Cycling Around Kilimanjaro

Kilimanjaro 7-Day 360 Cycling Challenge

Tour Overview

The Kilimanjaro 360 is a 7-day loop that takes you all the way around the base of Africa’s highest peak. You’ll cover 407km on a mix of red-dirt trails, rocky farm tracks, and a few stretches of tarmac. It’s a physical challenge, but the real story is the change in the land, moving from the thick, wet forests of the Chagga people to the dry, open plains where the Maasai graze their cattle.
Most people only see one side of Kilimanjaro as they hike to the top. This ride is different. You get to see the mountain grow and change every day as you pedal around it. You’ll feel the temperature drop in the rainforest and feel the sun sharpen as you hit the West Kilimanjaro plains.

a rider in a chagga village during cycling around kilimanjaro tour

What to Expect

  • Diversity: This isn’t a race. It’s about the rhythm of the road. One day you’re navigating coffee farms, the next you’re watching elephants cross the trail in Enduimet. We’ve spent years finding these backroads, and we want to show you the parts of our home that cars and hikers never reach.

  • The Full Loop: We don’t skip sections; we ride the full 400km circle.

  • Wild Neighbors: You’ll be riding through areas where wildlife and locals live side-by-side.

  • The Shira Climb: A tough push up to 3,872m, followed by a long, fast ride back down.

  • Local Life: You’ll eat where we eat and meet the people who make this mountain what it is.

  • Lake Chala: A quiet night by a deep volcanic lake to rest the legs.

Quick 360 Kilimanjaro Cycling Facts

The Detail What you need to know
Total Distance 407 km
Total Climbing 5,690 m
The Surface Red dirt, loose gravel, and some paved roads.
Fitness Level You need strong legs and a bit of grit.
High Point 3,872m (Shira Plateau)
When to Go January to March or June to October.

Technical Skills & Experience Required

You don’t need to be a competitive athlete to ride the Kilimanjaro 360, but this isn’t a casual Sunday cruise through the park. Here is the honest breakdown of what you need to handle:

1. Saddle Endurance The biggest challenge isn’t speed—it’s time. You will be in the saddle for 5 to 8 hours a day, for 7 days of riding. You should be comfortable riding back-to-back days on varied terrain. If you haven’t spent much time on a bike lately, we recommend at least 3 months of steady training before you arrive.

2. Handling the “African Mix” The roads around Kilimanjaro change constantly. You’ll encounter:

  • Red-Dirt Corrugations: Vibrating “washboard” roads that test your grip.

  • Loose Gravel & Volcanic Ash: Deep, soft patches where you need to keep your momentum.

  • Technical Descents: Steep, rocky tracks (especially coming off the Shira Plateau) where good braking technique and balance are essential.

3. Climbing Grit With over 5,600m of total elevation gain, your lungs will feel the work. You don’t need to be a mountain goat, but you should be comfortable using your gears properly to maintain a steady rhythm on long, slow grinds. We move at a “Pole Pole” (slow and steady) pace, but the hills are still there.

4. High Altitude & Dust We spend a lot of time between 1,500m and 2,500m, with one push up to nearly 4,000m. The air is thinner and the sun is much stronger than most people expect. You also need to be okay with getting dusty—by the end of a day in West Kilimanjaro, you and your bike will be covered in the red soil of the plains.

5. Basic Bike Awareness Our mechanics are always with you to handle the big stuff, but you should know the basics: how to shift smoothly under load to avoid snapping a chain, and how to communicate with the group about obstacles or “potholes” on the trail.

Important Note on Planning Your Trip

The 7-day itinerary covers the actual cycling days around the mountain. We recommend arriving at least one day before the tour starts to allow for bike fitting, a safety briefing, and recovery from your flight. Arriving even earlier is better to help your body adjust to the Tanzanian heat and altitude.

We have left the departure date open intentionally. Many of our riders choose to head off on a Game Drive Safari or fly to Zanzibar to relax after completing the loop before they eventually head home.

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: The Forest Canopy (Kidia Village to Marangu)

We start at Kidia, the oldest missionary site on the mountain. You’ll pedal into thick rainforest where Black-and-White Colobus monkeys watch from above. It’s a day of hidden waterfalls and quiet Chagga village paths, tucked far away from any cars.

  • Distance: 30 km.

  • Elevation: Rainforest tracks and rolling hills.

  • Time: approx. 4–5 hours.

After a fueling breakfast, we dive into a tropical world of coffee, avocado, and mango trees. As the forest opens up into the savannah, you’ll see the blue shimmer of Lake Chala on the Kenya border before an exhilarating 3km downhill sprint into Usseri.

  • Distance: 55 km.

  • Elevation: Gravel roads and scenic descents.

  • Time: approx. 5–6 hours.

Today is shorter but incredible. We ride right along the international border—you can practically keep one tire in Tanzania and the other in Kenya. We’ll finish the day riding through “cathedrals” of towering pine trees with the rugged Mawenzi peak standing guard above us.

  • Distance: 35 km.

  • Elevation: Border trails and forest paths.

  • Time: approx. 4 hours.

The land changes completely today as we enter the wide-open West Kilimanjaro plains. You’ll see Maasai warriors herding cattle across a high-altitude desert that stretches forever. On a clear day, you can see all the way into Kenya’s Amboseli National Park.

  • Distance: 60 km.

  • Elevation: High-altitude desert and open plains.

  • Time: approx. 6–7 hours.

This is what we call a “Game Ride.” We start at 6:00 AM to catch the animals at their most active. Moving quietly on two wheels lets us get closer to giraffes, zebras, and elephants than any car ever could. We finish at Simba Farm for some real “farm-to-table” food.

  • Distance: 45 km total.

  • Elevation: Flat savannah tracks.

  • Time: approx. 5–6 hours.

A visual masterpiece. You’ll ride with Kilimanjaro behind you and Mount Meru directly in front of you. We glide down through Maasai homesteads and finish the day at Osiligilai, where we’ll sit by the fire for “Maasai TV”—ancient legends shared by the elders.

  • Distance: 50 km.

  • Elevation: Long, rolling descents.

  • Time: approx. 5 hours.

On our final day, we complete the loop. We cross the Sanya Plains, looking back at how far you’ve traveled around the world’s highest free-standing mountain. We’ll cross the Weruweru River and finish back in Moshi for a well-earned celebratory drink.

  • Distance: 60 km.

  • Elevation: Open plains and coffee estate trails.

  • Time: approx. 6 hours.

Why Choose Uisso Adventures for Your Ride?

Expert Support

Our guides are elite bike mechanics who carry essential tools and spare parts. We ensure your expedition never stops due to preventable mid-trail mechanical equipment failures.

Premium Logistics

We manage all permits, emergency evacuation insurance, and specialized bike-porterage services. This allows you to focus entirely on the trail and the summit journey.

Safety Focused

Guides are professionally trained to recognize altitude sickness symptoms specifically within high-performance, high-altitude biking challenges. We ride with you  everyday.

Bringing Your Own Bike vs.Bike Rental in Moshi

Feature Bringing Your Own Bike Uisso Adventures Rental
Familiarity You know your geometry and saddle perfectly. You may need a few hours to adjust to a new setup.
Cost High airline fees ($150–$300+ each way). Flat rental fee ($50–$70 per day).
Risk Potential damage or loss during international flights. We handle all maintenance and transit risks.
Specs Exactly your preference (Tires, Group-set). High-spec Hardtail/Full-Sus tuned for Kili.
Maintenance You are responsible for your spares. Our mechanics provide full support and parts.

Our Rental Fleet Specifications

If you choose to rent, we provide mountain bikes specifically selected for this cycling tour:

  • Frame: Lightweight Aluminum or Carbon Hardtail/Full-Suspension.

  • Brakes: Hydraulic Disc Brakes (Essential for the 4,600m descent).

  • Tires: Tubeless-ready, high-volume tires with “aggressive” tread for loose volcanic soil.

  • Included: Professional MTB helmet and basic repair kit.

What's Included

  • Elite Support Team: Professional bike-mechanic guides, a dedicated mountain chef, and a support vehicle crew to handle all logistics.

  • Park & Cycling Permits: All mandatory Kilimanjaro National Park entrance fees and specialized cycling permits required for the circumnavigation.

  • High-Altitude Nutrition: Three fresh, hearty meals daily designed for endurance riders, plus unlimited purified drinking water.

  • Safety & Rescue: First aid support, daily vitals monitoring, and AMREF Flying Doctors evacuation insurance.

  • Transport & Lodging: JRO Airport transfers and all accommodation during the 7-day cycling loop.

What's Not Included

  • Mountain Bike & Helmet: Bring your own specialized gear or rent from our professionally maintained fleet in Moshi.

  • Pre & Post Tour Stays: Hotel accommodation before the first day of cycling and after the final day in Moshi.

  • Crew Gratuities: Tipping is a traditional gesture of appreciation for your hardworking guides, mechanics, and cooks.

  • Personal Gear: Technical cycling apparel, padded shorts, and personal toiletries.

  • Visa & Flights: International airfare to Tanzania and your entry visa fees.

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