Pedal Power
Join us for a 12-day cycling trip through Kenya where you'll pedal through the savannah and make your way to the white sand beaches of Diani. Along the way, you'll get to meet the women of Zawadisha, gaze at the stars from your tent, and be wowed by the wildlife.
Dates: July 19th - 30th, 2024
Cost: $3,500 for those who commit to fundraising a minimum of $500 of tax-deductible donations to Zawadisha or $4,000 with no fundraising; you can reserve your spot here for a non-refundable deposit of $250.
What's included:
✔️ All meals, including a special welcome and farewell dinner
✔️ Accommodation, including a mix of camping and guest houses/hotels; private tent and shared rooms
✔️ Highly qualified local guides
✔️ Support vehicles
✔️ Wildlife game drives
✔️ Dancing, basket weaving, and community visits with Zawadisha
Please note that airfare, travel insurance, alcohol, and gratuity are not included.
Fun level: ALL-TIME HIGH
Impact: Out of this world! All proceeds benefit Zawadisha's micro-lending program in Kenya that you'll get to see IRL!
Read this please: Please note that airfare is not included. You will need to purchase that separately. The payment you make today is to reserve your spot. You will be invoiced for the remaining payments once your participation is confirmed. Travel insurance is required. We are committed to creating a safe space for all participants and as such have a zero-tolerance policy for harassment, intimidation, and/or verbal/physical abuse.
Itinerary
DAY 1, July 19th: Karibu Kenya! Meet your fellow riders IRL, visit the Village Market Mall to stock up on any last minute needs, and join us for an afternoon orientation in Nairobi before you are treated to an incredible Ethiopian dinner and hotel stay.
DAY 2, July 20th: Give yourself some time to get those jitters out and avoid the hectic Nairobi traffic with a two-hour drive to our starting point. Chances of seeing wildlife are high and once you get in the saddle, it all settles in for a lovely first day on a mix of tarmac and gravel that ends with camping on a football field at a primary school.
DAY 3, July 21st: We'll make our way through rural Maasai Land, stopping for sodas, waving hello to the locals cheering us on, and ending the day with a creek crossing before we land in camp. If we're lucky, the clouds will clear and we'll see Mount Kilimanjaro from our tents.
DAY 4, July 22nd: We'll cycle together out of camp as the chances for encountering wildlife are high! Keep an eye out for Mount Kilimanjaro as we ride through rolling hills and some FUN downhill. This is a long, but beautiful day on dirt roads that ends near Lake Chula. We'll camp at a guest house and there are a few rooms available for upgrades. Also did can anyone say real showers?!?
DAY 5, July 23rd: On day four get ready for a cycling safari through Tsavo National Park. We're back on tarmac until we arrive at a large sisal estate. Camping is extra special this night as we are treated to the amenities of the estate's private open-air recreation lounge that might just include a fire pit, bar, running water, and cozy couches.
DAY 6, July 24th: Ride through the sisal estate to Maungu the back way on an old trading route. You will be greeted by the women of Zawadisha and spend the evening at the remote Kivuli Camp in the Tsavo Conservancy. Keep your eyes peeled for more elephants, giraffes, and zebra on the drive to the camp and your ears open for late night lion roars.
DAY 7, July 25th: Rest and rejuvenate at Kivuli Camp. Get some laundry done. Sleep in. Make a visit to town. Go for a game drive and end the day with a sundowner at one of our favorite spots in the Tsavo Conservancy.
DAY 8, July 26th: Spend the day learning about life in rural Kenya from the women of Zawadisha. You'll travel into the community, visit a homesteads, and meet the Neema Women's Group. Bring your box of tissues and some extra cash for those handmade baskets ;)
DAY 9, July 27th: Now that you've had two rest days, you're ready for a day of riding through the community as we make our way to the coast. The temperature is getting warmer and the land is getting greener. We end the day camping in a school yard, with evening entertainment of kids play soccer, goats butting heads, and if we're lucky, some dancing.
DAY 10, July 28th: On the final day of riding, we descend downhill. As the air gets more humid, we pass through Swahili villages and arrive at the Indian Ocean. A cocktail on the beach brings our journey to a close with the team dancing the night away under coconut trees. We'll stay at a private home on the beach with a pool and a chef. You're welcome.
DAY 11, July 29th: Say goodbye to your Savage Wilderness team as they head back to Nairobi, leaving you to enjoy some well-deserved rest in a tropical, coastal paradise. Soak up the sun on the white sand beaches of Diani -- you earned it!
Day 12, July 30th: Travel back to Nairobi via train or plane and prepare to fly home. Or continue with five-day magical experience on the carless Swahili island of Lamu. You've come all this way -- why leave so soon?
FAQS
Do I need to be an expert cyclist or have ridden long distances before? Nope! You will need to feel comfortable riding between five and six hours per day at a moderate pace, around 20km per hour. We'll be facilitating Strava challenges for us to train together before the trip.
How many people are going? A maximum of 12 people will be on this trip. We will all have a chance to get to know each other before the trip through optional monthly Zoom calls. Anyone regardless of identity is welcome to join us; we will be centering the experiences of women, non-binary, and trans participants.
I'm afraid of holding the group back -- should I still come? YES! We will be able to split into different guided groups so people can go at their own pace. We also will have a support vehicle in case you'd like to ride shorter distances each day.
Do I need to bring my own bike? No, there will be front-suspension mountain bikes available for you to rent at $25 per day of cycling (7 days total). However, bringing your own bike is not as difficult as you might think! We recommend front-suspension mountain bikes unless you are an experienced gravel cyclist.
Will I have to carry my own stuff on my bike? No. We will have a support vehicle that will transport all of your personal items.
What will camping and meals be like? You will have your own tent and sleeping pad that you will set up and break down daily. All meals will be prepared for you, and we can accommodate your dietary needs. There will be hot water every afternoon/evening so you can take a bucket shower in a private shower tent. A drop toilet will be constructed.
What about accommodation at guest houses? Expect double occupancy, running water, a cozy bed and mosquito net, and all meals prepared.
Who's organizing this trip? Jen Gurecki, the founder of Zawadisha, is organizing this trip in collaboration with Savage Wilderness Safaris. The Savage family (yes, that is their surname) and their team have been facilitating school groups and private tours for more than 20 years. In fact, Jen cycled across Africa with James Savage in 2018.
How do the payment plans work? We will work with you to set up a payment plan. You will need to pay the full amount before the trip starts. You also can pay the full amount at one time if that is more convenient.
What about the donation/fundraising part? We will create a fundraising platform like this one from our 2022 cycling trip that makes it easy for you to raise tax-deductible donations for Zawadisha. If you choose the $3,500 rate, you are required to fundraise at least $500. We do encourage everyone to fundraise so that we can make the most positive impact in the lives of the women we serve.
What's your refund policy? You can receive a full refund up to six months before the departure of the trip. If you need to cancel within three to five months of the departure, we will provide credit for a future trip. There is no refund provided for cancellations within one month of the departure date. If we are not able to run the trip due to COVID-19 or other circumstances out of our control, we will reschedule the trip for 2025.
Want to learn more before you reserve a spot? Please contact us!