9 Day Kenya Maasai Mara Guided Motorcycle Tour

Day 1: Arrival

The start of the tour depends on your flight schedule: night flight or day flight: day 1 can be the day of arrival if taking a morning flight. But generally, the flights depart the country of origin the evening before. Karibu, welcome! You will be picked up from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, which is named after Kenya's first president post-independence. You immediately experience the hectic city life of Nairobi, full of traffic and people on the move. The city of Nairobi has a population of around 5 million people, increasing to 10 million if the suburbs are included. The city is named after the Nairobi River and is located at an altitude of 1.800 meters, which makes the temperature very pleasant and even quite cool at night in the summer months. The city was officially founded in 1899 with the arrival of the railways. Today's program depends on whether you arrive in the morning or late afternoon/evening.

Day 2: Nairobi – Mount Kenya Gate

Early rise to leave the city: We head north, quickly leaving the main roads and follow country roads, driving through small towns. The roads will be a mix of mainly asphalt and some gravel. We will quickly leave behind construction work, buildings and traffic jams and welcome village life, nature and lush hills. We will pass the Aberdare National park and head to Mount Kenya. Its highest peak is 5199 meters high. It was designated in 1978 as a Unecso Biosphere Reserve. The mountain plays an important role in the culture of local ethnic groups that live around there, such as the Kikuyu, Ameru, Embu and Maasai. We will stay in a simple accommodation at the foot of the mountain.

Day 3: Mount Kenya Gate – Marigat

Today our wheels will touch a lot of gravel. as we ride through grassland, passing game ranches and several wildlife conservancies all while admiring the unique fauna around us. Watch out for possible zebra crossings! But also watch out for the cattle. It is a remote area, so we need to ensure we stock sufficient snacks and drinks, and we will prepare for a simple picnic along the way. Our goal today is to end up near Lake Baringo, a birdwatcher’s paradise whose freshwaters are an oasis in the arid plains. This is the traditional home of the Njemps tribe, a unique people who are the only pastoral, cattle-herding tribe who also fish. Our accommodation is at a small trading city near the lake.

Day 4: Marigat – Molo

Today we slalom our way through Western Kenya. We ride over a mix of asphalt and gravel roads, passing countryside villages and towns. In some parts we will ride without our support car, taking the mechanic with us on the back of the tour leader’s bike. While we start the morning at approximately 1.500 meters, we will sleep at 2.500 meters altitude. So pack your sweater! We will stay at a basic guesthouse.

Day 5: Molo – Maasai Mara

Another adventurous day today. We will swindle around the main road southwards, and we will explore tracks and paths only used by the Maasai people and wildlife. Again, there will be a track where we will depart from the support car. You will notice that the landscape changes into dry hills and there is less human activity. However, there are more animals along the way now. We will stay at a nice camp near the National Park.

Day 6: Maasai Mara - stay

People are not allowed to live in a National Park. It is hardly fenced. Apparently, that is enough for a rich animal life. Landscape in the Maasai Mara is splendid. We leave the motors partly at rest and take an optional car safari: You will encounter large herds of buffalo, wildebeest, zebras and antelopes as well as giraffes and lions crossing the road. We can ride around until late in this magnificent wild park of Kenya. There is an option for a motor safari too! Take enough power and memory cards for your camera because it is really beautiful. The real safari experience!

Day 7: Masai Mara – Lake Naivasha

We leave early to spin the wheels of our motorbikes again. In the morning there is a lot of game along the road. We will follow a long dirt road to reach the asphalt to Narok. Then we get into the green country again - the green highlands – as we make our muddy/sandy way to Lake Naivasha. The lake and its surroundings are rich in natural bounty, and the fertile soils and water supply have made this one of Kenya’s prime agricultural regions. You can find many (Dutch) flower farmers here. We will stay at the lake.

Day 8: Naivasha - Nairobi

Our last day, but not least. We start with an optional boat ride, enjoying the bird life and visiting a hypo-pool. Then we start the engines again. We will ride on a mix of asphalt, spectacular tracks, and dirt roads towards Nairobi. We will pass Mount Suswa Conservancy and ride around Ngong Hills Natural Reserve. The closer we get to Nairobi, the busier it becomes. Air pollution, traffic jams, high buildings and people on the move. On arrival at Nairobi, we relax with a well-deserved drink to celebrate and share our memories.

Day 9: Nairobi - Departure

Depending on the time of your flight, you either leave very early or you have the day to explore Nairobi. If exploring Nairobi, there are a range of activities to enjoy from visiting the Maasai Market or one of the big malls for souvenir shopping, admiring more animals at Nairobi National Park, partaking in a slum tour, or just relaxing in the hotel. Then it is time to say goodbye, kwaheri!