Kilimanjaro MTB Adventure Retreat!

August 11 to 20, 2024

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Kilimanjaro MTB Adventure Retreat!
  • About
  • Gallery
  • Itinerary
  • Location
  • Things to keep in mind

We are planning a 9 day adventure that includes a walking safari, hot springs, yoga/pilates, waterfall hike + cultural immersion and did we mention a summit of Mount Kilimanjaro by mountain bike!?!

It's called "The Rooftop of Africa" for a reason and the views from the top will make it all worth it. Are you up for the challenge of bagging one of the Seven Summits of the world?

We are teaming up with an all-women's guiding company in Tanzania for this adventure and we are proud to do our part to lift up and support courageous women who break the mold and endeavor to dream big.

Our Kili summit tour will take place on the Kilema Route, which joins the Marangu Trekking Route at the end of Day 1 and leads all the way to Uhuru Peak (19,340 ft). Local guides and our coaches will cycle with you the whole trip up to the summit and local porters will carry your luggage. You will sleep in shared accommodation of mountain huts. 

This activity requires a good level of physical fitness (level 4 out of 6) but don't worry we've got you covered. Trip fees include a custom training plan plus the option to join a long training weekend of coached/guided riding on high altitude terrain in Colorado to ensure you are summit strong!

Marangu route is the oldest and most well established trekking route on Mount Kilimanjaro. It is referred to as the "Coca Cola” route, because it is the only one with overnights stays in permanent huts with comfortable accommodations (as opposes to sleeping in tents) where you will be able to buy a Coca Cola.

About

Training plan

Long training weekend in Colorado (3 days of guided/coached high altitude riding)

All accommodations (double occupancy)

Meals (except one dinner)

All excursions

Government entrance fees

Transportation for the duration of the trip

Kilimanjaro National Park fees according to the state fee schedule of 2024 (entry, camping/hut, rescue, conservation, taxes)

All-female team: English speaking, highly experienced and Wilderness First Responder, chef, waiter, 1 guide for every 2 clients, personal porters to carry equipment your personal luggage (max. 15 kg)

Private bus transport from your hotel to Kilimanjaro National Park and back

Drinks during the climb: minimum 3 liters of sterilized water on trekking days plus water, tea, and coffee at camps

Lodging in beautiful and comfortable mountain huts or cabins

Safety equipment: pulse oximeter, first aid kit, oxygen bottle

Mountain bike and helmet (our bikes meet high safety standards)

International flights

Visa fee

Personal gear rentals (we will provide you with a gear checklist)

Mountaineering insurance (your insurances needs to cover high-altitude trekking up to 6000 m / 20,000 ft)

Tips for the crew

Travel insurance

Meals (except one dinner), drinks during the climb: minimum 3 liters of sterilized water on trekking days plus water, tea, and coffee at camps.

Lodging in beautiful and comfortable mountain huts or cabins. Accommodations are of double occupancy.

Up-to-date Passport (if US, good for three months from day of arrival)

EXTREMELY CASUAL...can be hot, cold, sunny and wet all in one day

Shorts for hiking and hanging out

T-Shirts, polo shirts, or hiking shirts

Pair of long pants or jeans for hikes

Bathing suits (good to have 2 because sometimes you need a 2nd before 1st is dry)

Water shoes with straps for rafting, zip-lining & rappelling

Flip-flops for shower or getting up at night.

Light jacket (gets cool in the evening)

Light rain gear – you will use it daily

Hats and sunglasses

Sunscreen – sun is very intense, and then it rains! Insect repellent.

Camera & charger, small flashlight.

Toiletry items

Prescription meds (pack at least 2-day supply in carry-on)

Dramamine – your new best friend & mine, I like to keep the bus clean!

Large ziploc or plastic trash bags for traveling from hotel to hotel with wet bathing suits or wet dirty shoes

Day pack / Backpack

TRIP DISCLAIMER:

A high level of fitness and prior biking and hiking experience is required to join this adventure. The trek gains more than 13,000 feet in elevation over 5 days in high-altitude conditions.

If you are unsure if this trip is right for you, please consult with a doctor before booking.

TRAVEL INSURANCE REQUIRED: Due to the trek’s high elevations, our operator requires travel insurance covering high-altitude treks to be purchased before departure. We recommend World Nomad’s Standard Policy which covers treks up to 19,685 feet (6,000 meters): worldnomads.com.

"Supportive and patient coaches, inclusive 'team' environment, organized and thorough." ~ Participant

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About The Host

Scott is a lifelong coach. He is an entrepreneur in health, fitness, and sports performance and all of the crazy business and living things would never fit on just one page! In 2015 he started putting on live events in the form of camps and retreats for runners. The energy of getting people offline and into the mountains and onto the trails is something you have to experience to understand and he is planning on creating many more of these experiences for runners around the world!

Lauren grew up in Littleton, CO, and has been running, biking, and hiking the front-range trails for over 20 years! She has her degree in exercise science and sports performance and has been working as a trainer and coach for 15 years. Lauren is the mother of 2 active little boys. She is passionate about introducing women to new sports and empowering them to overcome obstacles, build confidence and explore the outdoor world.

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival and city tour

Arrival day! Check into our accommodations and join a group meet and greet with our resident guides. They will take us on a tour of the vibrant city of Moshi with time for shopping in local markets and an authentic Tanzanian dinner.

Day 2: Walking safari

Today we will shake off the jetlag and stretch our legs on a walking safari tour in Arusha National Park. The scents and sounds of the African bush are best experienced by foot. Here you will be walking alongside wild, freely roaming animals in their natural habitat including giraffes, elephants, Cape buffalos, zebras, warthogs, blue monkeys, the elusive black-and-white colobus monkey, leopards, bushbuck and many other African animals. In the evening, our local guides will provide an overview of our Kili summit, check gear and answer questions. pre trek briefing and check of your mountain gear to make sure you are well prepared, as well as a stroll through Moshi where you can learn how to get around, visit a local market, get recommendations on where to eat out, shop, find souvenirs etc.

Day 3

Marangu Gate / Kilema Gate ( 6,400 ft) to Horombo hut (12,200 ft)

Today we start our ride to the summit, and it's a big one! The first section takes us through the lush rain forest where we will have glimpses of monkeys and unique bird species. After a lunch break the trail will be steeper, on some parts we will prefer to get off the bike and hike, on others we will cycle until we reach the huts for dinner. 

Riding distance: 10 miles ---- Riding time: 8 hours ----Altitude gained: 6,000ft ---- Habitat: rainforest, heather / moorla

Day 4: Acclimatization day

On this day we will hike or cycle up to 13,150 ft and return back to Horombo hut for lunch and relax the rest of the day. The trail is quite rocky, so there will be the option to hike and leave your bicycle at the hut OR level up and work on your technical climbing and descending! 

Riding / hiking distance: 3.1 miles ---- Riding / hiking time: 2-3 hours ---- Altitude gained: 920 ft ---- Habitat: heather / moorland zone

Day 5

Horombo hut (12,200 ft) to Kibo hut (15,430 ft)

We will start the day with a climb back up to the 13,150ft point that we completed yesterday. After this the trail becomes flat and sandy across the heath and into alpine desert with volcanic rocks. The last bit up to Kibo Huts is going to be physically challenging, but going "pole pole" as we say (slowly and steady) you will make it and be rewarded with hot dinner at Kibo hut. 

Hiking / riding distance: 6 miles ---- Hiking / riding time: 6-7 hours ---- Altitude gained: 3,200 ft ---- Habitat: alpine desert zone

Day 6

Kibo hut to UHURU PEAK (19,340 ft) to Horombo hut (12,200 ft)

Summit day! We will start around midnight for summit push. There will be the option to ride OR hike to the summit. We will aim to reach Gilman’s Point (18,885 ft) by dawn, the first of three official summit points. After following the edge of the crater, you will stand at Uhuru Peak. We will take in the view from the summit and enjoy some celebratory pictures and then begin the descent back to Kibu hut, where we will enjoy a hot lunch. From here we will have a fun downhill ride back to Horombo hut. 

Riding distance: 13 miles ---- Riding time: 8-12 hours ---- Altitude gained: 3,900 ft ---- Descent: 7,135 ft ---- Habitat: arctic zone / alpine desert zone

Day 7

Horombo hut (12,200 ft) to Marangu gate ( 6,030 ft)

On our last day we will descend only, so this will be an easy fun day! After our breakfast on the mountain we will be back from moorland to rain forest then to cultivation zone where the Chagga people live. At the Main Gate you will have the chance to get your muddy boots cleaned, take pictures with your team, have a last hot lunch and receive your summit certificate from your guide. We will pick you up with our vehicle and drive you back to your hotel for a well earned evening of rest. 

Biking distance: 11 miles ---- Biking time: 5-7 hours ---- Descent: 6,050 ft ---- Habitat: alpine desert, moorland, rainforest

Day 8: Recovery day at the Kikuletwa hot springs!

Today we will unwind and soothe those sore muscles in the therapeutic warm water from natural springs. If you have the energy you can swing and jump into the water or just relax in the midst of lush nature and friendly local people. The hot springs are located in the land of the famous pastoral Massai tribe. You will see their children with cows and Punda (african donkey) laughing and waving at you. After a long dip in the springs we will enjoy a hot local lunch before heading back to our hotel. You will have the evening free to explore and get dinner on your own or with fellow group members (dinner not included in trip fees).

Day 9: Waterfall hike and village visit

We will start the day walking through a coffee and banana plantation. You will learn a lot about coffee as well as banana farming. When we reach the village we will observe and participate in the entire process of making a cup of coffee from seed to mug, and eventually have a taste of it while enjoying singing and dancing from local village people. At lunchtime you will have a locally produced meal and then head off to explore a beautiful waterfall where there will be the opportunity to jump in for a refreshing swim! Total hiking distance is about 5 miles through plantation lands and rain forest. This will be our final group dinner so we will go out in style in Moshi and say our final farewells to new friends from across the globe!

Day 10: Heading home

This will be the day where we part ways. A piece of your heart will always belong to the mountain and our guides hope that our friendships we earned along the hard path last a lifetime! Some will fly home and others will carry along to more adventures in the region.

Location
Things to keep in mind

A full refund is available until 60 days prior to trip start date, after that we can refund the trip fees but not the deposit. We have to prepay for the accommodations and guiding fees which are not refundable to us.

30 days prior to the trip start date we cannot offer a refund- if we can book someone else to take your spot you can have a full refund otherwise, unfortunately, we cannot offer anything.

We recommend everyone get travel insurance for the trip, it doesn’t cost much and will cover your airfare and other expenses too in case something happens and you need to cancel at the last minute. Here is one company you can check out.

What is significant about this trip?

In Tanzania, as in many other African countries, women who are seeking more rights and gender equity have to face problems created by traditions and customary laws which often discriminate, oppress and exploit them. Women and girls are often deprived of their rights to education, information, technology, the means of production such as land, as well as owning property even where the constitution and some laws provide room for gender equality.

The outdoor and tourism industry in Tanzania is predominantly a male dominated environment - as well the whole society in Tanzania and other African countries generally is.

We support women of the Kilimanjaro region by giving them a chance to work in the tourism sector and become economically more independent through a safe work environment and fair wages.

All of the guides, cooks and porters on our adventure are local women passionate about what they do and can offer to the world.

How else can we give back?

If you are up for the challenge, pack an extra trash bag in your luggage. The Kili route is notorious for summit seekers leaving litter on the route. We will aim to pick up as much as we can along the way to do our part. Our packs may be heavier and our efforts more labored but our hearts will be lighter with the part we are doing for the environment and example we are setting for others on their journey.