How Long Does It Take To Cycle From Kilimanjaro To The Ngorongoro Crater?

When we say 360km, we do mean it – there’s no shortcut on this one.

The mathematicians among you will have worked out that means an average of 72km per day, which is a fair amount of cycling, so it’s not for the faint hearted.

You’ll pack in incredible scenery, unforgettable mountain views, unbroken calderas and an array of wildlife that you’ll scarcely believe. 

Beginning at the base of the world’s highest free-standing mountain, Kilimanjaro, and ending at the biggest unbroken caldera on the planet, the Ngorongoro Crater, this is a cycling adventure like no other.

But it’s not just where it starts and ends, it’s about the diverse terrain along the way and all the sights you’ll see…

• Cycling Day One – Mount Kilimanjaro to Ngabobag Village – The first day of cycling begins at the southern side of Mount Kilimanjaro, which is the greener side of the mountain. We’ll cycle through coffee and banana plantations in some of the more fertile areas of the famous mountain before heading west through more arid open plains and woodlands. The terrain on day one will be a combination of dirt and tarmac roads before arriving at the Ngabobag village for the night. 

• Cycling Day Two – Ngasurai to Arusha – The second day of cycling on our Tanzanian Cycling Adventure sees us head off on a longer journey towards Arusha City. It begins with the open plains of Ngausrai where elephants migrate to and from the Amboseli National Park. This will be a hot and dusty day cycling over dirt roads before finally reaching the main tarmac road towards Arusha City. 

• Cycling Day Three – Tarangire National Park – While clocking in the longest distance, this isn’t actually the toughest day of cycling and it’ll be mostly on tarmac roads. We’ll head through villages, towns and open plains as we meander through the Tanzanian countryside. We’ll then arrive at our campsite on the border of Tarangire National Park, which is home to the largest concentration of elephants in Tanzania. 

• Cycling Day Four – Great Rift Valley to Lake Manyara – The penultimate day of cycling will take us through the migratory corridors between Lake Manyara and Tarangire National Parks. We’ll head off on the main road for a short while but most of the day will take us on dirt roads as we enjoy a rich area of wildlife. 
• Cycling Day Five – Ngorongoro Conservation Area – The final day of cycling is both the toughest AND most rewarding. We’ll begin by heading past the bustling town of Mto wa Mbu before arriving at the entry gate of Lake Manyara National Park. It’s a tough cycle up the Great Rift Valley where some of the most breathtaking views of the entire trip are your reward! We’ll end as we head towards the entrance for the Ngorongoro Conservation area where we’ll head off on a game drive around the beautiful crater, time permitting. 

Find out more about our Cycling Adventure in Tanzania, including our itinerary outside of the five days of cycling (as well as more on that!) by clicking here.

If you don’t book it now…will you ever?