RIFT VALLEY ODYSSEY
navigated by GARMIN
delivered by Titan Avionics
3 days, 240km, 5000m ascent.
Entries are limited to only 100 riders.
Titan Avionics presents the fourth RVO, Kenya’s most challenging mountain bike adventure across the spectacular Great Rift Valley. The RVO traverses high altitude forests on both eastern and western escarpments of the Great Rift Valley, riding challenging terrain along raw technical single-track, forest trails, exhilarating descents, arduous ascents (peak race altitude is 2900m), pristine wilderness, open savannah teaming with wild game. Starting from the verdant tea estates of Limuru to Lake Naivasha, the exhilarating route courses through indigenous highland forests, skirts Mt Longonot, under the awesome cliffs and natural steam vents of Hell’s Gate National Park. The taxing ascents ofHobley’s Volcano and the Rift Valley’s western wall are rewarded with glorious descents down the “Lunatic Express”, “Danny’s Descent’ and “Poacher’s Pass”.
This fourth Odyssey will be run in both race and adventure modes. Riders must depend entirely on their GPS for navigation and must be 100% self sufficient for each day’s stage; there will not be any course marking nor water points, however, marshals on motorbikes and medical teams will be strategically placed throughout the adventure. Teams must enter as 2 or 3 partners and remain together throughout the Odyssey. The RVO traverses remote wilderness areas and having a teammate provides support in case of any mishap.
A GARMIN GPS available from Titan Avionics is compulsory for each team as there are no trail markings whatsoever. The very detailed RVO track will be distributed to entrants prior to the event.
The RVO is a challenging event for any adventurous rider; the route is best compared to a blend between the fabulous Sani2c and the grueling Cape Epic, the RVO’s astounding scenery conceals the true challenge of the route. The non-race “adventure mode” allows time to enjoy the compelling scenery. Race for glory or ride for adventure, come ride the Odyssey because you love riding, or come ride to escape your ****
A high level of training, physical fitness and mental preparation is required to successfully tackle the RVO. The RVO is an extremely challenging mountain bike race across the Great Rift Valley!
For international visitors, all ground logistics and shuttle services will be managed for you. The pre-race hotel and start venue is at Brackenhurst Conference Centre in Limuru, 20km NW of Nairobi city.
The race village (for two nights) is at Camp Carnelley’s on the beautiful shores of Lake Naivasha.
The post-race hotel is at Country Lodge in Nairobi’s city centre, close to Nairobi’s international airport.
An optional air-safari to the Maasai Mara departs from race camp in Naivasha directly to the Maasai Mara, for 2 or 3 nights in the luxury tented camp Encounter Mara. September is the peak of the annual wildebeest migration, when 2 million wildebeest and zebra migrate between the Serengeti and Maasai Mara national parks. For visitors to Kenya, this is an incredible opportunity to witness what UNESCO has recognized as one of the 7 natural wonders of the world.
The Odyssey is “a long and adventurous journey”
Happy riding,
The RVO Team