MARA: KENYA BIKEPACKING EXPEDITION
Ride straight from Nairobi into Kenya’s expansive heartlands and reserves. Expect safari camps, savannah single-track dirt roads, and game drives on this wild bikepacking journey…
Tour Difficulty Rating
Location
MASAI MARA
# Nights
8/9
Distance
580KM
GROUP SIZE
7-18
Join
£2195 (€2590)
A bikepacking safari? You could call it that. We’ve cupped the best of Kenya’s urban and wild plains into one slow adventure, connected by the savannah’s dirt roads and trails. Ride, camp and escape amongst these vast grasslands, Masai cultures, and the Mara Reserve – one of Africa’s finest wildlife sanctuaries. Join our first expedition south of the equator…
This expedition begins in bustling Nairobi – the capital of Kenya, perched at 1795m+ above sea level. Known as the ‘Green City in the Sun’, Nairobi is surrounded by Nature Reserves, National Parks and coffee plantations on the outskirts of the city; and vastness rife for discovering by bike. Over nine days bikepacking, we journey west through the Rift Valley and Loita Plains to the Masai Mara, which we’ll explore by bike and game drives.
First Edition:
17 – 25 August 2024
Meet:
Central Nairobi
…for our Pannier Expeditions to ride, we need to reach the minimum group size, at least sixty days before the start date. Post booking, we’ll keep you informed as to numbers until we can confirm the expedition can go ahead. Please don’t book travel until then.
MEET
Arrive in Nairobi. Meet us and the group, get settled, sort kit and bikes before heading out for a short introduction ride in Ngong or Karua Forest. If there is a taste for it amongst the group, we can look to arrange a coffee farm visit.
Accommodation: Hotel
80KM
Ride out from Nairobi into the Great Rift Valley. A super mix of tarmac and gravel as we escape the city, discover the edgelands of Mt Suswa Conservancy and reach Suswa town for the evening.
Accommodation: Hotel
Food: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
120KM
Ride to Maji Moto Camp. After a rolling first tarmac section, we’ll turn off-the-beaten track through traditional Masai Land, across farms and amongst roaming cattle, out of the Rift Valley to the Loita Plains and savannah country…
Accommodation: Camp
Food: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
80KM
Experience the ‘Queen Stage’ of the Migration Gravel Race – a stunning ride on dirt roads and single-track that takes you through the heart of the Loita Hills.
Accommodation: Camp
Food: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
50KM
Today is a short riding day distance wise, but packs a punch terrain and setting wise; we’ll take our time and finish at a camp on the Tanzania border.
Accommodation: Camp
Food: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
80KM
Today we ride to the Masai Mara; climbing to start the day and then dropping back to cross the Loita Plains for the remainder of the day. We will start to see a lot more game…
Accommodation: Hotel
Food: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
0KM
Rest day. You get the chance to explore the world-famous, world-heritage Masai Mara. Early morning, we will do a game drive before heading back for a leisurely lunch. We’ll then head out on a second game drive in the afternoon. You will hopefully get to see the ‘big five’ and much much more.
Accommodation: Hotel
Food: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
80KM
Ride across the Mara. It’s a straight-forward ride but you will no doubt pause plentifully. Today’s ride will need to be kept close group with vehicles around us, because of the animals.
Accommodation: Hotel
Food: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
50KM + TRANSFER
FIN
OPTIONAL DEPART
The last riding of the expedition sees us head out of the Mara, to reach the main road to Nairobi. We will pack the bikes over lunch, for a transfer back to the start point in the Capital City. There is an option to depart that afternoon/evening, or stay and spend the night in Nairobi and travel the following day.
Accommodation: Optional Hotel
Food: Breakfast, Lunch
DEPART
>> Bikepacking Bike
>> Bikepacking Bags
>> Camp Kit (sleeping bag, sleeping mat, liner)
James Savage (Savage Wilderness)
Stef Amato (Pannier)
Pannier Expeditions always mean bikepacking with the best local guides in each destination. For the Mara Expedition, our host is James Savage, the Savage Wilderness team and Team Amani. What started out as a rafting company in the 1990s is now one of Kenya’s leading adventure tourism operators, and the team behind the scenes at Migration / Evolution gravel races.
> 9 hosted days in Kenya
>> All Reserve entries & permits
>> Rest day game drive(s)
>> All accommodation
>> All food and drink, minus out-of-pocket expenses like fancy drinks
>> Pannier.cc tourer pack
>> Travel to/from Nairobi
>> Any required visas or vaccinations
>> Travel insurance – essential
>> Bikepacking Bike
>> Bags / Kit Hire
>> Out-of-pocket expenses
*Please see Trip FAQ/Field Notes for more info, and note about booking travel before a tour is guaranteed*
>> FLY
Nairobi
PHOTOS
Lian van Leeuwen (@saltlake_lian) & Nadia Moro (@nadiamoro)
Join Us
FAQ / Field Notes
Mara, Kenya Expedition
Joining instructions >>
This tour starts and ends in Nairobi, Kenya. There is no set arrival time but we recommend all tourers aim to be there by lunchtime to meet the Pannier team and group, and try to join the introduction ride. A joining itinerary will be sent out to all tourers at least 4 weeks before the tour start date.
There are several carriers offering routes to Nairobi – we recommend checking a flight portal (like Skyscanner) for available route options from your local centre. Please factor in travel days at the start of the expedition to allow plenty of time to meet the group, and ensure your bike arrives with you. Make sure to sort and book bike-box luggage properly with your carrier 🙂
Please do not book non refundable travel before a tour has been guaranteed to go ahead [see our general FAQs]
Food & Drink >>
All sorts. Traditional dishes like ugali and stews are hearty and decent – come see for yourself! The expedition will feature a mix of classic Kenyan food, mixed with some basic western bikepacking dishes.
Accommodation >>
A mix of hotels, lodges and camps
What to bring >>
(We’ll go into this in more detail post-booking!)
Adventure bike (see bike details)
Bikepacking bags
Sleeping bag (rated down to -10degs)
Sleeping mat (rated down to -10degs)
A basic personal bike tool kit – inc. patches, tyre lever and tubes / tubeless repair kit
Cycling kit, shoes, helmet, pedals
Spare Derailleur Hanger for your bike is essential
Off the bike clothes – warm layers for mornings and evenings + clothes for travel days
Warm and Waterproof jackets
Gloves
Head torch
Sketchbook
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Bike details >>
The ideal bike for this tour is a big-volume tyre gravel bike, or XC/hardtail mountain bike. The most important thing to consider is the range of gears on your bike. Having a low range of gears will help you keep riding!
Pannier hosts/guides will be carrying spare parts including chains, gear and break cables, inner tubes and pumps etc. Pannier hosts/guides are experienced mechanics and will be on hand to help build, fix and dismantle bikes if needed. We recommend you bring basic spares that are specific to your bike with you on this tour as once out of Nairobi there are very few bike shops. If you have wheels with strange spokes, specific tools needed or a belt drive bike for example, we’ll need to be able to fix it.
Bike boxes and extra equipment can be left in Nairobi for the duration of the tour.
General information >>
Visas:
Make sure to check on your official government website.
Vaccinations:
Please check on your relevant government travel pages. A couple of vaccinations are advised for Kenya.
Passport:
You will need a passport that is valid for a minimum of six months beyond the start date of your tour.
Weather:
August-September is a typically sunny dry season in Nairobi and the lands west to Masai Mara, but it’s rarely super hot. Expect temperatures between 12-25°C, but bring warm layers for overnights and early mornings.
Money:
Kenyan Shilling, but US Dollars accepted in some places. Always carry some cash.
Local Time:
Nairobi/Kenya is CET+2
Health and Fitness:
Whilst our daily distances aren’t crazy, this tour is physically demanding and requires a base level of fitness to complete. Please read through the itinerary and make sure you are capable of completing the outlined distances and elevation before signing up.
Please make us aware of any medical conditions or ongoing injuries before traveling with us. This information will be requested before departure as it is vital we know of anything before heading to remote areas.
Allergies and Dietary Requirements:
Please make us aware of any allergies or dietary requirements before traveling with us. This information will be requested before departure as it is vital we know of anything before heading to remote areas.