Cycling Safari Through Kenya
Join us on a 15-day cycling safari through Kenya, pedaling nearly 500km across the wild plains of the Maasai Mara, through communities and wildlife conservancies, before freewheeling your way to the white sand beaches of the Indian Ocean. This is a mission-driven adventure that turns every kilometer you ride into support for the women of Zawadisha's microlending program.
+ Cycle roughly 500km across the Maasai Mara's plains, remote conservancies, and Rift Valley backroads, with a support vehicle riding alongside
+ Go on wildlife game drives through the Maasai Mara National Park and Tsavo Conservancy, spotting elephant, giraffe, zebra, and lion along the way
+ Meet the women of Zawadisha, learn to weave traditional sisal baskets, and see firsthand how your ride improves their daily lives
+ Coast into Diani Beach for a final celebration on the Indian Ocean's white sand shores, with time to rest before you fly home
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
15 days · ~490km of cycling · Maasai Mara + down south to the Kenyan coast
July 4 – 19, 2027
KARIBU KENYA: A Cycling Safari From the Maasai Mara to the Swahili Coast
DAY 0 · July 4 · Karibu Kenya!
Touch down in Nairobi and let the city's low hum welcome you in. A private transfer whisks you straight to the guest house, where a warm bed is waiting. Tomorrow the adventure begins — tonight, just rest.
DAY 1 · July 5 · Meet Your Fellow Riders
Sleep in, wander a few of our favorite Nairobi haunts, or simply catch your breath before the real adventure starts. By afternoon, you'll meet your fellow riders face-to-face and get fitted to your bike during orientation. As the sun sets on your last day off two wheels for a while, we'll toast the journey ahead over a feast of injera and stew at one of Nairobi's beloved Ethiopian restaurants.
DAY 2 · July 6 · 20km Warm-Up Ride
We leave the city behind and drive across the floor of the Great Rift Valley into the Loita Hills, at the edge of the Maasai Mara ecosystem. Your legs get their first taste of Kenyan dirt on a gentle warm-up loop through the forest surrounding camp at the Maji Moto Maasai Cultural Centre — consider it a proper hello to the ride ahead.
DAY 3 · July 7 · 50km, +320m / -514m
The real riding begins. We spin out of camp on tarmac before dropping onto long gravel roads that wind through communities and subsistence farms — rolling, red-dirt terrain with more scenery than climbing. Wild camping tonight on the edge of the Naiboisho Conservancy, where giraffe sightings are less a hope than a habit.
DAY 4 · July 8 · 60km, +625m / -742m
Farmland fades behind us as the conservancies begin — and with them, more wildlife than the day before. The great plains of the Maasai Mara open up ahead as we pedal toward Sekenani, one of the main gateways into the Maasai Mara National Park. We'll camp just outside its edge tonight, close enough to hear the bush wake up.
DAY 5 · July 9 · 27km, +466m
We start the day on a game drive deep into the Maasai Mara, tracking the plains for lion, elephant, and the wildebeest herds this ecosystem is famous for. Afterward, hop back on your bike for an optional 30km ride through the hills of the conservancy, or spend the whole day soaking in the wildlife. Either way, we're back at our campsite by evening, trading stories around the fire.
DAY 6 · July 10 · 60km, +825m / -667m — The Queen Stage
This is the day riders talk about for years. We turn east, leaving the Mara's open plains for the hills, and climb more today than any other day on the trip. It's tough, it's scenic, and it's deeply satisfying — especially when you roll into camp for a hot shower and finally rinse off Kenya's iconic red dust.
DAY 7 · July 11 · Rest Day, No Cycling
We say goodbye to the Mara with a half-day drive back to Nairobi. Legs off the pedals for a day — shower, laundry, a proper meal, or one more wander through the city with our list of favorite spots. You've earned it.
DAY 8 · July 12 · Rest Day, No Cycling — By Rail to Voi
An early wake-up call gets us aboard Kenya's Standard Gauge Railway for a four-hour train ride south to Voi, the gateway town to the rural community Zawadisha calls home. We'll spend the night at a wildlife lodge, sundowner in hand, watching elephant and giraffe drift past the watering hole as the sky turns orange.
DAY 9 · July 13 · 70km, +661m
A longer day in the saddle along backroads to a sisal estate, where we'll camp for the night under a wide, open sky. Keep an eye out along the way — camels aren't an unusual sight on this stretch.
DAY 10 · July 14 · 69km, +325m / -300m
We ride the back way into Maungu along an old trading route once used by caravans crossing this stretch of Kenya. At the end of the road, the women of Zawadisha are waiting to welcome you. We'll spend the next two nights camped in the Tsavo Conservancy — watch for elephant, giraffe, and zebra along the drive in, and don't be surprised if a lion's roar drifts into camp after dark.
DAY 11 · July 15 · No Cycling — A Day With Zawadisha
Morning and evening game drives bookend a day spent learning what life looks like in rural Kenya, straight from the women who live it. You'll visit a homestead, meet the Neema Women's Group for an afternoon of traditional dancing, and likely find yourself reaching for both your wallet and a tissue — bring cash for their handwoven sisal baskets, and prepare to be moved.
DAY 12 · July 16 · No Cycling — Weaving & Wildlife
Another full day in community. Learn the art of basket weaving from the women of Zawadisha and try your hand at one of our favorite Swahili dishes, all woven between two more game drives. For many riders, these two days are the heart of the entire trip.
DAY 13 · July 17 · 70km, +290m / -250m
Time to say kwaheri to Zawadisha and point our wheels toward the coast. It's a leisurely ride today, ending in a wild camp near the Shimba Hills as the ocean draws closer with every kilometer.
DAY 14 · July 18 · 60km, +800m / -550m — Final Ride to the Coast
Your last day on the bike takes you up and over the Shimba Hills before dropping down through rolling, palm-studded terrain to Diani Beach. When your tires finally hit the sand, it's time to celebrate — dinner and dancing under the coconut trees, with the Indian Ocean as your backdrop.
DAY 15 · July 19 · Kwaheri, For Now
Sleep in, take one last dip in the Indian Ocean, and soak up your final morning in paradise before flying back to Nairobi to catch your evening flight home. Or — why rush? Ask us about extending your stay in Diani or adding on a second leg of your Kenyan adventure. You've come this far; there's no reason to leave so soon.
Book Your Spot
Regular price
$250.00
FAQ
Got questions about our Cycling Safari? We've got answers.
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A cycling safari is a multi-day trip through Kenya that combines guided bike riding with traditional wildlife safari elements like game drives, conservancy stays, and time in local communities. On Zawadisha's Cycling Safari, you'll pedal roughly 490km across the Maasai Mara and Tsavo Conservancy over 15 days, with a support vehicle, wildlife game drives, and camping under the stars built into the route.
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A traditional Kenya safari moves you between destinations by vehicle, while a cycling safari has you pedaling the distance between them yourself, with game drives and wildlife viewing woven in along the way. Zawadisha's Cycling Safari blends both: you'll cycle through the Maasai Mara and Tsavo Conservancy, then join dedicated game drives in each park, so you get the physical adventure of a bike trip alongside classic safari wildlife viewing.
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Yes, Kenya offers some of the most varied terrain in East Africa for cycling, from the Great Rift Valley and Maasai Mara plains to the Shimba Hills and Indian Ocean coastline. The country's network of gravel backroads and community trails, combined with world-class wildlife conservancies, makes it a standout destination for a multi-day cycling safari.
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Daily distances on the Cycling Safari range from 20km to 70km, averaging around five hours of riding at 15–18km/h. The trip totals approximately 490km of cycling over 15 days, with several rest days built in for game drives, train travel, and community visits.
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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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Yes, you don't need to be an experienced cyclist to join. Riders should be comfortable pedaling at a moderate pace for about five hours a day, and the trip offers a support vehicle, optional shorter routes, and e-bike rentals for anyone concerned about the distances.
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Yes, this route is designed with safety in mind: a support vehicle accompanies riders throughout, experienced local guides lead every day of cycling, and the trip is organized in partnership with Savage Wilderness Safaris, which has run guided tours in Kenya for more than 20 years.
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July, when this trip runs, falls within Kenya's dry season, offering cooler temperatures, firmer riding conditions on gravel roads, and strong wildlife viewing as animals gather near water sources in the Maasai Mara and Tsavo Conservancy.
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Riders commonly see elephant, giraffe, zebra, and lion, along with wildebeest herds across the open plains of the Maasai Mara and Tsavo Conservancy. Dedicated game drives in both the Maasai Mara and Tsavo Conservancy are built into the itinerary specifically to maximize wildlife sightings beyond what you'll spot from the bike.
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This trip funds Zawadisha's microlending program for women in Maungu, Kenya, with 100% of trip profits going directly to the program. Riders also spend two full days in the community learning basket weaving and traditional cooking directly from the women who receive our small loans.
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100% of the profits from the Cycling Safari go toward Zawadisha's microlending program, which provides small loans to women entrepreneurs in Maungu, Kenya. Riders can also choose to fundraise a minimum of $500 through a dedicated platform for $500 off their trip cost, with all funds raised going directly to the program.
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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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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 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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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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No, accommodation alternates between wild camping, safari lodges, and guest houses depending on the day. You'll camp on cycling days and in the conservancies, stay in mid-range guest houses in Nairobi, and finish the trip beachside in Diani.
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Riders commonly see elephant, giraffe, zebra, and lion, along with wildebeest herds across the open plains of the Maasai Mara and Tsavo Conservancy. Dedicated game drives in both the Maasai Mara National Park and Tsavo Conservancy are built into the itinerary specifically to maximize wildlife sightings beyond what you'll spot from the bike.
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They are delicious, nutritious, and filling :) All meals will be prepared for you, and we can accommodate dietary needs.
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Most travelers need an e-Visa to enter Kenya, which can be applied for online before departure, and the CDC and WHO recommend several vaccinations for travel to East Africa, including yellow fever in some cases. Requirements vary by nationality, so check with the Kenyan embassy and your doctor or a travel clinic well before your trip.
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.