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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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. 

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. 

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.

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. 

No. We will have a support vehicle that will transport all of your personal items. 

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.

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.

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.

They are delicious, nutritious, and filling :) All meals will be prepared for you, and we can accommodate dietary needs.

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.