Kilimanjaro Summit to Sea

Day 6: Kibo Huts to Marangu – 39 km

Wikipedia
Kilimanjaro is composed of three distinct volcanic cones: Uhuru Peak on Kibo (5,895 m), Mawenzi (5,149 m) and Shira (4,005 m). Kibo is the largest cone and is more than 24 km wide at the “Saddle Plateau”, the mountain has more than 250 parasitic cones that includes Lake Chala.

The word “Marangu” means a place with too many water streams. It is one of the most popular places in Tanzania, the residents are farmers growing bananas, vegetables and coffee. However, the biggest source of income is tourism, the Marangu route is the most popular trek in Africa.

Stage difficulty: From 5,895m to 1,325m – this descent is one of the most incredible mountain bike descents on earth!! For non-extreme cyclists, our amazing porters will assist down the steepest sections of scree.

Terrain: Slithering shale, alpine desert, rocky trails, forested single track, village roads, tarmac 0 km

The stage: After 6 days hiking, it’s a midnight departure from Kibo Huts (4,720 m) for the 7 hour ascent via Gillmans Point (5,660 m) and Stella Point (5,745 m) to reach Uhuru Peak (5,895 m). Our team of outstanding porters will deliver bikes to the summit.

The first 2 km from the summit is a freewheeling descent to Stella Point – an out of this world experience descending the highest ridge line in Africa!!! The precipitous descent from Stella Point is at -30% gradient for 2 km, porters will assist on this steepest section of scree. For the brave or foolhardy, this is extreme downhilling to the max, slithering down shale and rocks so steep that if you really must brake it’s already too late!! The final 2 km at -20% gradient are an adrenaline rush into Kibo Huts for breakfast and change of clothes.

From Kibo Huts we freewheel for 6 km across the barren alpine desert, startling bewildered hikers as the thin air allows for super fast coasting. Mildly technical rocky tracks descend towards Horombo for 3.5 km before joining the extremely fast jeep track that plummets 15 km through dense forest to exit the National Park at Kilema Gate (1880 m). Managing brake temperature is critical; fitting larger brake discs (rotors) to your bike will minimise brake failure caused by excessively hot brake fluid.

The lunch stop at will be a welcome break from the manic descent. Once exiting the National Park we drop a further 650 m of elevation along undulating jeep tracks, through scenic villages and farms that hug Kilimanjaro’s contour. After 17 hours of extreme activity, the evening spent recovering at Marangu Hotel (1,325 m) will be most appreciated.

Day 7: Marangu to Lake Jipe – 70 km

Wikipedia:

Lake Jipe also straddles the border of Kenya and Tanzania. The lake is fed mainly by the Lumi River, which descends from Mount Kilimanjaro, as well as streams from the North Pare Mountains, the lake’s outlet forms the Ruvu River. Kenya’s unfenced Tsavo West National Park protects part of the lake’s northern shore, while on the Tanzania side Mkomazi Game Reserve is nearby. The lake is known for its endemic tilapia fish, as well as water birds, mammals, wetland plants and lake-edge swamps, which can extend 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) from Jipe’s shore.

Stage difficulty: Fast flowing descent on village roads.

Terrain: Open roads, jeep track, tarmac 9 km.

The stage: From Marangu Hotel we drop downhill to the Tanzania / Kenya border control at Holili / Taveta town.

Taveta is famous for irrigated farms that are spring fed from precipitation on Mt. Kilimanjaro. Our trails meander through the heart of fruit plantations, past Njoro Spring where cool water gushes into a large crystal clear pool, then onwards to the towering Grogan’s Castle and lunch.

After a leisurely lunch break the final 20 km will on open dirt road to Lake Jipe, where cold beer by the swimming pool will be most enticing.

4×4 vehicle transfer to Lake Jipe Camp is available after lunch, stronger cyclists are free to continue by bike.

Day 8: Lake Jipe to Mt. Kasigau – 126 km 

Wikipedia:
Kasigau Hills (inselbergs) as well as their sun-torched surroundings form a unique set of landscapes and ecosystems. The peaks are covered with moist cloud forests that are home to a number endemic plants, butterflies, birds and reptiles. The lowland savannah is predominantly dryland forest that is under intense threat from slash and burn agriculture, as the local population expands.

Stage difficulty: A long but easy stage on open rolling roads.

Terrain: 107 km within Tsavo West National Park, bush roads, tarmac 0 km

The stage: 500 m from camp we enter Tsavo West National Park, riding along the shore of Lake Jipe. Our early start might provide sightings of Tsavo’s population of wildlife, hippo, elephant, buffalo, eland, heartbeest, oryx, giraffe, zebra. Kenya Wildlife Service rangers will provide our escort through the National Park. From 10:00 onwards all intelligent animals will be under shade while we suffer under the blazing sun. Tsavo is vast, an immense tract of raw bush, between each water point we traverse distinctly different flora and fauna.

WP 2-1 is by Tawfiq Dam where we have the opportunity for seeing wild animals.

Lunch will be at WP 2-2, Rangers Post, at the summit of the stage’s only significant climb. WP 2-3 is close to a motley collection of gemstone mines that extract tsavorite, tanzanite, green & blue garnet and ruby. Once leaving the park, fast open roads leads us through dusty Kasigau town then on to our camp at the base of Mt. Kasigau.

4×4 vehicle transfer to Mt. Kasigau Camp is available after lunch, stronger cyclists are free to continue by bike.

Day 9: Mt. Kasigau to Tsavo Wilderness – 56 km 

Wikipedia
Taita – Tsavo Wilderness area is the collaborative effort from multiple ranches to create a sustainable conservation area that is community based. The vast Tsavo Conservation area includes Kasigau Corridor, Taita Conservancy and others that strive to safeguard the vast expanses of dry bush and savannah surrounding the southern arch mountains, maintaining animal corridors between Tsavo East and West as well as offering exceptional safari experiences for visitors to the area. This is big 5 country with over 2,000 elephants resident in the area.

The Kasigau Corridor project protects 500,000 acres of dryland forest in southeastern Kenya, this forms a crucial corridor between two National Parks, Tsavo East and Tsavo West. The Kasigau Corridor is home to many endangered and poached animals, like the African elephant, lion, cheetah, wild dogs, and Grevy’s zebra.

Stage difficulty: Raw bush tracks.

Terrain: Single track, bush tracks, district roads, many patches of sand, tarmac 0 km.

The stage: 13 km from camp we venture into 43 km of superb bush country, twisting single track through raw Tsavo bush. WP 4-1 is at the ruins of “Tido Castle” where derelict buildings provide a welcome break with 360* views across the desolate vastness of Tsavo.

The jeep tracks to camp are littered with sand traps that pop up with annoying regularity, they are guaranteed to solicit unprintable curses!

Day 10: Tsavo Wilderness to Chale Island Resort – 135 km 

Wikipedia
Shimba Hills National Reserve is a small National Reserve in the Coast Province of Kenya, 33 km from Mombasa and 15 km from the coast. The reserve is an area of coastal rainforest, woodland and grassland, an important area for plant biodiversity – over 50% of the 159 rare plants in Kenya are found in the Shimba Hills, including some endangered species of cycad and orchids. Shimba Hills contains approximately 400 elephants and Kenya’s only population of Sable Antelope (about 100).

Stage difficulty: A very long and hot stage!

Terrain: Single track, bush tracks, district roads, many patches of sand, tarmac 0 km.

The stage: we continue through bush country on twisting  jeep tracks to WP 5-1. The landscape turns bleak yet somehow sustains small subsistence farms; the villages and farms are nestled within dense nyika bush land. As the temperature soars with each hour, the riding will be fast, flowing along rural roads with sections of single track before WP 5-2 (lunch stop).

4×4 vehicle transfer to Shimba Hills lodge is available after lunch, stronger cyclists are free to continue by bike.

All the big climbing is after lunch, concentrated between 70 – 108 km, crossing a series of ridges and valleys that increase in size on the approach to Shimba Hills. The final 7 km ascent on district road is a hard slog, rising 250 m into the dense tropical forest of Shimba Hills National Park.

Day 11: Shimba Hills to Chale Island Resort – 61 km

Chale Island is a headland rather than an island, located at the southern tip of Diani Beach. Chale Island is known for its sacred forests that known locally as “Kaya” (worshipping place).

Stage difficulty: The exciting stage, however descending to the beach requires some climbing!

Terrain: Village roads, patches of sand, tarmac 5 km

The stage: A pleasant contrast, from dense coastal forest to gorgeous beach. The stage opens with an ascent through dense forest to join the district road before a massive descent down 5 km of extremely fast tarmac. Rural roads will once again take us along the Park perimeter, traversing a series of gorgeous valleys to WP 4-1. From here on its purely downhill on village roads, through sugar plantations then a final drag along the peninsular that leads to Chale Island.