Program Intinerary:
* This is a preliminary itinerary. The final itinerary may change a little based on the needs of our partners and new opportunities which present themselves. This should give you a really good idea of what the program will look and feel like.
Day 1-3: Orientation in Moshi
We'll begin out two-wheeled adventure in Moshi, a small but vibrant city that sits in the shadow of Mt. Kilimanjaro. Recently, Moshi has become a popular base for would-be climbers of Africa's tallest peak but it's also bubbling with entrepreneurialism and social innovation. So we'll wander the streets and get to know each other better. We'll get a little intro to Tanzanian culture, eat chapatti, and maybe even take a quick Swahili lesson in preparation for the journey ahead.
Next, we'll meet our friends and fearless bike aficionados from Kili Bike Adventures who will get us acquainted with our vehicles and take us on a little test ride. On the outskirts of Moshi is the Rau Forest Reserve, where tree lined roads offer up the perfect track for practice ride. We'll pass local villages and rice paddies. We'll get to know the local flora and fauna including its resident Colobus monkeys.
Day 4-6: Same to Mtae to Lushoto
Now that we've checked our bikes and stretched our legs, we'll mount up and journey east to the town of Same. This is the onramp to our first section of the spice road, a 66km ride along the edge of Mkomazi National Park Ndungu or Gonja. At day's end, we'll settle into our lodge and celebrate with dinner overlooking the Pare and Usambara Mountains.
The next day, we'll tackle the second leg of our challenge, a 73km ride east from Gonja passing Maasai bomas, irrigation dams, and a number of small villages. After taking lunch at the edge of the plain, we'll huff, puff, and propel ourselves over the ridge that marks the beginning of the Usambara Mountains. From here, it's rolling hills the rest of the way to our lodge, a scenic spot with a view of Mt. Kilimanjaro itself.
Day 7: R&R in Lushoto
We're halfway through our bike! We'll take a well-deserved break off our bikes and rest our muscles for the remainder of the adventure in the heart of the Usambara Mountains.
Day 8-10: Lushoto to Mazumbai Forest to Pagani
And then we're off again, riding through highland deciduous forests and tea plantations. We'll make a little stop for a cuppa at a local tea factory and then complete the 4th leg (73km) at a community rest house in Mazumbai forest.
Our fifth leg we'll take us from the Western mountains to the Eastern Usamabaras and the Amani Nature Reserve. The 60km route along dirt and lightly paved roads will take us past more tea plantations, some of Tanga's lesser visited communities, and an area that some call Tanzania's Galapagos. We'll spend the night at the Amani rest house enjoying chai and delicious local fare prepared by our friends.
The sixth and final leg of our two wheeled challenge is a 70km descent that takes us out of the Usamabaras towards the coast and the blue waters of the Indian Ocean. Our backdrop will slowly change from the giant pines and deciduous trees of the highlands to sisal plantations and grassy plains. Finally, we'll follow the lines of palms and coconut groves to the sandy shores and our finishing line in Pangani.
Day 11: Ferry to Zanzibar
An early boat transfer takes us to Nungwi at the north end of Zanzibar Island (also called Unguja). Zanzibar is known as the 'Spice Island' for its cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon and pepper. The boat trip takes about 2 hours. Nungwi is a vibrant fishing village loved by its many visitors. Our hotel overlooks the sea to the distant of Tumbatu and its lighthouse. The beautiful white coral and seashell beach is the perfect place to watch an incredible sunset.
Day 12-13: Celebration, Reflection and Departures
We'll complete our journey in Zanzibar's historic capital, Stone Town. Here we can play in the narrow alleyways and famous bazaars. We can explore the islands' African, Indian and middle eastern influences while celebrating our adventure with 'disorientation'. A staple of every Groundswell challenge, this is our opportunity to kickback, relax and reflect. Against a beautiful backdrop and in the company of good friends, we can break bread, commemorate our achievement, and talk about ways to carry-on fighting for equality.
On our last day, we'll enjoy a big breakfast at our lodge before boarding the fast ferry and heading across the Indian Ocean to Dar, one of East Africa's most cosmopolitan cities. We can take a little tour of the city centre, get our last fix chapati and chai and then make our way to Julius Neyrere International Airport for a fond farewell.
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