and Masai Mara (4 nights)
2. Great Rift Valley Bike Trek (6 nights)
3. Traverse the Loita Hills (6 nights)
4. Cycle the Laikipia Plains (6 nights)
5. Nairobi to Mombasa via Taita and Shimba Hills (7 nights)
6. 6,000ft Mount Kenya descent - the infamous Ten-to-Four (1 day)
Trip Itineraries
1. Mountain Bike + Walking Safari in the Loita Hills and Masai Mara (5 days, 4 nights)
[REASONABLE FITNESS LEVEL REQUIRED]
Day 1...depart a central point in Nairobi and head westwards crossing the Rift Valley, via Narok arriving approx 4 hours later Barakitabu, camp under the fever trees next to a stream. Dinner and overnight Barakitabu fly camp f/b.
Day 2...after a hearty breakfast, head into the hills heading towards Naikerra - a small trading town, returning following bush paths to camp for lunch. Afternoons walk to your guide’s home, enjoy a cultural experience with the local people before returning to camp for dinner and overnight Barakitabu fly camp f/b.
Day 3...depart from your camp with the wind in your hair and the sun on your back to the Masai Mara. Lunch en-route and after arriving and settling into your camp depart on your afternoon game drive, dinner and overnight Fig Tree Camp f/b.
Day 4...Morning's walk on the surrounding plains returning to camp for lunch. A rest followed by another game drive in the surrounding reserve before returning to camp as the sunsets across the western skies Fig Tree Camp f/b.
Day 5...Morning's bike ride before loading and returning to Nairobi before 5pm. Drop off at airport or hotel Arrangement ends.
Prices from $1,600 per person
Includes:
Transfers in safari style vehicle; English speaking driver / guide; 2 nights in mobile camp, remainder in Fig Tree Camp f/b; camp fees; bottled water; bicycle and guide/ mechanic;
Excludes:
Extras of a personal nature; drinks; park fees-US$60 pp x 3; tips; Nairobi hotels; internal flights; AAR evacuation insurance.
2. Great Rift Valley Bike Trek (6 nights)
[REASONABLE FITNESS LEVEL REQUIRED]
Day 1 - depart from a central point in Nairobi, transfer by vehicle to the Ngong Hills from where you will start your ride. This ride descends into the Great Rift Valley on a sandy road with reasonably smooth surfaces, some serious slippery downhills, lunch en-route - vehicle with refreshment, first aid, baggage and bike trailer will be on hand throughout the days ride. After lunch our ride will take us to Naivasha for an overnight at Safariland or similar on full board.
Day 2 - after breakfast our mornings ride will take us to 'Hells Gate', a small national park set in a volcanically active area where visitors can walk and ride whilst game viewing. Our activities can also include a walk into the OlNjorowa Gorge. After which our ride will return us to our hotel for lunch and a chance to visit Crescent Island in the afternoon. Thereafter we will return to Safariland or similar for an overnight.
Day 3 - today we will circumnavigate the lake via the south lake road en-route to Elementaita. Our ride will take us over the "Eburru' mountains to a place called 'Mbweha' [jackal in swahili] where we will overnight in their campsite with showers and toilets.
Day 4 - todays ride will take us up to the Lake Nakuru National Park; have a 2-3 hours game drive in this great park with possible sightings of leopard, lion, buffalo, rhino[both black and white] and of course the millions of flamingo found most of the year round; from here we'll upload and drive in the direction of L. Bogoria with lunch en-route, riding the last 12 kms to the hotel. Overnight L. Bogoria hotel.
Day 5 - Our morning will be spent riding into the L. Bogoria Game Reserve viewing the beautiful scenery, possible sightings of various game, water birds before returning for lunch. Afternoon walk in the surrounding hills viewing cultural sights. Dinner and overnight L Bogoria Hotel.
Day 6 - after breakfast we will ride to L. Baringo where we will be staying at L. Baringo Club or similar arriving in time for lunch. Afternoon water sporting, dinner and overnight L. Baringo.
Day 7 - this morning will see us depart for our return to Nairobi early enough for the a connecting flight to coast. Lunch enroute. Trip ends.
3. Traverse the Loita Hills (6 nights)
[AVERAGE - GOOD FITNESS LEVEL REQUIRED]
Day 1 - depart from a central point in Nairobi and head towards the Loita crossing the Great Rift Valley. Lunch in Narok, the administrative centre for the area, thereafter set out for our mobile camp situated at Barakitabu under fever trees, beside a small stream. We will off load our bikes 25 kms before after having had lunch and whilst we ride the camp will be erected. An after noons walk to our guides camp where we can enjoy meetiong his family, see his livestock and enjoy music and stories of the Maasai style of life. As the sun sets across the western skies we will return to camp for showers, dinner and overnight Barakitabu.
Day 2 - our mornings ride will take us down a murram track to our camp in the Maasai Mara. Lunch and in the afternoon a game drive into the Maasai Game Reserve - renowned as being one of the finest game reserves in the country, offering many species of large and small game and hosting at certain times of the year the wilderbeeste movement from the Serengeti in Tanzania. Dinner and overnight Olperr Elongo.
Day 3 - after breakfast we will set out on our bicycles to explore the hills around the camp and beyond. This experience presents fantastic vistas, great downhills, fresh air and sunshine. Lunch in camp before visiting the game reserve once again before returning to Olperr Elongo camp for dinner and overnight.
Day 4 - we depart the Mara heading in an easterly direction climbing the surrounding hills; our destination today will be 'Ol Koroi'[place of colobus monkeys]we will enjoy a packed lunch enroute. After settling into camp we will proceed on a walk into the surrounding hills with some Maasai warriors enjoying their songs, their attire and the possibility of seeing game on foot. Dinner and overnight Ol Koroi.
Day 5 - Our camp will remain in place today as we take a cycling excursion around and about, take a packed lunch with us and just enjoy being in a truly wilderness area. The surrounding countryside being largely as it always was, amazing vistas across the Loita plains into Tanzania and a great day of variable riding on dirt tracks. Dinner and overnight Ol Koroi.
Day 6 - Our days ride will return us to Ngoswani[beginning of the tar road] where will be staying overnight in Olarro Camp - dinner and overnight.
Day 7 - after breakfast we will ride to Ewaso Nyiro on tar and thereafter load and return to Nairobi to be in time to link up with your flight to Mombasa. Trip ends
4. Mt Kenya, Laikipia Plains and Great Rift Valley Descent (6 nights)
[GOOD FITNESS LEVEL REQUIRED]
Day 1 - depart from a central point in Nairobi for Sagana where we will white water raft, 'bungee' jump and generally enjoy the amenities which includes a swimming pool, swimming in the river and beautiful camping areas with a bar. Dinner and overnight.
Day 2 - after breakfast a drive to Mweiga, at the base of the Aberdares from where we will ride our bikes to Naro Moru with lunch enroute. After lunch we will drive to Timau, the fishing lodge will be our overnight.
Day 3 - From the fishing lodge we ride our bikes to the Makogodo forest and through the hills to Don Dol - a very challenging ride with stunning views and everchanging surroundings. On reaching Don Dol we will set out for campsite some distance from the town on a river bed . Dinner and overnight Il Polei.
Day 4 - as we set out on our days ride the views of Mt Kenya, the kopjes[rock outcrops]and the surrounding plains set the pattern for the day. Smooth sand roads, some game en-route and stunning views with a packed lunch en-route we arrive at the Ewaso Nyiro river where we will base our fly camp for the overnight.
Day 5 - after breakfast our ride will take us parallel to the Ewaso Nyiro river, crossover and thereafter ride through Mpala Ranch, with luck we will see elephant, maybe impala, giraffe and dik dik. Overnight Mpala ranch.
Day 6 - our ride will take us to Nakuru[5 hours riding and thereafter an uplift] where we will overnight at Lion Hill Lodge or similar. Afternoon game drive viewing the large numbers of flamingoes and other water fowl. Buffalo, rhino and with luck leopard and rothschilds giraffe. Overnight L. Nakuru.
Day 7 - early game drive before departing on our return trip to Nairobi through the Great Rift Valley with lunch en route, arriving in time to catch our connecting flight to the coast. Trip ends.
5. Nairobi to Mombasa via Taita and Shimba Hills (7nights)
[GOOD FITNESS LEVEL REQUIRED]
Day 1 - depart Nairobi from a central point. We are headed in a southerly direction on the Namanga road; just before Kajiado we turn left and begin our ride to Selengei, this is a very smooth sand road, many fast downhills and great views sometimes of Mt Kilimanjaro but always of the surrounding savannah-we will overnight overlooking a dry river bed.
Day 2 - after a hearty English style breakfast we head out of camp in an easterly direction over great pebbly sand roads. At Makutano we head in a southerly direction heading to Kimana and the turnoff to Amboseli. Uplift some of the distance if necessary so as to reach our destination at Kili Buff Lodge. Dinner and overnight.
Day 3 - today will be spent relaxing on a visit to Amboseli National Park. This park is situated under Mt Kilimanjaro and has many herds of elephant, lion, cheetah, buffalo, all the plains game and tremendous varieties of birdlife living amongst the swamps and waterways. Lunch en route and return to Kili Buff later afternoon where we will overnight.
Day 4 - we have a long ride today to reach our 'Lumo Community Wildlife Sanctuary' where we will be overnighting. Todays ride is along a good murram road that runs at the distant base of Kilimanjaro. Dinner and overnight Lumo.
Day 5 - We will spend the day at Lumo on game rides and generally enjoying the flora and fauna. This is a community based wildlife centre situated at the base of the Taita Hills - run by the local people to assist with paying for the upkeep of the sanctuary, and as a means of generating revenue for the local community. Dinner and overnight Lumo.
Day 6 - ride to Samburu centre via some ranch paths en route to the Shimba hills along sandy tracks - boabab trees and small villages on the way - where we will spend the night at the Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary. Dinner and overnight.
Day 7 - our ride is to the beach & will take a short while. Trip ends.
6. 6,000ft (10 to 4) Mount Kenya Downhill MTB Challenge. (1 day)
[ADVANCED TO EXPERT]
Day 1 - Set off early morning with the other 600 riders, Fight your way across the thick plains at 10,000ft altitude before hitting the 6,000ft downhill blast. Follow the loose gravel paths and spread across the open downhill slopes of Mount Kenya. Compete with the international riders for the top places or cruise down and enjoy the beatiful foothills of mount Kenya. Serious riders use full-suspension bikes but a good hardtail is probably sufficient (and many locals compete on locally-made Black Mambas - old-school Flying Dutchman). Helmets are compulsory.
At the end of the day compare stories with the other riders, put your feet up and enjoy a cold Tusker in celebration of a great achievement.
Note this is an annual event (in 2005 it will be held on Saturday 26th February; Entries open November.)
If there is sufficient interest we can include this 6,000 ft descent in Trip 3. Please email us for details.
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(photo copyright Blake Jorgenson)
Points to Note
* rides are accompanied by vehicles that carry equipment, baggage, spares, refreshment and first aid. This also includes a trailer for transporting bikes. There are times where the riders are going for brief rides, on these occasions the vehicle will probably not accompany them, rather they will carry necessities such as food and water in their day packs.
*staff includes English speaking driver/ guide; bicycle guide and mechanic; cook;
*distances covered daily depends entirley on the ability of the riders but can vary from 35 kms to 100kms. There are vehicle uplifts from time to time as distances between hotels, campsites vary and one doesn't have much choice. It is imperative that we ascertain the standard of riders and what they have on their agenda - hard riding, just enjoyment - i.e. slow riding and absorbing the surrounding country, a few kilometres daily to see and enjoy their surroundings - this will enable us to plan on the type of guide required and transporting and ride details!
* as for riders of varying degrees of fitness, rides can be varied according to different degrees of ability and experience, from technical single-track to wide, sandy roads, river beds and animal tracks.
*should participants tire they can always ride in accompanying vehicles.
*tents are dome, standup with camp beds and matresses. Pit toilets and bucket showers are supplied in our fly camps.
* meals are basic but good, plentiful and menus are varied.
What to bring:
*hat or cap, sunglasses (sports shade not 'fashion glasses!); cycling shorts with padded crotch; gloves; worn in riding / walking shoes.
*cool wear for day, warm for evening; rainwear; swimwear;
*personal toiletry including soap; towel; sunblock 35; antiseptic cream and liquid; plasters; malaria medication as prescribed by your doctor.
*camera; binoculars; film.
*reading materials.
*soft sided duffel bag, no suitcases; day pack (15-25 litres).
*spare tube; puncture repair kit; tools; cables; water bottles / Camelback.
Waiver + Insurance:
Extreme Safari's suppliers of biking trips will require all participants to sign a waiver before departing on trips.
We also require all participants to provide evidence of suitable insurance. We can advise on this if required.
Flying Doctor / Emergency Evacuation cover will also be included in the price of the trip - again this is compulsory as most of our trips take place in remote locations far from medical facilities.
Other Activities
Click here for details of other trips and activities, from kitesurfing to mountain climbing.
Booking
Contact us on info@extreme-safari.com or call +44 (0)207 652 7577 or +44 (0)7818 007 163 for further details, rates and availability.
