Mto wa Mbu Village Bike Ride

Distance

15.7 km (9.8 mi) by bike

Riding time

2–3 hours

Difficulty

Easy

Price

$200 per person, as an add-on

Mto wa Mbu, “river of mosquitoes” in Swahili, is the market town at the foot of the Great Rift Valley escarpment, at the gate to Lake Manyara National Park. Streams and springs from the escarpment turn the dry plains here into a green oasis of banana groves, rice paddies and fruit trees, farmed by families from many of Tanzania’s communities. This flat ride of about 16 km (9.9 mi) follows village lanes and farm tracks through it.

The ride

Mto wa Mbu market. Start at the central market in the heart of town, among stalls of bananas, rice and Maasai beadwork.
Vanga Street and Migungani Road. Ride out through the banana groves and rice paddies of Migungani, past farms, homes and schools, with the escarpment rising above.
Mto wa Mbu Road. Loop back towards town, stopping to meet farmers along the way and, if you like, to taste local banana beer.
Back at the market.

Good to know

2 to 3 hours with stops. The lanes are flat, so the ride suits all levels.
It fits easily into a safari to Lake Manyara, the Ngorongoro Crater or the Serengeti: the road from Arusha to all three passes through Mto wa Mbu.

What’s Included

Included

Professional cycling guide
Mountain bike, set up for your height
Helmet
Bottled drinking water
Soft drinks and juices
Coffee or tea break
Snacks and fresh fruit
Support vehicle carrying the bikes, water and spares
Repair kit, pump and spare tubes
First-aid kit

Cycling Route

The route as it runs on the ground, mapped on OpenStreetMap. The solid line is the ride out and the dashed line the way back. Press a stop in the list to find it on the map.