What is Pedal Safari’s mission?
Pedal Safari’s mission is to provide a first-hand eco-friendly, educational and sporting experience for travelers and all levels of cyclists.
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What are Pedal Safari’s goals?
Pedal Safari’s goals are to:
- Foster cross-cultural understanding.
- Support educational efforts in some of the communities we travel through.
- Promote the construction of bike paths and lanes.
- Promote environmental conservation.
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Where does Pedal Safari take place?
The Pedal Safari route begins in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, heads northwestward towards Arusha, Tanzania, then north through Naivasha, Kenya, then westward all the way to Kampala, Uganda. (back)
What types of people will be participating in Pedal Safari?
We expect people from all walks of life to take part in Pedal Safari. (back)
What if I am not an experienced cyclist?
Pedal Safari is open to people of all backgrounds and cycling abilities. Cyclists from 14 – 62 years of age have successfully completed similar rides. If you are in good health and know how to ride a bicycle, and are willing to make some time for preparation, you can handle Pedal Safari. Mental focus is as important as physical ability on the ride. There will be SAGs – Support and Gear vehicles to pick up cyclists who have had enough cycling for the day. All said, there is no substitute to good training and preparation, we recommend cross-training; stretching thoroughly, swimming if you have access to pool, targeted weight training, (if weight training is new to you, please seek advice from a professional and request an assessment before you begin), jogging, and of course cycling. If you cannot find the inspiration on your own, train with a friend or join a cycling club. You will benefit from beginning early because progress is cumulative; the more time you invest in training, the more fun the safari will be for you.
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Do I have to be a fast rider?
Absolutely not, the whole idea is to enjoy your experience and interact with the environment you are riding through. You will pretty much set your pace, hopefully relaxed enough to appreciate the magnificent East African landscapes. Any time you feel you have had enough for the day, hop onto the SAG – Support and Gear Vehicle and get to the next station. One SAG vehicle will always be at the back of all the riders to ensure that nobody gets left behind. (back)
Will
we be riding near any politically dangerous
areas?
Safety is paramount in the planning for this event. There is political stability in all of three countries through which we will be riding: Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. I have personally ridden this route 3 times and know it well. Kenya had political turmoil recently (2007/2008), but it has been resolved through the introduction of political power-sharing, and stability has thus far been sustained. (back)
Is
it safe?
The kinds of risks you may encounter on Pedal Safari are the similar to the ones you would cycling anywhere. For instance, road conditions, including bad weather and heavy traffic, can lead to unsafe cycling conditions which are beyond the control of the cyclist (also see the question: What are the road conditions?). While we do everything possible to minimize risks, it is necessary to realize that participants share the responsibility for their safety and that of the other riders. Being an alert cyclist, respecting other road users and realizing when you need to get off the road or give way is a good place to begin.
Pedal Safari makes extra efforts to ensure the safety of every participant. Some of the choices we have made to ensure your safety are:
- We have chosen a politically stable
region of Africa for Pedal Safari.
- We will have an experienced and well-equipped
medical team accompanying the safari.
- 3. The very nature of this event propagates and promotes goodwill from the peoples and governments of the region towards participants and the backgrounds they represent.
- We will not ride through Game Parks
with the kinds of animals which poise
danger to the riders; when we do go
to see these animals, we will be in
enclosed vehicles to ensure everyone's
safety.
Please note that we require all participants
to obtain medical and evacuation insurance
before the safari begins. It is recommended
that you deal with all of your insurance
requirements before you travel to East
Africa.
Part of the orientation sessions will be devoted to maximizing safety during Pedal Safari and ensuring that all riders have a good sense of the environment through which they are riding.
Wearing reflective material will increase your visibility. Compared to most traffic on the road, a cyclist is a small object. Extra visibility will enhance your safety chances.
Additionally, each Pedal Safari SAG (Support and Gear) vehicle is equipped with a first aid kit and cell phones for emergencies. Each rider is encouraged to carry a copy of her/his medical insurance information in case of an emergency. (back)
Do I need to bring tools and spare parts?
We will have a tech-team to fix bikes when we need to. You don’t have to bring tools since the tech-team will take care of this, but if you prefer to be self-sufficient, you can bring a patch-kit, frame pump or mini-pump, and tire levers. The tech-team will have the rest. (back)
What
else should I bring with me?
We highly recommend that you travel light. Bring:
- Camping equipment, a water bag or water bottles
- Some warm clothing for high altitude places
- A bicycle, a helmet, bicycling gloves, bicycling sunglasses, sun-screen, at least 2 sets of bicycling shorts, shirts and socks, a pair of pedal-specific bicycling shoes, and optionally, a reflective vest to boost visibility. Talk to your local bike store and see what they recommend for biking attire.
- A set of clothing for outings. Synthetic materials are a better option, because they wash easy and dry faster; the ideal pants would be synthetic cargo pants with zip-off legs, as these double as shorts and trousers and dry quickly
- Walking shoes
- A handle-bar bag or a bag or pannier on your rear rack may come in handy for carrying stuff you may need during the day, like a camera, sun-screen, etc.
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How
much does it cost?
Please see the table below for the cost of the package you choose. Please note that these prices do not include airfare.
| Please register by June 15th |
| Package |
Students
Price |
General
Price |
| Any 1 Leg: |
$1,750 |
$2,250 |
| Both Legs: |
$2,600 |
$3,250 |
| Please note that prices do not include airfares. |
| If you are doing both legs, fly into Dar-es-Salaam and out of Entebbe |
| For 1st leg only, fly to Dar-es-Salaam and out of Nairobi |
| For 2nd leg only, Fly to Nairobi and Out of Entebbe. |
Cost covers:
- Pick-up from the airport on arrival
- Accommodation and camping - bring tent and sleeping bag
- Travel-along kitchen crew with great regional chefs: Three meals a day (organic, free-range East African and other cuisine), and snacks on the road
- Travel-along bike maintenance team
- Travel-along medical team
- Travel-along massage therapists
- Purified drinking water
- Hot bath water
- Transportation to wildlife parks
- Admission fees to wildlife parks
- Entertainment
- Drop-off at the airport on departure
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Who
will carry my stuff?
Support and Gear Vehicles (SAGs) will accompany the riders all along the route. It will be your responsibility to pack your stuff in the morning and take it to the parking area. The SAG attendants will pack and deliver your staff to the next point. (back)
Where
will we be spending the night?
We will mostly be camping in schools; occasionally we will stay at hostels. We will spend many nights in little villages without modern amenities, so be prepared to spend several nights in a tent and take showers in a make-shift bathroom.
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What
kind of bicycle should I use for Pedal
Safari?
A good multiple-speed bicycle, used or new will do the job. I have used both mountain and road bikes. So bring a tour, mountain or road bike, whatever you are most comfortable on. Other types of bikes are welcome too. Take the time to try out your bike to ensure it is functional before you bring it. (back)
Will
we be doing any off-road riding?
There will be very little off-road riding,
if any. (back)
What condition are the roads in? (Also see above question)
The roads we will be riding on are mostly paved and single-lane, with bike lanes mostly unmarked. Pot-holes are not uncommon, as some of these roads are not regularly maintained. (back)
What
happens if my bicycle breaks down?
We will have well-equipped bicycle mechanics with plenty of experience to take care of your bike. (back)
What
is a Typical Day Like?
Every day on Pedal Safari will be a little bit different depending on the mileage, terrain, pre-planned activities, and unplanned interaction with locals and other riders. Below is a basic outline of what an average day on Pedal Safari might be like:
Waking up: Depending on the anticipated weather and the distance we expect to travel, we will begin most days between 5:00am and 9:00am. We will, as much as possible, try to take advantage of the cool morning temperatures and cover some miles before it gets too warm.
Pre-set off and set off:
- Pack your bags and break down and pack your tent and hand them to the SAG team to load onto the SAG vehicle
- Eat your breakfast and rinse you dishes, cups and silverware and hand them to the Kitchen Team
- We will set off for the day, one SAG vehicle in the front and another in the rear of all the riders
- Rides at a comfortable pace
Lunch and rest stops: The Pedal Safari Mobile Kitchen will be waiting for you at a pre-determined lunch stop to replenish your water supply and offer food. (back)
How
much distance will we be covering per
day?
We will average 74 miles/119 kilometers per day. This will often break down to:
- Approximately 20 miles/32 Kilometers after breakfast. We will break for a snack
- Approximately 30 miles/48 Kilometers before lunch
- Approximately 15 miles/24 Kilometers between lunch and afternoon snack break
- Approximately 10 miles/16 Kilometers to the campsite
Remember, it will be a pace of your choosing, and the SAG vehicle is there on days that you get tired and need a break.
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What
kind of food will be provided for us?
We will provide three meals a day and some snacks on the road. The food will consist of many varieties of delicious regional foods, including: wheat based, corn based, plantain based, tubas, millet, sorghum, meat, fish, eggs, soy, and various regional fruits, among other things. Vegetarians will be catered to.
Because we will be burning lots of calories on Pedal Safari, high caloric intake during the day is recommended. Feel free to bring along some of energy bars, such as Cliff Bars or Power Bars. You will need a least 4 a day. It is preferable that you bring them along as they may not be readily available in most of the small towns we will be going through. (back)
Can
I find food other than that provided by
Pedal Safari?
Yes, you can buy food. If you are looking for brand name fast foods, however, these may only be available in the larger cities. The locally grown food is very good, and mostly organic. (back)
How
does Pedal Safari compare with other established
bicycling events?
Pedal Safari is unique in that it is not just about cycling, but encourages eco-tourism, community activism, and interaction between the visitors and the native peoples of the region, and it raises funds to support education in the region and far afield. (back)
Will I be expected to conduct my self by certain etiquette?
- Acknowledging people when you stop is considered polite and appreciated. We will learn greeting phrases for the various areas we visit before we arrive to these areas
- Please always ask before you take photos of people
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