Things you should know
before your trip
That is why in SAFARI BIKE AFRICA we understand our expeditions as a great experience of life, helping to know and respect the world in which we live.
Our scheduled trips are committed to nature conservation projects as well as the recovery of endangered species and, above all, committed to the integration of people from diverse ethnic groups with many difficulties. We always collaborate with local communities for them to get benefited economically and culturally of our activity. We want to highlight our cooperation with the NGO Moyoni, to which we will donate 2% of the price of the trip, with the aim of betting on the development of projects for the eradication of poverty, the promotion of education and the eradication of child malnutrition. We want to be responsible with local communities. We want to bring the Maasai culture closer to the travelers so that they can get to know this new world first hand. We do this the way we know the best: by offering the best safaris in Tanzania and opening a door to a completely different and unknown concept.
We are a guarantee of success in all our safaris, in addition to offering totally new bike activities, characterized by being accompanied by the guards of the National Parks. With routes by bike for all levels and with the best fleet of mountain bikes in Africa. High-end carbon 2017 models and with the best brands on the market. We hope to exceed all your expectations in our great adventure “MAASAI LAND II”, which includes 3 bike safaris suitable for all audiences, in Arusha National Park, Kilimanajro National Park and Lake Manyara. Are you ready to experience riding a bike in national parks and reserves?
The safaris that we propose to you are the result of the experience achieved for more than 10 years, working as experts in luxury travel and as professional guides in Africa. The route is designed looking for the perfect balance between safety, comfort and the freedom to travel in modified 4×4 vehicles for safaris. You just have to worry about enjoying. We take care of the rest.
As a general rule, traveling with Safari Africa does not require special physical characteristics. The only exceptions are some extra-difficult routes but you will be advised by our staff, where appropriate.
You just need to enjoy nature, be sensitive to the ethnicities and cultures that we find on the route and engage in the active participation of the trip. We can assure you an experience that probably you’d never felt before.
Safari Bike Africa will provide European guides as well as local Spanish-speaking ones that know the area and where the route goes. They will help us to our trip into an unforgettable adventure. His kindness and good sense of humor, together with his resolving abilities, make of them a well-prepared team when it comes to solving problems or setbacks that may can find.
We have a long experience as safari tour operators and performing different activities by bike in Africa, through the most remote places and in the most adverse conditions.
The leader of the trip will always be a Spanish and English speaking guide.
Our guides love Africa and work the whole year. They know perfectly the best places to see the most elusive animals and the most secret locations. They are guides sent to Tanzania to lead your expedition. All of them have passed a demanding selection process that demonstrates their leadership with groups, experience in safaris and enthusiasm. They have great knowledge of the fauna and flora of the national parks. Also, they have been trained in previous safaris with our management team in order to solve any problem that might come across.
We offer the best value for money on the market. Traveling in a group in our truck means dividing costs. Thanks to this reduction of costs, we can include luxury accommodation within the trip to have an unforgettable experience.
The expectations of the travelers are always surpassed by our routes by truck. It is not easy to explain what a truck trip is really like with us … it’s best to live it! We take care of every detail to make of it an unforgettable adventure full of sensations. Safari Bike Africa has structured the adventure in the most inhospitable and wild places respecting the comfort that our western clients require.
Our truck has been modified to give the best service in the most adverse and demanding conditions. The modifications have been carried out to give habitability, functionality and autonomy, which allows us to be self-sufficient throughout the expedition, having space for all camping material, kitchen equipment, tanks with more than 500 liters of diesel, water tanks, etc … The height of the truck in which we travel will allow us to photograph animals that are not possible to see from other kinds of vehicles. For more information on our vehicles, continue reading.
We have three types of vehicles that offer all the guarantees to have an unforgettable trip:
BIKES
The first and the one why they talk about us: our bikes. It is the main tool of our pioneering and innovative way to make safaris on two wheels. In our adventure, we have spared no expense to enjoy the highest brands and ranges. We have a fleet of mountain bikes of the best brands. The latest models of 2017, all carbon and high-end. They are available to our customers, in different models and sizes, with different wheel sizes, single and double suspension, etc.
ALL TERRAIN
Our vehicles are the most used on safaris. Land Cruisers of Toyota with 4×4. We have models of 6 and 8 seats that have been improved to make the experience unique. They include a refrigerator with fresh drinks, power sockets for charging phones and batteries, long distance radio for communication between guides and modified walls and windows that facilitate the viewing of the landscapes. The roof is collapsible, so you can enjoy a great view and make the best photographs.
We have prepared our vehicles so that they can go anywhere. The Land Cruiser 4×4 is required for safaris in remote areas and in rainy times, as well as in areas that have poor roads or black cotton floors, which are very slippery when wet. The 4×4 is also necessary to descend to the crater of Ngorongoro, due to the ways we need to take are steep and somewhat tricky. We are the only operator of safaris that includes wi-fi connection in all its vehicles. With us, you will have wi-fi for whatever you need.
TRUCKS
Our DAF Leyland 4×4 truck, with all-wheel drive. It has chargers for your smartphone or camera. In addition, it has a refrigerator for drinks and a freezer. As for the bikes, we have tools, spare parts, spare bikes and inflating pump. It also has an individual space with drawers. The truck is modified to enjoy the best views with open windows. The seats have been replaced by more comfortable chairs that allow our travelers to relax.
The combination of accommodations for our truck trips has been carefully studied and contrasted in order to not to lose a single bit of adventure and endow the route with high-quality standards. We will alternate nights in high-quality tents (depending on the route in question), in luxurious lodges, tented camps and mobile camps, that have both the comfort and the services of a luxury hotel. All this, in the middle of the African savannah.
The balance between accommodations, wild spaces and added values make our trips very special. There is no doubt that the travelers of Safari Bike Africa have the privilege of enjoying our comfortable accommodations.
As with the accommodation, it will be the characteristics of the safari the ones that will mark the type of food.
The support vehicle has a chef at our disposal (depending on the route). Our chef will prepare different menus, according to the configuration of each stage.
- At breakfast, we will have chai (tea), coffee, chocolate, juices, fruits, cereals, toasts, fried or scrambled eggs, cheeses, beans, sausages and bacon.
- The menu at the provision points during our route on bike will consist of sandwiches, samosas, hard-boiled egg, roast chicken, chocolate, fruit and juices.
- At dinner, our cooks will prepare delicious soups, rice or pasta, barbecue meats and vegetables.
Let us know in advance any dietary needs or if you prefer vegetarian food.
In addition to the 3 daily meals stipulated in the itinerary and a included in the price of the trip, we are free to enjoy the local gastronomy that we might find in the towns during the route whenever we want.
The water, during the whole trip, will be bottled. Only Safari Bike Africa does this. The rest of agencies that go through this kind of routes use purification tablets to treat non-potable water; this way, the water obtains a chemical taste and many times is not safe.
Before traveling to Tanzania, you must make an appointment at the International Vaccination Center of your city or go to your family doctor. The appointment at the International Vaccination Center can be made in this link.
The recommended vaccines are: tetanus, typhoid fever, polio and hepatitis A.
Prophylaxis against malaria is necessary. We recommend the use of insect repellents and proper clothing to prevent mosquito bites.
Yellow fever vaccination certificate is required for travelers from countries at risk of transmission and travelers who have spent more than 12 hours at the airport of a risky country. Vaccination against yellow fever is not recommended in areas where the risk of exposure is low. The Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate is valid for life.
Although we have not previously traveled to any country with risk of transmission, we will be required at the airport of Zanzibar when we finish the safari.
Our support vehicle comes equipped with a full first-aid kit, but it is important that travelers do not forget their own first-aid kit with the medicines they normally use, in addition to:
- Malarone prophylaxis to prevent malaria or as a medicine.
- Mosquito repellent. We recommend using the brand Relec Super Strong. Especially from dusk to the early morning.
- Amoxicillin in case of allergy.
- Loperamide, Fortasec, In case of diarrhea.
- Paracetamol.
- Amoxicillin in case of allergy.
- Loperamide, Fortasec, In case of diarrhea.
- Paracetamol.
- Ibuprofen.
- Band-aid or vaseline for blisterings.
The climate is tropical and the coastal areas are warm and wet. During the day the temperature is between 25ºC and 30ºC, descending at night to 10ºC. Its proximity to the tropics makes the sun’s rays stronger, so we recommend taking precautions to not to get burnt while we are exposed to the sun.
The rainy season is between April and May. Although it is called “heavy rains” due to its storms, these are not continuous and usually last only a few hours. Thanks to the fleet of Safari Bike Africa (trucks and Land Cruisers 4×4), there is no mud on the road that can stop us while visiting the area. It is a good time to enjoy green meadows and parks that are less visited by traditional tourists. For some, it is a special time to travel. The central plain is dry and arid. The northwest highlands are cooler and have a milder rainy season from November to December.
It is recommended to wear appropriate clothes for this kind of weather. The tropical climate lasts all year round, although depending on the altitude (for example, in Ngorongoro Conservation Area, at 2000 m) we may need winter and waterproof clothes. At night the temperature can drop to 5ºC.
In addition to your suitcase, we highly recommend bringing a small backpack where to store things we may want to have on hand while we are riding the bike or hiking. The suitcase can not be rigid because there may be space problems to store it in the truck compartments.
The airlines that fly to Zanzibar charge fees for the excess of luggage. There’s a 15Kg limit. For bike routes, it is best to bring technical clothing (jersey and culote), for greater perspiration and avoid chafing.
In addition, it is very important not to forget to put soap into the toilet kit, as well as high-protection-grade sunscreen. The sun of the equator is stronger than the one we are accustomed to.
- Passport valid for at least 6 months.
- International vaccination card and yellow fever vaccination certificate if you have previously visited an endemic country.
- First-aid kit and medicines, the latter for travelers under medical treatment. Do not forget mosquito repellent or antimalarial prophylaxis.
- Bring changed dollars in small bills from your home bank, so you won’t have to pay the exchange house commission in Tanzania. They only accept dollar bills that have been printed no more than 10 years ago. Along the route, there are few banks and ATMs. We will inform about their availability the route.
- Head-on torch to illuminate and move at night inside the camps.
- Sunglasses with UV protection.
- Sunscreen with a high degree of sun protection.
- Very comfortable summer clothes, winter pants and jacket or fleece. A raincoat is also required.
- Quick-drying towel.
- Sandals and sneakers.
- Mobile phone, accessories and charger.
- A good camera to shoot everything we’ll see in this adventure. Do not forget extra batteries and memory cards.
- Binoculars with which no animal could escape from sight.
- Sleeping bag and small pillow for the nights in camps.
- Food supplements to fight exhaustion, energetic bars and gels have a high concentration of calories and minerals.
- Small backpack to carry personal effects during the route.
In Safari Bike Africa the safety of our customers comes first. Although we may think that a bike safari can be dangerous, it is not. The one by bike is the same as the popular safari on foot, where two rangers guard and guide us at all times.
We do not have permission to ride our bicycles in each and every one of the parks. Bike safaris will be only made in the parks where the conditions are adequate and there is no danger of wild animals.
We’ll do our best to make you feel safe and put at your disposal all the security that is necessary for you to enjoy this great adventure. We are a specialized team. We also can count on the rangers as well as on our professional guides.
Our goal is for the customer to enjoy and return on a second occasion to enjoy with us, so we have prepared and reinforced the basic safety rules. The customer does not have to worry about anything. Safety always goes first.
In Safari Bike Africa the first issue to pay attention at is the safety of our clients. The vital signs of our cyclists, oxygen saturation, general health and well-being are monitored, recorded and evaluated every day.
We have a risk management plan and our guides are prepared to respond to any emergency that may arise.
We use the best equipment to ensure that you receive the highest level of medical and safety care.
We have partnered with Global Rescue, our medical consultants and evacuation specialists. Global Rescue will provide us with travel medical insurance of the highest quality, emergency evacuation and international rescue in case of injury among our cyclists.
This is the safety team on our route to Kilimanjaro:
- Pulse Oximeter: diagnosis and acclimatization measurement tool.
- Hyperbaric chamber: Pressure chamber also known as a bag of Gamow.
- AED (automatic external defibrillator) heart-saving device.
- Oxygen kits: only for emergencies, not to complement climbing.
- Medical stretcher: to assist in evacuation whenever necessary and specifically designed to be used in the event of a helicopter / evacuation.
- Complete first-aid kits: carried by your guides to assist in any medical emergency that may arise.
- Mobile phones: carried by the coordinator guide as well as by the remaining guides, for daily communications with our office in Arusha.
- VHF two-way radios: to facilitate communication between the guides.
- Satellite phone: carried by the coordinator guide and only for emergencies.
In Safari Bike Africa we have chosen foods that are not too difficult to digest at high altitude. The mountain-cooking menu for all our ascensions is specially prepared to provide a balanced diet based on fresh fruits, vegetables, plenty of protein and carbohydrates, combined with a high liquid content. Our cooks have undergone extensive training and our menus have been revised to offer options that meet the nutritional needs of every client.
They also offer services for different dietary needs and can provide you with fully vegetarian menus. Please, let us know in advance if you have any dietary needs.
Breakfast
- Cereals and oats.
- Fresh seasonal fruit: mango, banana, watermelon …
- Toast (with butter, honey, jam, and olive oil).
- French bread and crepes.
- Sausages, bacon, scrambled eggs (fried, poached or omelet), tomatoes, cooked vegetables and fruits (oranges, mangoes, bananas)
- Tea, coffee, cocoa, hot chocolate, soup, juice.
Lunch
- Assortment of sandwiches.
- Fresh fruit, hard boiled eggs and cake.
- Bread and pancakes.
- Vegetables, chicken and meat.
- Mixed salad.
- Tea, coffee, hot chocolate and juice.
Dinner
- Vegetables, chicken and meat.
- Kilimanjaro Fried Chicken (KFC), Chicken Cacciatore.
- Spaghetti Bolognese.
- Fish Curry Swahili Coconut.
- Beans and sausages.
- Chicken curry.
- Meatballs and vegetable stew.
- Ugali (local dish); Fruits (oranges, mangoes, bananas).
- Tea, coffee, drinking chocolate, chicken or vegetable soup and juice.
Do I have to be very fit to participate in this trip?
Yes, definitely. If you try to climb the Kilimanjaro without proper training you may get to the top. The best way to train to reach the summit is to do mountain training. Train in long ports and with the greatest possible altitude change.
Are you provided with drinking water during the trip?
Yes, all the way.
How do we carry our luggage?
The luggage that we take for the route, not counting the small personal backpack, will be carried by porters. Porters are not allowed to carry more than 15 kg of luggage each.
What qualifications do the guides have?
The guides have certified courses recognized by the Tanzanian authorities and by KINAPA, an organization that watches over the Kilimanjaro National Park. In addition, the guides will give you an identification card that will allow you to locate the luggage in a simpler way.
Is it possible to rent a sleeping bag that withstands the temperatures on the ascent to Kilimanjaro?
It is advisable to bring it, but in case it is needed you can rent it.
If it becomes too difficult for me, can I turn around?
If someone at some point is not able to continue the route, our staff will accompany him to our hotel in Moshi. Our porters will help to make our dream to get to the summit come true.
What is the temperature in Kilimanjaro?
Temperatures fluctuate considerably with depending on the altitude and time of day. They drop as height increases. from 20 ° C on Kilema gate to -15 ° C on the summit of Kilimanjaro.
What is hypothermia?
Hypothermia is caused by brief exposure to extreme cold or prolonged exposure to mild cold. This occurs when a person’s temperature drops below 35 ° C. It can be detected if given the following symptoms:
- Somnolence.
- Very cold skin in the stomach or armpits.
- Talk incoherently.
- Cold is not felt.
What is the highest altitude we will get on this trip?
We will reach 5895 meters.
What is altitude sickness and what are the symptoms?
It is the physical discomfort caused by altitude and its atmospheric pressure. It occurs when the body has not adapted to altitude; to oxygen in the environment. There are many symptoms, such as headache, dizziness, nausea, loss of appetite, tingling in the toes and hands. If you feel these symptoms we will step back to lower altitude, with the help of our human team, and you’ll be accompanied to your hotel in Moshi.
How can I avoid altitude sickness?
1.- Stay hydrated, that is, drink 4-6 liters of water a day.
2.- Avoid alcohol, tobacco or other drugs.
3.- Do not continue ascending until symptoms have diminished. People acclimate to different rhythms.
4.- Learn to understand your body. Also, avoid hard exercise.
5.- Go up gradually.
Are heat strokes heavier?
Of course. About 55% of Earth’s protective atmosphere is below 5000 meters. It is recommended a high UV protection factor at altitudes below 3000 meters, and a total UV protection at more than 3000 meters. In addition, it is indispensable to wear dark sunglasses above 4000 meters. What tip is usually given to porters or local guides?Tipping is highly awaited and appreciated on the bike route to the top of Kilimanjaro. Tipping also has a positive economic impact within the East African community. While it may not be customary for you, it is of considerable importance to guides, aides, and porters.
What should I put inside my backpack?
The backpack is camelback style, small sized and you have to carry water. inside It is also necessary to take food, such as energy bars and products of this kind. You’ll also need sunglasses, sunscreen and lip balm and a small kit of tools.
What travel insurance do I need to hire?
Insurance is included in the price along with the rescue insurance. The insurance company is AXA.
(+34) 612 491 096
info@safaribikeafrica.com 