Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania mountain bike tours

There is no better way to summit Mount Kilimanjaro than by mountain bike. World Ride has partnered with some amazing women in Tanzania for this epic adventure. An all female team of guides and porters will lead you along the famed Kilema route up to the highest point in Africa.

This trip is fully supported and includes one night of camping and the remaining nights in comfortable mountain huts.

Along with summiting Mount Kilimanjaro (5,895 m / 19,340 ft), our trip begins with a coffee tour to help you beat the jet lag, and concludes with a Jeep safari to view wildlife and celebrate this trip-of-a-lifetime!

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Tanzania trip dates in 2024

• September 16–25, 2024

Don’t see a date that works for you? Contact us for custom trip dates!

Skill and fitness level requirements

Fitness level: ● ● ● ● ●
Skill level: ● ● ● ○ ○

What do these ratings mean?

What to expect after you’ve booked your trip

• Once you’ve booked your trip, you will get a confirmation email through our booking system and a trip information sheet for your trip.
• Please hold off booking your flights until we confirm that the trip has enough participants to run. We will send out an email to let you know.
• Once the trip is confirmed, please go ahead and book your flight and upload your flight information into your WeTravel account (this is the account you will have booked your trip through).
• If you plan to extend your visit on either end of the trip, please let us know and we can help arrange for extra nights at the hotel if needed.
• Make sure to read through your trip information sheet, and always feel free to reach out with any questions to Julie!

Day 1

Arrival in Tanzania and find a shuttle waiting for you at the airport. We will transfer to our hotel, meet our guide and go on a short tour of the city.

Accommodations: Hotel

Day 2

Today, we work on beating the jet lag while doing a coffee tour on bikes. We start with a ride through coffee and banana plantations, two trees that are always cultivated together because the coffee plant needs shade. After that, we will observe and participate in the entire process of making coffee from seed to cup. At the end we will be rewarded with a cup of freshly brewed coffee. We will also have the opportunity to hike to a waterfall and tour the local area. A perfect way to start our trip!

Accommodations: Hotel

Day 3

Distance: 8 km / 5 miles
Riding time: 4 hours
Elevation gained: 1,150 m / 3,773 ft

This day marks the start of our journey up Mount Kilimanjaro. After breakfast we will pick you up from your hotel and drive to Marangu Gate, the entrance to the Kilimanjaro park. At the gate we will complete the required registration and then drive the rest of the way to our starting point; Kilema gate. From here, we will then start riding through the lush rainforest that flanks the lower parts of the mountain, spotting some Colobos and blue monkeys. We will enjoy all of the fascinating flora and beautiful flowers until we reach the camp, where your tent and a hot dinner will already be waiting for you. This is the only night we will spend camping.

Accommodations: Camping

Day 4

Distance: 8 km / 5 miles
Riding time: 4 hours
Elevation gained: 620 m / 2,030 ft

We will continue our journey up the mountain today on a steeper trail. The day will be a combination of riding and some hike-a-bike. We will reach our mountain hut at Horombo in time for a hot lunch and plenty of time to relax in the afternoon. We will need the rest as we get ready for the days to come!

Accommodations: Mountain Hut

Day 5

Distance: 5 km / 3 miles
Riding time: 2-3 hours
Elevation gained: 280 m / 920 ft (up and down)

Today we have an important acclimatization day. We will have the choice to ride or hike up to 4000 m / 13,150 ft and return back to Horombo hut for a hot lunch. The trail is quite rocky, so many people prefer to hike, leaving their bicycle at the hut. Those you like to mountain bike usually carry their bikes up and then ride down. We will spend the afternoon relaxing and enjoying the magnificent views.

Accommodations: Mountain Hut

Day 6

Distance: 10 km / 6 miles
Riding time: 6-7 hours
Elevation gained: 1000 m / 3200 ft

We will start the day with a hike-a-bike and then continue with riding toward the alpine desert. Kilimanjaro is a dormant volcano and we will get to ride through volcanic rock while getting unforgettable views of Mount Mawenzi and Kibo. The last bit up to Kibo Huts is challenging as we reach higher elevations, but going “pole pole” (slowly and steady) is the way. We will be rewarded with a hot dinner at Kibo hut before an early bed time to get ready for or summit day.

Accommodations: Mountain Hut

Day 7

Distance: 21 km / 13 miles
Riding time: 8-12 hours
Elevation gained: 1200 m / 3900 ft, descent: 2,175 m / 7,135 ft

Summit day! We will wake up around midnight for our summit push. We have the option to hike with or without our bike up to Uhuru Peak. If you choose to take your bike, you can hire a summit porters to help you carry it. We will aim to reach Gilman’s Point (5,756 meters /18,885 ft) by dawn, the first of three official summit points of Mount Kilimanjaro. We will then follow the edge of the crater and stand at Uhuru Peak, the highest point of Kibo and the roof of Africa! After taking pictures and enjoying the precious moment, we will start our descent down to Horombo hut. Below 5.000 m / 16,400 ft you can get on your bike as it is not as sandy anymore. Still you need to be very careful. Because you will need some energy to make it to the summit, we recommend leaving your bike at the hut or hiring an extra summit porter for that. From Kibu hut, where you will celebrate with our team and get a well deserved hot lunch, we will be cycling down to Horombo hut.

Accommodations: Mountain Hut

Day 8

Distance: 18 km / 11 miles
Riding time: 5-7 hours
Elevation of descent: 1880 m / 6050 ft

Today will be our victory lap! The whole ride will be an exhilarating descent 6000 ft downhill! We will ride all the way back down to the main gate to a prepared lunch. We will receive summit certificates and take our last photos with the team. We will then drive back to the hotel for some much earned rest.

Accommodations: Hotel

Day 9

We will enjoy a slower morning, followed by a jeep safari in Tarangire National Park. We will likely see zebra, elephant, Maasai giraffe, wildebeest, buffalo and, many beautiful bird species. We also have the chance to see predators such as lions, and with a bit of luck even cheetah and leopard. The national park is famous for its unrivaled landscapes of open plains with an abundance of fascinating ancient baobab trees and magnificent views of rolling savannah and acacia forests. The park is known as the home of the elephant as it has the highest density of elephants in the country, offering unique opportunities to see elephant families interacting.

Accommodations: Hotel

Day 10

Today, we will say our “see you laters” as we depart Tanzania. We will transport you to the airport to catch your flight home.

Note: Itinerary is subject to change.

Download our Tanzania Information Guide for a more detailed trip overview.

• All accommodations, including comfortable hotels, camping and mountain huts
• Airport pickup and drop off, as well private transportation within Tanzania
• Kilimanjaro park entrance fees
• All meals
• Porters to carry your gear while riding
• An experienced and certified guide

Price – $3995

Book more than 90 days in advance and get $200 off the trip price! A $300 non-refundable deposit is required to hold your spot.

Deposits are non-refundable and can be put toward any other World Ride trip in the future.

The remainder of the cost of the trip is due 60 days prior to the start of the trip and can be made in payments. Trips require a minimum of six people in order to run. Please check with us to confirm your trip before you book your flight.

Fundraise for your trip

Fundraise for your trip! We can set up a personalized fundraising page for you. We offer $100 off your trip costs for every $1000 that you raise, up to the cost of the trip.

The money you raise supports World Ride in building bike and gear libraries and offering guide training and certification in the countries we work with.

Get in touch with us for more details on the fundraising process.

Ekeney is the founder and senior mountain guide of Kilimanjaro Wanderwomen Tours, World Ride’s local partner in Tanzania and the only all female owned and guided tour agency at Mount Kilimanjaro. Since she was 19, “Kili” has been her workplace. As a guide, she has summited Mt Kilimanjaro over 70 times with her clients—and many more to come!

She wants to inspire you to become your own superhero. Together we can do anything. Let the mountain mirror your power!

Tanzania is a warm and welcoming country, but like any place in the world, you will need to be cautious of your valuables during the trip. The bikes will be securely stored throughout the trip.

Please see the US State Department website for any other travel safety information.

For any travel related vaccines and health questions, be sure to check the CDC website and consult your doctor.

Wondering what clothes to pack, what sort of power adapter to bring, or how warm of a sleeping bag you’ll need for Tanzania? We’ve got you covered! Check out the lists below and take a look at the Tanzania information guide for more details.

More insights into your Tanzania mountain biking tour

• Why going on a World Ride mountain biking trip is the best way to support our mission

Other things to explore in Tanzania

There are opportunities to extend your stay in Tanzania and explore more via bike or safari. Please get in touch if you would like to get more information!