• Tour Coordinator: Max McClanahan: 250-661-8199, max@mcclanahan.ca .
• Tour Contractor: Friends of Usambara Society www.usambaratravels.com located in Lushoto, Tanzania.
• Tour Dates: 15 January 2016 – 6 February 2016.
• Tour Classification: Intermediate with hills.
• Tour Fee: $2,540.00 USD.
• Tour Numbers: Min 6 – max 10. (Note: accommodation availability limits participation numbers. However, if demand warrants it, back-to-back tours (leaving two days apart) can be arranged if Club Tour Coordinator volunteers)
• Tour Registration Opening Date. PLEASE NOTE: the registration opening date has been changed to Saturday, 13 June, 2015 @ 17:00 PST.

Tour Description:   This tour will start in the beautiful tropical island of Zanzibar and will take you to the base of Mount Kilimanjaro and the heart of Safari country.  This is really three trips in one to allow you to experience the wonder and diversity of Tanzania.  First, we will spend 3 days in Zanzibar before taking the ferry to Dar Es Salaam on the fourth day.  The second part of the tour will take us into the Usambara Mountains with its spectacular vistas and friendly people. Then, on across the Masai plains to the base of Kilimanjaro at Moshi and the start of the third part of the tour. Moshi, it should be noted, is the starting point for numerous safaris through the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater and other incredible sites.  Although a safari is not part of this tour it could be an excellent opportunity to make your own arrangements to top off a spectacular African holiday.

The island of Zanzibar is a beautiful tropical island with crystal clear waters and pristine beaches.  It is also an island brimming with history and is a unique cultural experience.  We will be staying in Stonetown – a world heritage UNESCO site.  The name “Zanzibar” comes from the Perso-Arabic word meaning “coast of the blacks”.  This reflects its very strong Arabic influence and its history as a cross-roads between the Arabic (and later Indian) traders and the mainland of Africa.  You will love the open-air market teaming with activity and filled with culture so very different from our own.  You will spend one day on a spice tour – visiting small local farms where you will get to see and taste fresh spices we see only on grocery store shelves.  You will even get a chance to sample fresh durian – if you dare.  We will of course experience various historical sites including Zanzibar’s history as eastern Africa’s largest slave trading port.  Our biking on the island will be very limited, but don’t worry you’ll be able to get your cycling fix on the mainland.

After 3 days on the island we will catch the ferry over to the mainland and Dar Es Salaam, the commercial centre of Tanzania. You’ll have time to see some of Dar before turning in early.  We’ll get up before dawn to catch the early bus north toward the Usambara Mountains. An African bus ride itself is an experience you will long remember.  After lunch we will ride an easy 65 km with little elevation gain and begin to immerse ourselves in the local culture.  We’ll spend 6 days in the mountains.  Our host for this tour is the Friend of Usambara Society, a community development organization located in Lushoto.  Our guides will be born and raised here.  They are proud of their culture and happy to share it with visitors.  You will mingle with the people of Usambara and hopefully learn a few words of Swahili.  You will have an opportunity to spend an evening with a traditional “witch doctor” who will explain what he does and show some of the herbs he uses.  And you will have ample opportunity to explore the parks and nature preserves that contain a wealth of flora and fauna foreign to us.  And the scenery?  Absolutely breathtaking; so much so that you know you can’t possibly capture it with a camera e.g., the Irente viewpoint is second only to the views from Kilimanjaro itself. After 6 days in the Usambara we will abruptly leave this plateau and drop down on to the Masai plains.  Here you will have an opportunity to meet the Masai people and travel through a savannah landscape. Four easy but steady riding days will take you to Moshi and the base of Kilimanjaro.

In Moshi there is another dramatic culture shift as we leave our friends from the Usambara behind and prepare for the Kilimanjaro trek. Hundreds of people a day go up the mountain.  It will be much more crowded and much more western than what you will have experienced the last two weeks.  You should take a moment to reflect on just how different the cultures of our world really are.  But it will be a nice change to stay in a modern western hotel before our 6 days on the mountain.  The word for the next 5 days will be “Pole Pole” (Swahili for “slowly”).  We will leisurely ascend through the many different climatic zones as we approach the summit.  We start with the tropical rainforest with its wealth of exotic species.  As we go higher the scenery constantly changes with different, but less, vegetation and ever more dramatic views.  We will stay in a mixture of camps and huts with well-cooked hot meals.  All you need to carry is what you need for the day.  Finally, we reach Barafu camp at an altitude of 4 600 meters.  Here you’ll eat a quick dinner and off to bed for tomorrow is an early start.  Between mid-night and 2:00 AM the guides will roll you out and you begin your ascent on the summit.  If everything goes as planned you will crest the summit ridge at Stella Point just in time to see the most beautiful sunrise of your life.  Then you’ll cross the summit ridge to Uhuru peak and the top of Africa.  It is cold and the air is thin, and although the view is incredible you will be ready to head back down to Barafu Camp for lunch.  From there we take the Mweka route down, spending our last night on the mountain at Mweka Camp.  A short hike out and a bus ride back to Moshi before our celebratory dinner before going our separate ways after breakfast the next morning.

Riding Conditions and Logistics: Since this is really 3 trips in one let’s consider the requirements of each separately.  For Zanzibar you need a bathing suit, sunscreen and a big floppy hat.

For the cycling portion of the trip we will cover approximately 553 km over 11 days.  The longest day will be 70 km.  Approximately 65% will be on paved roads.  Most of you will consider two of the days difficult: First, the climb up the Usambara.  It is a short day (34 km), but we have an elevation gain of 875 m over one long sustained grind; and secondly, when we come out of the mountains because it is a poor, unpaved trail.  Please note: There will be NO support vehicle.  You will need to carry your own clothes and anything else needed before Moshi.  You will not need to carry a lot, however, since there is no camping and the weather is warm.  A couple of other things you will want to bring are industrial strength deet and mosquito netting to avoid the night-biting, malarial-carrying mosquitoes, which are not abundant. You will not need to carry the hiking gear required for the third part of the trip.  That will be picked up in Dar Es Salaam and transported to Moshi for you.  However, you will need walking shoes since we do a couple of days of moderate hiking in the Usambara.

You obviously will want a good sturdy bike and panniers.  32mm tires should be an absolute minimum, preferably wider, with good thick tread.  Thorn-proof tubes are also a good investment, and of course everyone should have a patch kit and know how to use it.  There are a limited number of bikes for rent.  If you have a suitable bike – take it with you.  A third alternative to consider is buying a good used bike to take with you and to leave.

For the trek up Kilimanjaro you will need a different set of equipment.  Good solid hiking boots, hiking poles, headlamp (for night-time ascent), sleeping bag and day pack, plus cold weather gear for the summit.  Your bike and gear will be stored in Moshi while you are on the mountain.  Here you will only carry what you need for the day.   The porters and the guides carry everything else including your personal gear.  They also set up the camp and cook the meals.

Note that in order to visit Tanzania you will need a valid passport.  Canadians are required to also acquire a three month single-entry visa. U.S. Citizens are required to purchase a one year multiple-entry visa.  You should also check with your local travel clinic for recommended vaccinations prior to travel.  You may also want to check the CDC website for their recommendations: http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/tanzania. Tanzania’s currency is the Tanzanian Schilling, however, it is best to carry your travel funds in USD which can be readily converted to schillings at any bank.  One final thing to consider in deciding if this is the trip for you – you need to be able to handle squat toilets and an occasional bucket bath.

Tour Fees include all accommodations based on double occupancy (no single upgrade option); all meals, ferry and tour fees, Village development fee for the Usambaras, transport to/from Moshi and Kilimanjaro, crater fees for Kilimanjaro, mineral water (1.5l / day) on the Kili Trek (not on the bicycle tour).

Tour Fees do not include air transport and travel fees to and from Tanzania, tips to bicycle tour guides and Kili trekking guides / porters, any drinks (alcoholic and otherwise) during parts 1 and 2, and the farewell dinner.

Registration/Participant Selection:   Registration will open Saturday, 13 June, 2015 @ 5:00 PM PST.  A $2:00 non-refundable registration fee is required at tour sign-up, which must be done online at http://tinyurl.com/m9dw6g.  Participants will be selected first, on the basis of the date and time of registration; secondly, on fitness and experience; and thirdly on the availability of suitable room-mates for single registrants.  Once participants have been determined and notified each will be required to make their first tour fee ($770 USD) instalment within 72 hours.  You may pay by USD cheque to the Tour Coordinator (TC).  If you wish to pay in CAD please contact the TC to determine the appropriate exchange rate.  He will collect the funds and forward them to the Tour Contractor (this amount includes a small charge to cover wire transfer fees).  The remaining payment (~1,770.00 USD) will be due at the trip orientation meeting in Zanzibar, payable in USD cash.  A registrant cancelling after the initial deposit will be subject to the tour operator’s cancellation charge of 15% (of the total amount).  The cancellation charge can be avoided only if we are able to find a suitable replacement.  You are strongly encouraged to purchase trip cancellation insurance as well as trip medical insurance (including medevac coverage). 

Tour Itinerary:

1. (January 15^th ): Zanzibar. Trip orientation meeting @ 6:00 P.M. local time then dinner.
2. Zanzibar. Spice tour.
3. Zanzibar. Bike tour of the island.
4. Zanzibar -> Dar Es Salaam via ferry. Sightseeing around Dar.
5. Dar -> Mombo. Bus to Segera then ride65 km to Mombo.
6. Mombo -> Lushoto, 34 km, 872 m elev. Long climb into Soni then rollers into Lushoto.
7. Lushoto. Hike through rainforest and nature preserve including Magamba peak and Irente viewpoint.
8. Lushoto -> Mazumbai, 70 km. Travel to Mazumbai Forest. Visit tea plantation / factory.
9. Mazumbai. Spend the day hiking through this unique rainforest and nature preserve.
10. Mazumbai -> Mkuzi, 68 km. Rough road thru Usambara Highlands.
11. Mkuzi -> Rangwi Convent, 62 km.  Riding on dirt roads through villages and nice scenery.
12. Rangwi -> Mtae, 25 km.  Cultural interaction including traditional healer in Mtae.
13. Mtae -> Gonja, 53 km. Down the mountain via “flat tire paradise” and into Masai country.
14. Gonja -> Same, 66 km. Riding across the Mkomazi National Park.
15. Same -> Mwanga, 52 km. Paved road. Good day to take pictures.
16. Mwanga -> Moshi, 53 km. Final day of biking, prepare for Kilimanjaro.
17. Moshi -> Macheme camp, 5-7 hours. Shuttle to Machame gate, begin hiking through rainforest.
18. Machame -> Shira camp, 4-6 hours.  Leave rainforest and continue through moorland.
19. Shira -> Barranco camp, 5-7 hours.  Hiking through semi-desert to Lava tower then back down.  Good day for acclimation.
20. Barranco -> Barafu camp, 8 hours. Through alpine desert up the Barranco wall and through the Karanga valley.
21. Barafu -> Mweka hut, 13-16 hours.  This is summit day. Early start for sunrise at crater rim.  1 hour more to Uhuru peak.  Lots of pictures then down through scree fields.
22. Mweka -> Moshi, 3-4 hours.  Short walk out then shuttle to hotel.  Farewell dinner in town.
23. Moshi. One more hearty breakfast then good-byes and off to new adventures.

Participants: Daniel Carey, Robin Howe, Denise Howes, Jenni Lynnea, Max Mcclanahan, Paddy Miller, John Pringle, Judy Delogne, Lucas Delogne