5 REASONS TO TRAVEL ACROSS TANZANIA BY MOTORBIKE

MOUNT KILIMANJARO

Mount Kilimanjaro (5,891 m) stands proud in northeast Tanzania and is Africa’s highest summit. Just picture it: you’re on a Royal Enfield Himalayan in Tanzania, riding beside a tower of giraffes with Kilimanjaro’s everlasting snow-capped peaks as the backdrop. Trekkers from the world over come to climb Kilimanjaro, but very few bikers have ridden the foothills of this sacred mountain. The views from the lush tropical forests are breathtaking: one side opens out onto the neighbouring volcano, Mount Meru, a majestic peak at 4,565 m altitude, and the other gives way to the immense steppes that border Kenya.

LAKE NATRON

This is our fave stop in Tanzania and we can’t wait to share this natural wonder with you! Down at the bottom of the Rift Valley, Lake Natron is a huge expanse of alkaline water with a high concentration of sodium and sulphur, giving way to magnificently surreal colours. A remote earthly paradise with lunar landscapes, it’s perfect for spotting huge flocks of pink flamingos. You’ll spend two nights at the foot of Ol Doinyo Lengai, a sacred landmark for locals who named it “Mountain of God” in Maasai. Feeling the freedom of riding a motorcycle  across these vast African spaces is a childhood dream that you just have to experience at least once in your lifetime!

THE MAASAI

North Tanzania is one of the last unspoilt wildernesses inhabited by the Maasai, a semi-nomadic tribe of shepherds and warriors. Most still maintain their traditional way of living, herding cattle and goats, while others do business in Arusha, wearing Shuka – brightly coloured checked cloth – but wielding mobile phones. In the vastness of sparsely populated Tanzania, every Maasai encounter will feel extremely special. Your Royal Enfield will be a fantastic icebreaker and you’ll no doubt share some unforgettable moments with them. The Maasai have so much to teach us too about how humans and nature can live together and protecting wildlife.

NGORONGORO CRATER

This is one of the  trip ’s highlights! For one morning during your  motorcycle tour of Tanzania , you swap your Himalayans for jeeps to experience an exceptional safari in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the conservation area is the largest unbroken caldera in the world measuring around 18 km diameter. With several ecosystems, the crater is an Eden of local fauna, which is born, lives and grows freely within its natural ramparts. There are plenty of animals too, with more than 25,000 mammals and 55 different species, including the famous Big Five (rhinos, elephants, lions, buffaloes and leopards). After this thrilling experience, you’ll get back in the saddle to continue your motorcycle tour of Tanzania, heading to Lake Manyara and Lake Eyasi, both of which boast rich ecosystems that are very different from the others on the tour.

EXTENSION PACKAGES TO ZANZIBAR OR THE SERENGETI

After a 10-day motorcycle tour , why stop there? Get some well-deserved R & R on Zanzibar's heavenly beaches or keep the adventure alive by exploring more of Tanzania’s parks! Head to the Serengeti – meaning “endless plains” in Maasai – and visit one of the most popular reserves among amateur safari explorers and the stage for the Great Migration, when thousands of animals, mainly wildebeest, zebra and gazelle, pass through every year. Leave the savannah behind and make for the Indian Ocean and Zanzibar! The name alone evokes some of the most idyllic landscapes in Africa: crystalline water, towering coconut trees, and spice plantations. Many visit Zanzibar to relax, but also to enjoy its rich culture with Arab, Indian, English and even Portuguese influences.

What are you waiting for? Book up and enjoy a winter getaway with a motorcycle tour in Tanzania. © Sophie Squillace