Cycling Safari Through Kenya
This 15-day cycling and safari trip through Kenya will have you pedaling through the Maasai Mara and making your way to the white sand beaches of Diani.
Along the way, you'll meet the women of Zawadisha, glamp in safari tents, make lasting memories with new friends, and be wowed by the wildlife.
WHAT'S INCLUDED
+ All meals and in-country transportation
+ Accommodation in mid-range lodges and guest houses + camping under the stars
+ Highly qualified local guides and a support vehicle
+ Wildlife game drives
+ Dancing, basket weaving, and community visits with Zawadisha
+ A final day on the white sand beaches of the Indian Ocean
We've Got The Receipts
CYCLING & SAFARI ITINERARY
July 2027, Dates Announced Soon!
DAY 0: Karibu Kenya! Arrive in Nairobi. Private transport to the guest house so you can get some rest. You'll need it :)
DAY 1: Have a nice sleep-in or check out some of our favorite spots in Nairobi before you meet your fellow riders IRL and get your bike sorted during our afternoon orientation. After a busy day of preparations, you'll be treated to an incredible Ethiopian dinner.
DAY 2, 20 KM Warm Up Cycling: Leave Nairobi and drive across the great Rift Valley and into the Loita Hills at the edge of the Maasai Mara. End the day with a warm-up loop through the forest around your camp at the Maji Moto Maasai Cultural Centre.
DAY 3, 50 KM +372m -514m: The adventure begins, and we head west, starting our ride along the tarmac road. We soon turn off onto long gravel roads that take us through villages and subsistence farms. There is not much climbing with long gravel roads and the beautiful Mara Scenery. We will be wild camping off the beaten track on the edge of Naibosho conservancy, where giraffe sightings are common.
DAY 4, 60KM +484m -742m: Carrying on west, the farmland is left behind as we start to pass between conservancies. Today, we will definitely see more wildlife as the great Mara plains open before us. We will be camping near Sekenani, which is one of the main entrances to the Maasai Mara National Park.
DAY 5, 35KM ~ flat: We start our day with a game drive in the Maasai Mara National Park with an optional 30 km ride after the game drive, or enjoy the full day in the park.
We'll return to our beautiful campsite, as this fantastic day gives us plenty to talk about around the fire in the evening.
DAY 6, 50KM +888m -667m: This day is one of the most scenic days of riding on the trip. We turn back east and head away from the Mara, leaving the plains behind and entering the hills. This day will be the queen's stage of the trip with the most climbing so far. After a tough day on the bike, it's nice to settle into camp, enjoy a hot shower, and clean away the iconic red dust of Kenya.
DAY 7, no cycling: Depart the Mara in the morning for a half-day drive back to Nairobi. Clean up and relax at the hotel or explore Nairobi with our curated list of must-see places.
DAY 8, no cycling: An early start gets us to the Standard-Gauge Railway for a four-hour train ride to Voi, the closest town to the rural community where Zawadisha calls home. We'll be staying at a wildlife lodge where you can enjoy a sundowner (Kenyan version of happy hour) while watching elephant and giraffe in the watering hole.
DAY 9, 30 KM cycling, ~flat: Ride on the backroads to a sisal estate for an evening of gorgeous camping. You might just see a few camels along the way.
DAY 10, 69km +356km -300m: Ride to Maungu the back way on an old trading route. You will be greeted by the women of Zawadisha and spend the next few nights at a remote 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 11, no cycling: Our morning and evening game drives hug a gorgeous day learning about life in rural Kenya from the women of Zawadisha. You'll travel into the community, visit a homestead, and meet the Neema Women's Group for traditional dancing. Bring your box of tissues and some extra cash for their handcrafted sisal baskets.
DAY 12, no cycling: It's another beautiful day with the women of Zawadisha. Learn how to weave baskets and make one of our favorite Swahili dishes. The time in the community, along with two more game drives, is always a highlight of people's trip!
DAY 13, 85km +277m -250m: Time to say goodbye to Zawadisha and make our way to the Indian Ocean. We'll have a leisurely ride to a wild camp near the Shimba Hills.
DAY 14, 65km +861m -550m: Our final day of cycling takes us up and over the Shimba Hills and down to Diani Beach through rolling hills peppered with palm trees. A celebration on the Indian Ocean brings our journey to a close with the team dancing the night away under coconut trees.
Day 15, depart: It's time to say goodbye. Enjoy some well-deserved rest in a tropical, coastal paradise during the morning and fly back to Nairobi to catch your evening flight home. Better yet— add on another day in Diani or ask us how we can help you plan the second leg of your incredible adventure through Kenya. You've come all this way -- why leave so soon?
Book Your Spot
Regular price
$250.00
FAQ
Got questions? We've got answers.
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Nope! You will need to feel comfortable riding at a moderate pace, around five hours per day at 15-18km per hour. We'll be facilitating Strava challenges for us to train together before the trip.
We will be able to split into different groups so people can go at their own pace.
We will also have a support vehicle in case you'd like to ride shorter distances each day.
And you can also rent or bring an e-bike if the distances are of a concern to you.
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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 two months of the departure date. If we are not able to run the trip due to circumstances out of our control, we will reschedule the trip for 2028.
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We will create a fundraising platform like this one from a previous cycling trip that makes it easy for you to raise tax-deductible donations for Zawadisha. If you choose to fundraise, 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.
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We will work with you to set up a payment plan. You will need to pay the full amount two months before the trip starts. You also can pay the full amount at one time if that is more convenient.
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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.
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No, front-suspension Giant mountain bikes are available for you to rent at $25 per day of cycling and e-bikes for $60 per day. However, bringing your own bike is not as difficult as you might think! We recommend hard tail mountain bikes unless you are an experienced gravel cyclist.
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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. We will be centering the experiences of women, non-binary, and trans participants.
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No. We will have a support vehicle that will transport all of your personal items.
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Accommodation is shared (double) while at guest houses and lodges. Private tents are provided for camping.
You will stay in mid-range, comfortable guest houses within walking distance to food and shopping in Nairobi. While cycling, we camp. All other lodging will be at safari lodges until we reach the coast, where we will stay in a private beachside home.
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They are delicious, nutritious, and filling :) All meals will be prepared for you, and we can accommodate dietary needs.
THE FINE PRINT
Please note that gratuity, insurance, alcohol, and airfare are not included. You will need to purchase them 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.