KENYA BIKE RIDE: the REVISED itinerary!

The first WOMEN V CANCER cycle [which I am doing-yay!] is 29 October – 7 November.
There are 4 further cycles on these dates: 6 – 15 Nov & 18 – 27 Nov 2011 / 11 – 20 Feb & 19 – 28 Feb 2012

I absolutely can't wait now! Only 59 days to go! I will find out this week if I am actually going – come on postman!! Hurry up! I hope I'm going - I've raised over and above the minimum target of £2800 too, thanks to all my wonderful friends and family. £4,528.00 so far and still counting :)

"But you can still donate here if you would like to help make a difference to research into ovarian, breast and cervical cancer."

Below is our itinerary as it stands at the moment. It could change but I am not as worried as I was, having completed a road cycle [on my mountain bike…groan] for Force. The FH and I did 57 miles, all uphill [impossible, but it seemed like it!] in 5 hours! A radically different cycle than the training weekend in the Cotswolds…these people were really competitive and don't trundle along at all. Then we did the Great Shakespeare – another 67 miles!

But check out the trip! I am hoping to post the map of the ride next week once I have the correct route. The hotels look great too.

Day 1: 29 October.
Overnight from London to Nairobi. 8 hours. Imagine 80 women all in the same plane for 8 hours…it's going to be hilarious.

Day 2: 30 October.
Nairobi – Nyeri - 5km cycling approx.

Morning arrival in Nairobi. Coach transfer to Green Hills Hotel in Nyeri (3–4 hours approx). Nyeri is one of the largest towns in the Central Highlands and the gateway to Aberdare National Park. Bike fitting on arrival [we are all taking our own seats – see example of bike supplied in Kenya above] followed by a short warm up ride to Baden Powell’s grave. The founder of the Scout Association movement spent his final days here. If it’s a clear day we’ll enjoy views up to Mount Kenya. Tonight after dinner we hear more about the challenge ahead.

Day 3: 31 October.
Nyeri – Nyahururu - 99km cycling approx.
[*62 miles]

Today is a tough introduction to the challenge. Once into the lush countryside that surrounds Nyeri, we pass fields of crops including fruit, vegetables, sugar cane, tea and coffee. It’s a long steady climb with several downhill stretches over small river valleys with some fantastic views. We’ll be able to see majestic Mount Kenya in the distance and Aberdare National Park at closer range. After 83km we reach the equator for the first time. Overnight at the Thomson’s Fall Lodge. As the name suggests there is a great view of the waterfalls from the hotel grounds.

Day 4: 1 November. 
Nyahururu – Nakuru then transfer to Baringo -  57km cycling approx.
[*35 miles]

Shorter easier day, with some uphill cycling, through lush countryside. We leave Nyahururu and head into the Subukia Valley. After around 14km we stop at a viewpoint over the valley (2550m). From there we continue to Subukia town. As the day progresses we pass vast tea plantations with their light green hues. After lunch transfer 120km to Baringo a small village next to one of Kenya’s fresh water lakes. Over night at Soi Safari Lodge. Which looks fabulous! 'Giraffe skin' sofas!

Day 5: 2 November.
Kabarnet – Eldoret - 85km cycling approx.
[*53 miles]

The most challenging day of the ride crossing the Kerio Valley and climbing the Elgeyo escarpment. We start with a transfer from Baringo to Kabarnet (approx 1 hr). The ride begins with 18km of downhill, parts of which are quite steep. After around 28km we encounter a very serious climb on windy roads through a pretty forest with lots of butterflies. You will be given the opportunity to take up either the bronze (6km), silver (15km) or gold (23km) Hill Challenge! [er – no brainer, I believe we'll be doing the bronze??]

There will be a huge sense of achievement when we reach the top of the hill (2293m) and we’ll be rewarded with fantastic views across the Rift Valley. After lunch the rest of the ride is generally much flatter through a beautiful area with little traffic. Overnight at the Wagon Hotel.

Day 6: 3 November.
Eldoret – Kakamega - 92km (61km on tarmac & 31km on dirt road) if there has been no rain.
[*57 miles]

There are two options for cycling from Eldoret to Kakamega. The one we take will depend on the weather in the days before we arrive here.

If there is no rain we will do the following. This day is made up of two halves. Up to lunch time we cycle on very hilly tarmac roads which undulate through plantations and farms. There are some steeper longer hills when we reach Kapsabet. After lunch we cycle on a dirt track past small farms and villages and into rainforest towards Kakamega. Overnight at the Golf Hotel in Kakamega.

However, if there has been rain (which is not unlikely), we will continue cycling on the tarmac road for another 31km to assure that we have covered the same distance. From here we will be transferred the rest of the way to the Golf Hotel in Kakamega.

Day 7: 4 November.
Kakamega – Kisumu - 53km cycling approx.
[*33 miles]

Today’s ride is mainly downhill with some steep climbs. After 39km we get our first view of our final destination - Lake Victoria which covers 70,000 square kilometres and is the major geographical feature in this part of the continent.

Traffic starts to build up as we near Kisumu, which surprisingly is Kenya’s third largest town. We finish cycling around lunch time. Overnight at the Sunset Hotel and a well deserved celebratory meal. [which, according to travel reviews, has a lot of mosquitoes…]

Day 8: 5 November.
Transfer Kisumu – Nakuru approx 4 hours

We transfer by road to Nakuru. This afternoon is free to relax or take part in an optional game drive. Overnight in Nakuru at the Waterbuck Hotel.

Day 9: 6 November.
Transfer Nakuru – Nairobi approx 3-4 hours

This morning we have an early transfer to Nairobi. We have an optional visit [£20 per person] to an elephant orphanage the where orphaned babies are looked after & raised until they are ready to return to the wild in the Nairobi National Park. This 120 square mile national park is home to giraffes, monkeys, rhinos, antelopes and more.

We will  visit Faraja Cancer Support to see the work of the cancer support project which we are supporting. For those of you on Facebook, their page is here.

We will be having lunch at the Faraja Cancer Support Centre, and can buy snacks or a meal at the hotel if we wish. In the evening there is no 'inclusive' meal provided at the hotel.

We overnight at the Ole-Sereni hotel which does look rather fab! The change in the itinerary is due to the blown up nightclub and bus stop in Nairobi. Action for Charity have decided that the Ole-Sereni is safer for us. Suits me! Check out the bar area, overlooking the Nairobi National Park…bring it on!

Day 10: 7 November.
Nairobi – UK

Transfer to the airport for our flight to London, arriving the same day. Drive home to Devon!

 

The Rift Valley shears through Kenya from Lake Turkana in the north to Lake Magadi in the south, crossing from inhospitable desert through fertile farming country and back to desert. It is a fascinating volcanic landscape and although most activity ceased some 2 million years ago, forces are still at work. Revered by anthropologists as the 'cradle of humanity', Kenya is the heart of African safari country, boasting the most diverse collection of wild animals on the continent.

It lies on Africa's east coast, and shares a border with Somalia, Ethiopia, Sudan, Uganda and Tanzania. Its coast is lapped by the Indian Ocean and it shares the vast waters of Lake Victoria with its western neighbours. Kenya's flora is bright, wonderful and often weird but extraordinarily diverse with some 10,0000 species from tiny wayside flowers to giant hardwood trees. It has no fewer than 1,033 known species of bird and range in size from the tiny sunbird to the huge ostrich and cover every colour of the rainbow. Kenya boasts some 160 species of mammals. "The Big Five" lions, buffaloes, elephants, leopards and rhinos all cavort openly in Kenya's main parks but rhinos are very rare and leopards are very shy.

All elephant Photographs above are Copyright by The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust

This itinerary is complex and subject to change and © Copyright of Classic Tours