TOUR CODE - K2C 1: KILI TO INDIAN OCEAN - PANGANI KILI 2 C MOUNTAIN BIKE MISSION 8 DAYS / 7 NIGHTS: CYCLING AROUND THE BASE OF MT. KILIMANJARO PARE MOUNTAINS USAMBARA MOUNTAINS PANGANI Tanzania is the country well blessed with the different flora and fauna in its various National Parks, people and culture. Your 7 days and 6 nights of cycling in Tanzania will take you to explore the riches and the beauty of the Tanzania from the slopes of the snow capped mountain - Mt. Kilimanjaro, the wild, bushes and wide savannah land of remote northern safari circuit, fascinating culture tour en route to the villages inhabited with people of different culture from our 120 ethic tribes, but mostly of Maasai, Chaggas and Sambaa to the Swahili history and beaches of Pangani. After your arrival, the first 3 days in Tanzania will give you an opportunity to cycling around the base of Mt. Kilimanjaro and the last 4 days of cycling on Usambara mountains and thereafter cycling down to the foot of these beautiful mountains before taking the long and winding Pangani Road, through bush and traditional Tanzanian villages leads the traveller to the peace and tranquillity of Peponi. Peponi A Swahili word for Paradise - is set among coconut palms, mango and cashew trees. Wild pigs steal in at night to forage for fruit, while, from the tree tops, the Bush Babies calls. ITINERARY: DAY DAY 1: ARRIVAL AT KILIMANJARO On your arrival, I ll personally meet and greet you at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO). You ll then be transfered to your your hotel in Lawate Sanya Juu for briefing, dinner, and overnight stay.
DAY 1: (Cont...) Arrival at JRO Transfer to your lodge Briefing, dinner and overnight stay. House of West Kili (http://www.houseofwestkili.com/) DAY 2: FROM LAWATE NDARAKWAI RANCH After breakfast, we ll then unpack and assemble the byscles ready to embark embark on our first day cycling to Ndarakwai Ranch passing through some Maasai villages where we can also visit their Bomas and have the first hand presentation of their life of this famous pastorism community. At this day you ll ride to the steppe and meet for the first time the Maasai. Maasai are probably the best-known ethnic group living in the vast plains of East Africa south of Kenya and northern Tanzania. The Maasai remained true to their old traditions. Examples are the seminomadic way of life and their striking clothes. Depending on your preference, on the way we ll visit a Maasai family. You ll continue with your cycling through farmland and Massai. In the early afternoon we arrive in the Ndarakwai Lodge. This Nestled in the woods tented camp, convinced by their "simple" luxury for our overnight stay. As we get to Ndarakwai, you can see some of the big games. After 41km of cycling, we ll get at Ndarakwai Lodge at the western side of Mt. Kilimanjaro.
DAY 2: (Cont...) We ll check in, servicing our bikes and relax await for the next encounter. On a separate arrangement, you may opt to have a game drive at Ndarakwai at this 11,000 acres of wildlife rehabitation rangeland. Unpack and assemble the bikes Distance - 41km of cycling. Visiting Maasai bomas. Optional Game drive at Ndarakwai. Ndarakwai Tented Lodge (http://www.ndarakwai.com/) DAY 3: FROM NDARAKWAI KAMWANGA - RONGAI This will be a long distance cycling day. After breakfast, we ll be cycling through hilly Maasai land and cycle up to Kamwanga, a small village at the northern foot of Kilimanjaro. You ll enjoy the fantastic view of the Amboseli National Park in Kenya and northern slopes of Kilimanjaro. We ll thereafter leave the Massai land and go to the dense vegetation of the eastern side of Mt. Kilimanjaro. Cultivated fields and cedar forests are our temporary companion. The Tanzanian / Kenyan border along as we head initially slightly downhill. On the way to, we ll have our lunch stop and then proceeds to Rongai.
DAY 3: (Cont...) We ll then cycling towards Naleimoru Village to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay. Distance - 82km of cycling. Visiting Maasai bomas. 65% view of Mt. Kilimanjaro. Snowcap Cottages (http://www.snowcap.co.tz/?page_id=4295) DAY 4: FROM RONGAI TO LAKE CHALA After breakfast, we ll then cycling on certain valleys of Kilimanjaro ensure short, mostly steep inclines single trail through banana and coffee plantations. Your overnight stay will be at Lake Chala Safari Camp located on beautiful Lake Chala, a crater lake with crystal clear water, which invites you to take a bath. Distance - 61km of cycling. Banana and coffee plantation. Lake Chala Safari Camp (http://www.lakechalasafaricamp.com/)
DAY 5: FROM LAKE CHALA - SAME KISIWANI GONJA KIHURIO LANGANI MTAE With our bikes packed on our car, we ll drive early in the morning before 06h00am heading towards the Pare and Usambara Mountains, some 102 km to the south to reach Same town. If we cannot have our breakfast at Lake Chala Safari Camp, we ll then have our breakfast at Same and start our cycling at 08h00. We ll ride through a back road towards Kisiwani, Njiro, Gonja, Ndungu where we ll ride 2kms to the shore of Lake Kalimawe for perfect viewing before proceeding to Langoni towards Mtae ridge. From Langoni to Mtae ridge, is an extremely rough trail initially followed the flat valley, and then suddenly climbed steeply in a long series of tight hair-pin bends. This is reported to be very scenic part of eastern Tanzania and the back-road, up the north side of the ridge to Mtae, is meant to be particularly spectacular. This route up is noted to be strictly for 4x4s. The surface is washed away in crevices forming deep gorges in places; and the sections that aren t washed away are frequently strewn with loose rock-fall. From the start of the main ascent to cresting over the top of the escarpment are 32kms of cycling, and the gradient in some places will be over 45. Our long experienced guide will lead you slowly and steadily, rocking around over the rough ground all the way up to the top! You ll be up there on the top at Mambo View!
DAY 5: (Cont...) Once on the top we headed for Mambo View Camp: a lovely spot, clinging to the edge of the cliffs and with spectacular outlook over the valleys and plains below. Distance from Lake Chala to Same is approx. 102km by car. Distance - 138km of cycling. The 18km are the hardest. From Same to Kisiwani - 29kms. From Kisiwani to Njiro - 8kms. From Njiro to Gonja - 18kms From Gonja to Kalimawe Lake - 17kms From Kalimawe Lake to Kihurio - 9kms From Kihurio to Mgandu village - 5kms From Mgandu village to Karamba village - 6kms From Karamba village to Mkundiambaro - 9kms. From Mkundiambaro to Landoni - 19kms From Langoni to Mtae - 18kms (the hardest part). Meet with Pares and Sambaas on the way. Mambo View Point Eco Lodge (http://www.mamboviewpoint.org/) DAY 6: MTAE MAGAMBA MKUZI (LUSHOTO) The Usambara Mountains apparently hosts a unique eco-system with
DAY 6: (Cont...) several species of birds, insects and plants not found anywhere else in the world; if you are very fortunate, you may spot a rare Horned Chameleon in the bushes as you walking around the lodge or cycling. Moving on south, we continued on the back-roads through yet more beautiful scenery of the Usambara Mountains to Lushoto. Distance - 57km of cycling. Cycling in the forest. Meet the Sambaas on the way. Muller Mountain Lodge (http://www.mullersmountainlodge.co.tz/) Meal plan BB (Bed and Breakfast DAY 7: MKUZI - LUSHOTO KOROGWE We ll have our breakfast at 07h30 and ready to deaprt at 08h00. It s the ultimate day, coming down from the mighty highlands of Usambara to Korogwe. Cycling further into these beautiful mountains we pass through pristine rainforest and village farmland. This is an area that rarely, if ever gets visited by travelers and the welcome and response we receive from the local population is fantastic. We ll cycling on off the beaten track down to Korogwe and then proceeds to Kwa Mndolwa, at White Parrot Hotel for our dinner and overnight stay.
DAY 7: (Cont...) Distance 86km of cycling Cycling in the forest. Cycling close to tea plantation. Meet the Sambaas on the way. in common rooms DAY 8: KOROGWE PANGANI White Parrot Hotel - Korogwe Meal plan Half Board (B,D) After breakfast, we ll embark on our last day cycling to Pangani, one among the oldest towns in East Africa. We ll ride our bikes for 40km from your hotel and then board in the cars because of the reckless driving in Tanzania highways. We ll drive 20km to Muheza town before continue with our cycling to Pangani. From Muheza, we ll cycling about 10km and break for lunch. After lunch, we ll then cycling through sisal and coconut plantation to Pangani. Total Distance 100km. Distance 80km of cycling Distance 20km by car
DAY 8: (Cont...) Peponi Beach Resort (http://www.peponiresort.com/) DAY 9: WHOLE DAY ON THE BEACH PANGANI After a long cycling from the slopes of the Mt. Kilimanjaro, the highlands of Pare and Usambara, we ll have a completely day off at the Pangani Beach. The activities of the day can range from relaxing on the beach to fishing, snorkeling, kayaking, windsurfing, and scuba diving. Other extra activities include visiting the local salt farm, visit Amboni Caves, Tongoni Ruins, boat trip to Pangani River and a visit to a nearby Mangrove. These extra activities can be arranged at the Peponi Beach Resort at some costs. Relaxing on the beach. Engage in extra activities fishing, snorkelling, windsurfing, etc Peponi Beach Resort (http://www.peponiresort.com/)
DAY 10: PANGANI TO DAR KUSHILAND The airstrip is at Mashado Pangani. The flights departure from Mashado to Dar Es Salaam at 15h15 and arrives in Dar Es Salaam at 16h20. This is not a rushing day. You can have your breakfast at your pace, but have an early lunch that we may have ample time for transfer from Peponi Beach Resort to Mashado Airstrip which is about 20km away with a ferry crossing. 20km drive by car from Peponi Beach Resort to Mashado Airstrips. Flight from Pangani to Da Es Salaam END OF CYCLING FROM THE BASE OF MT. KILI TO THE SHORE OF INDIAN OCEAN