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A lone African buffalo standing in long grass below the Rift wall.

Active

Great Rift Valley Eco & Active Biking Safari

Guided cycling through the banana plantations and irrigation furrows of Mto wa Mbu, canoeing on Lake Manyara when the water allows it, and classic game drives either side. For people who would rather not spend six days sitting down.

Request a quote See the itinerary
Duration6 days / 5 nights
RouteMto wa Mbu · Lake Manyara · Ngorongoro
PaceActive
Best monthsJune to October and January to February
FromOn request

About this journey

Guided cycling through the banana plantations and irrigation furrows of Mto wa Mbu, canoeing on Lake Manyara when the water allows it, and classic game drives either side. For people who would rather not spend six days sitting down.

Best months. June to October and January to February. The long rains make the tracks unrideable and the canoeing unreliable.

Pace. Active. Cycling is on graded dirt and is as hard as you make it.

Who this journey suits

Sitting in a vehicle for six days sounds like the worst part of a safari.

You ride at home, or you are happy on a bike for two hours.

You want to meet people rather than pass them at forty kilometres an hour.

You want wildlife too, and the crater is non-negotiable.

Highlights

  • Cycling through Mto wa Mbu's irrigation furrows, banana shambas and rice paddies
  • A village that is genuinely multi-ethnic — over a hundred groups in one place
  • Canoeing on Lake Manyara when the water level allows, among hippo and birds
  • A full day in the Ngorongoro crater
  • Escarpment viewpoints over the Rift floor that vehicles drive straight past

Route

Stops on Great Rift Valley Eco & Active Biking Safari
StopNightsWhy
Mto wa Mbu2 nightsThe village, the furrows and the bikes.
Karatu1 nightHighlands, on the way up.
Ngorongoro1 nightRim, and the crater.
Tarangire1 nightElephants, on the way back.

How the journey flows

Every point below is a real place at its real coordinates. The coastline is simplified — this is a route diagram, not a survey map.

Schematic map of Tanzania showing the route for Great Rift Valley Eco & Active Biking Safari. The same route is listed as text beside this map. Kilimanjaro Airport (JRO)Mto wa MbuLake ManyaraKaratuNgorongoro CraterTarangire Kilimanjaro Airport (JRO)Mto wa MbuLake ManyaraKaratuNgorongoro CraterTarangire
  • Private 4×4

In order

  1. Kilimanjaro Airport (JRO)Arrive
  2. Mto wa MbuPrivate 4×4
  3. Lake ManyaraPrivate 4×4
  4. KaratuPrivate 4×4
  5. Ngorongoro CraterPrivate 4×4
  6. TarangirePrivate 4×4
  7. Kilimanjaro Airport (JRO)Private 4×4

Day by day

A starting point. Every day here can be moved, shortened or removed — open one to read what it holds.

  1. Day1 Arrive and down into the Rift WhereMto wa Mbu OvernightEco-lodge Meals D

    Met at Kilimanjaro and about three hours west, dropping down the escarpment into the Rift floor. Bike fitting in the evening.

    Where you would sleep this night

    Described by standard, not by name: we do not name a property we have no agreement with. Your written proposal names the actual place, and the photographs here are examples of the standard rather than pictures of it. Power, water, wifi and access for each standard.

    • Farmhouse or eco-lodge — an example of this standard.Farmhouse or eco-lodgeSolid-walled rooms or cottages in a garden.
    • No photograph on fileLodgeTwin, double and family rooms. Ground-floor rooms available at most.
    • Classic tented camp — an example of this standard.Classic tented campTwin or double, with a few family units. Mosquito netting over the bed as standard.
  2. Day2 The furrows and the shambas WhereMto wa Mbu OvernightEco-lodge Meals BLD

    Three to four hours of easy cycling on flat dirt through banana plantations, rice paddies and the irrigation furrows that make the whole place work. Lunch with a family who farm here. Afternoon free or a second short ride.

    Where you would sleep this night

    Described by standard, not by name: we do not name a property we have no agreement with. Your written proposal names the actual place, and the photographs here are examples of the standard rather than pictures of it. Power, water, wifi and access for each standard.

    • Farmhouse or eco-lodge — an example of this standard.Farmhouse or eco-lodgeSolid-walled rooms or cottages in a garden.
    • No photograph on fileLodgeTwin, double and family rooms. Ground-floor rooms available at most.
    • Classic tented camp — an example of this standard.Classic tented campTwin or double, with a few family units. Mosquito netting over the bed as standard.
  3. Day3 Canoes and the lake WhereKaratu OvernightFarmhouse lodge Meals BLD

    Canoeing on Lake Manyara if the water level allows — it often does not, and we will say so rather than substitute silently. Then a game drive in the park and up to Karatu.

    Where you would sleep this night

    Described by standard, not by name: we do not name a property we have no agreement with. Your written proposal names the actual place, and the photographs here are examples of the standard rather than pictures of it. Power, water, wifi and access for each standard.

    • Farmhouse or eco-lodge — an example of this standard.Farmhouse or eco-lodgeSolid-walled rooms or cottages in a garden.
    • No photograph on fileLodgeTwin, double and family rooms. Ground-floor rooms available at most.
    • Classic tented camp — an example of this standard.Classic tented campTwin or double, with a few family units. Mosquito netting over the bed as standard.
  4. Day4 The crater floor WhereNgorongoro OvernightRim lodge Meals BLD

    Down at first light for a full day on the floor. No cycling here: it is not permitted and nor should it be.

    Where you would sleep this night

    Described by standard, not by name: we do not name a property we have no agreement with. Your written proposal names the actual place, and the photographs here are examples of the standard rather than pictures of it. Power, water, wifi and access for each standard.

    • Farmhouse or eco-lodge — an example of this standard.Farmhouse or eco-lodgeSolid-walled rooms or cottages in a garden.
    • No photograph on fileLodgeTwin, double and family rooms. Ground-floor rooms available at most.
    • Classic tented camp — an example of this standard.Classic tented campTwin or double, with a few family units. Mosquito netting over the bed as standard.
  5. Day5 South to Tarangire WhereTarangire OvernightTented camp Meals BLD

    Down from the rim and about three hours south. Afternoon along the river.

    Where you would sleep this night

    Described by standard, not by name: we do not name a property we have no agreement with. Your written proposal names the actual place, and the photographs here are examples of the standard rather than pictures of it. Power, water, wifi and access for each standard.

    • Classic tented camp — an example of this standard.Classic tented campTwin or double, with a few family units. Mosquito netting over the bed as standard.
    • Farmhouse or eco-lodge — an example of this standard.Farmhouse or eco-lodgeSolid-walled rooms or cottages in a garden.
    • No photograph on fileLodgeTwin, double and family rooms. Ground-floor rooms available at most.
  6. Day6 Home WhereTarangire → Kilimanjaro Overnight— Meals BL

    A morning drive, then about three hours to the airport.

Where you would stay

Open any of these for rooms, power hours, hot water, Wi-Fi and the honest access position.

Farmhouse or eco-lodge

Farmhouse or eco-lodge

A working farm in the highlands, or a small locally-run lodge in a village. Cooler, greener and more ordinary than a safari camp, in the best sense.

Where
Karatu highlands, Mto wa Mbu, and the Kilimanjaro foothills.
Rooms
Solid-walled rooms or cottages in a garden.
Power
Mains in most of the highland towns, solar elsewhere.
Hot water
Continuous hot water at most.
Wi-Fi
Usually available and usually slow.
Access
Ground-floor rooms are common. Farm ground itself is uneven, sloping and often wet, and parts of a working smallholding are not navigable on wheels.
Sustainability
Farm-to-table here is description rather than marketing, and the money stays in the valley.

Amenities

  • En-suite bathroom
  • Mains or solar electricity
  • Garden produce at dinner
  • Wi-Fi at most
  • Laundry
  • Fireplace at altitude

Described by style, not by name. We do not name a camp, lodge or hotel we have no agreement with — that would be a public claim about somebody else's business. The specific properties held for you are named in your written proposal, with their access detail, before you pay anything.

Lodge

Lodge

Solid-walled, with a roof, a proper bathroom and usually a pool. Warmer than canvas, which at 2,300 m on the Ngorongoro rim matters a great deal.

Where
Crater rim, park gates, and the highland towns.
Rooms
Twin, double and family rooms. Ground-floor rooms available at most.
Power
Mains, usually with generator backup. The most reliable power of any accommodation type here.
Hot water
Continuous hot water.
Wi-Fi
Usually available in public areas and sometimes in rooms. Slow but real.
Access
Ground-floor rooms are available at most. Roll-in showers are rare and none is confirmed by us. Rim lodges are often built across a slope on several levels, which is the real obstacle rather than the room itself.
Sustainability
Varies widely, and no property on this site has been audited by us.

Amenities

  • En-suite bathroom with continuous hot water
  • Mains electricity
  • Heating or a fireplace at altitude
  • Swimming pool at many
  • Laundry
  • Full-board dining
  • Room safe

Described by style, not by name. We do not name a camp, lodge or hotel we have no agreement with — that would be a public claim about somebody else's business. The specific properties held for you are named in your written proposal, with their access detail, before you pay anything.

Classic tented camp

Classic tented camp

Canvas rooms on a solid raised floor, with a proper bed, an en-suite bathroom and hot water brought to you or heated on demand. The standard of the Tanzanian safari circuit, and far more comfortable than the word “tent” suggests.

Where
Inside the parks and conservation areas, usually 12 to 20 rooms.
Rooms
Twin or double, with a few family units. Mosquito netting over the bed as standard.
Power
Solar, typically with limited hours. High-draw sockets are rare. If you travel with a medical device, we confirm the power hours at each property in writing before anything is booked.
Hot water
Hot water heated on request or on a schedule, not continuously.
Wi-Fi
In the mess area at some camps, not in the rooms, and often not at all. Treat it as absent and be pleasantly surprised.
Access
Varies enormously. Some camps have level decking from the vehicle to the bed; most have two or three steps. None has been measured by us, so none is confirmed step-free.
Sustainability
Solar power and grey-water handling are usual, though no property on this site has been audited by us.

Amenities

  • En-suite bathroom
  • Hot water, usually on request
  • Solar lighting
  • Charging point in the mess tent
  • Laundry, daily
  • Full-board dining
  • Bucket or pressure shower

Described by style, not by name. We do not name a camp, lodge or hotel we have no agreement with — that would be a public claim about somebody else's business. The specific properties held for you are named in your written proposal, with their access detail, before you pay anything.

What it costs

Price on request — quoted on your dates and standard. No price on this site has been approved, and nothing here is a quotation.

No price is published for this journey. It is quoted on your dates, the size of your party, how much of it you fly, and the standard of camp — and those four move the figure by a very large margin. Rather than print a range nobody has stood behind, we will build you a written, itemised quotation. It is free, and it is not a booking.

All quotations are per person sharing, in US dollars, and exclude international flights. A single traveller pays more and a larger group pays less per head. See what it costs for where the money actually goes.

What moves the price: season, how many of you there are, whether you fly or drive the long sectors, and the standard of camp. A single traveller pays more; we will say how much before you ask twice.

Access and comfort

Each line is either confirmed by our own measurement or it is not. “On request” means we will plan and cost it and nobody has measured it yet.

Access provision on Great Rift Valley Eco & Active Biking Safari
ProvisionStatusDetail
CyclingNot offeredStandard bicycles on dirt. We have no adapted or hand-cycle provision and will not pretend otherwise.
Hand-cycle or adapted bikeOn requestWe would try to source one and we are not confident of succeeding. Ask early.
CanoeingPartialBoarding from a bank, with a step down and an unstable platform.
The rest of the journeyPartialGame drives, the crater and the transfers are all seated and are the majority of the days.
Step-free roomsOn requestAvailable at some properties on this route; none confirmed.

We do not ask for a diagnosis — only for what you need. How we plan accessible journeys.

The detail

What is covered, what it involves on the ground, and the changes people most often ask for. Open whichever you need.

What is included, and what is not

Included

Private 4×4 safari vehicle with a pop-up roof and a professional English-speaking driver-guide, for your party alone

Accommodation as described, on a full-board basis

All park, conservation and concession fees

Airport and airstrip transfers, met at the aircraft rather than at the kerb

Bottled drinking water in the vehicle

24-hour local support while you are in the country

Bicycles, helmets and a support vehicle on every ride

A local cycling guide

Canoeing on Lake Manyara, water level permitting

Ngorongoro Crater descent permit

Not included

Your own pedals, saddle or shoes if you prefer to bring them

International flights, visas and travel insurance

Tips, premium drinks and personal expenses

Optional activities such as a balloon flight, unless listed above

Emergency medical evacuation cover — strongly recommended, and not something we currently provide

Practical detail
Practical detail for Great Rift Valley Eco & Active Biking Safari
FitnessRides are three to four hours on flat or gently rolling dirt. There is a support vehicle and getting into it is not a failure.
BikesHardtail mountain bikes, maintained locally. If you are particular, bring your own saddle and pedals.
CanoeingEntirely dependent on the lake level, which has been unreliable for several years. We will tell you the position before you pay.
Heat and dustThe Rift floor is hot. Rides are in the morning for that reason.
PriceNot set. Quoted on your dates and standard.
Ways to personalise this journey

The changes people actually ask for, with what each one does to the shape of the trip. Prices for these are quoted in your proposal, not here.

A second riding dayUp onto the escarpment, which is harder and has the views.
Add the SerengetiThree more days, by air to keep the journey short.
Walking rather than cyclingThe same villages and furrows on foot, if the bike is the problem.

This itinerary is a draft. It is written to real logistics but has not yet been checked by a guide who works this circuit, and no price here has been approved. Treat every figure as indicative until we confirm it in writing.

Questions about this journey

How hard is the cycling?

Easy to moderate. Flat dirt tracks, three to four hours, with a support vehicle alongside. It is not a mountain-biking holiday.

What if the canoeing is off?

It often is. We substitute a walking safari or a second ride and we tell you the position before you travel rather than on the morning.

Is Mto wa Mbu a tourist village?

It is a real town of some tens of thousands of people that also receives visitors. The cycling takes you through working farmland rather than a craft market.

If this one is not quite it

Journeys that share a region or a style with this one, and the background reading for the places on the route.

Culture Indigenous Tribes & Cultural Heritage Odyssey 8 days / 7 nights · Lake Eyasi · Datoga · Maasai lands · Serengeti Adventure Oldoinyo Lengai & Maasai Sacred Lands 5 days / 4 nights · Lake Natron · Ol Doinyo Lengai · Rift Valley Lake & plains Lake Victoria & Western Serengeti Water Explorer 7 days / 6 nights · Western Serengeti · Grumeti · Speke Gulf · Lake Victoria

Destination guides

Ways to travel

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