Tanzania: Into the Heart of Africa
Gravel roads from the foot of Kilimanjaro to the flamingo shores of Lake Natron, with two big safaris along the way.
Tell us your trip details and we'll put together a complimentary Stradora Expedition Pack for the journey.
10 nights through Tanzania
Eleven days out of Arusha on Royal Enfield Himalayans, on tarmac, gravel and trail, with two full 4×4 safaris built into the route. It is the rare trip where the riding and the wildlife both get proper time rather than one being a token.
Kilimanjaro provides the opening couple of days. The road runs round the north side of Mount Meru to the mountain’s foothills, then a long gravel day crosses the plains past Ol Doinyo Lengai, the active volcano the Maasai call the Mountain of God, to a tented camp at Lake Natron. That lake is where East Africa’s flamingos breed, and the day there includes a game drive on the bike, a gorge hike to a waterfall and a Maasai village visit.
Then the Rift Valley. The escarpment leads south to Karatu, and from there the route climbs to Ngorongoro Crater for a safari in a Land Cruiser, which is the only sensible way to see it. Lake Eyasi follows with an optional visit to the Hadzabe, then a full day of challenging trails and river crossings around Lake Manyara, then a second full-day safari in Tarangire.
Extreme Bike Tours provide the Royal Enfield, twin-share accommodation including the safari tented camp, all three meals a day, a guide, a mechanic, fuel, spare parts, a support vehicle, airport pick-up and both game drives. Flights, visa, insurance and riding kit are separate. The tour is graded intermediate, covers around 1,305 kilometres and runs four to six hours a day in the saddle.
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Images selected by Stradora to represent the journey.
Tanzania: Into the Heart of Africa
pick-up at Kilimanjaro airport, night in Arusha
pick-up at Kilimanjaro airport, night in Arusha.
tar then gravel around the north side of Mount Meru to the foothills of Kilimanjaro
tar then gravel around the north side of Mount Meru to the foothills of Kilimanjaro.
a long gravel day across the plains, past Ol Doinyo Lengai, to a tented camp at Lake Natron
a long gravel day across the plains, past Ol Doinyo Lengai, to a tented camp at Lake Natron.
Lake Natron, a game drive on the bike, a gorge hike to a waterfall, flamingos and a Maasai village
Lake Natron, a game drive on the bike, a gorge hike to a waterfall, flamingos and a Maasai village.
south along the Rift Valley escarpment to Karatu
south along the Rift Valley escarpment to Karatu.
up the escarpment to Ngorongoro Crater for a safari in a 4x4 Land Cruiser
up the escarpment to Ngorongoro Crater for a safari in a 4x4 Land Cruiser.
gravel through forest to Lake Eyasi, optional visit to the Hadzabe
gravel through forest to Lake Eyasi, optional visit to the Hadzabe.
a full day of challenging off-road trails and river crossings around Lake Manyara to Burunge
a full day of challenging off-road trails and river crossings around Lake Manyara to Burunge.
full-day 4x4 safari in Tarangire National Park
full-day 4x4 safari in Tarangire National Park.
short ride back to Arusha, final dinner
short ride back to Arusha, final dinner.
onward travel
About 4 to 6 hours riding a day.
What's included
- Royal Enfield
- accommodation (twin share, including a safari tented camp)
- breakfast, lunch and dinner
- tour guide
- mechanic
- fuel
- spare parts
- drinking water
- first aid
- support vehicle
- airport pick-up
- Ngorongoro and Tarangire 4x4 game drives
Not included
- International flights
- visa
- personal medical insurance (required)
- single supplement (US $450)
- riding kit
- alcohol
Ready to drive it?
10 days, from £3,968pp
