What are Pedal Safari’s goals?

Who organizes Pedal Safari?

What if I am not an experienced cyclist?

Do I have to be a fast rider?

Where does Pedal Safari take place?

What types of people will be participating in Pedal Safari?

Will we be riding near any politically dangerous areas?

Is it safe?

What tools and spare parts should I bring along?

What else should I bring with me?

How much does Pedal Safari cost?

Who will carry my stuff?

Where will we be spending the night?

What kind of bicycle should I use for Pedal Safari?

Will we be doing any off-road riding?

What is the condition of the roads on which we will be riding?

What happens if my bicycle breaks down?

What is a Typical Day Like?

How much distance will we be covering per day?

What kind of food will be provided for us?

Can I find food other than that provided by Pedal Safari?

How does Pedal Safari compare with other established bicycling events?

What are Pedal Safari’s goals?

Pedal Safari East Africa has set out to offer an ecologically friendly form of tourism, combining the pleasures and excitement of adventure travel with opportunities to interact with the native peoples of the region. We also operate as a link between the following entities in East Africa and others worldwide: NGOs - Non-Governmental Organizations (same as non-profits), corporations, individuals and other goodwill entities elsewhere. We believe that tourism in which the tourists interact with the native peoples offers much more benefit on both sides - and is of course much more fun! (back)

Who organizes Pedal Safari?

Currently Micheal Mpyangu, Alex Fraim, James Thomas, and Katerina Fraim, four people from varying backgrounds, are engaged in organizing Pedal Safari 2008. (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 the time for physical preparation, you can handle Pedal Safari. Mental determination is as important as physical ability on the ride. The fact that Pedal Safari offers both competitive and non-competitive categories of riding makes it attractive to a wide spectrum of people. There will be vans to pick up cyclists who have had enough for the day. And no one will be pressured into riding at anytime they do not feel like it; on the contrary, you will be happily helped along to make it to the next point. If you are in the competition category, on the other hand, you will lose points by missing some rides. All said, there is no substitute for good training, so train while you have time. 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. In the future we will have a link on this site providing training tips. (back)

Do I have to be a fast rider?

No, unless you opt for the Race Category. If you prefer to ride at a leisurely pace, we recommend that you sign-up for the Non-race Category of Pedal Safari. In this category, you will pretty much set your own pace, and you have nothing to lose by being at the back; simply relax, appreciate the magnificent East African landscapes and call for the SAG (Support and Gear Vehicle) if you've had enough riding for the day. In this category, it is about the bigger picture, not getting there first. What's more, there will often be another rider comfortable with your pace. And one SAG vehicle will always be following behind to ensure that all is well and that nobody gets left behind. On the other hand, if you feel like raising dust, then the Race Category is for you. (back)

Where does Pedal Safari take place?

The Pedal Safari route begins in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, heads northeast towards Arusha, Tanzania, then north to Nairobi, Kenya, then eastward 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 and all corners of the globe to take part in Pedal Safari. The basic requirement is medical clearance from a doctor indicating that you are in good enough health for the ride. And if you are below the age of 18, we will need to see proof of permission from a parent or guardian along with your registration forms. (back)

Will we be riding near any politically dangerous areas?

Sadly, Africa being a continent beset by various wars, this is a reasonable concern. Currently, there is political stability in all of three countries through which we will be riding: Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. We have chosen this route partly with these political factors in mind, so you need not be worried that we will be taking you through a war zone! Additionally, we are making extra efforts to ensure the safety of all riders throughout the adventure. We are and will be working in conjunction with local security officers before and during the ride, as well as monitoring the latest news on the East African region in particular, as well as the greater region in general. Should a situation arise that renders the event unsafe, we will take an alternate route that we evaluate as safe. If this cannot be done, we will call the event off and the participants will be reimbursed in full or, if the ride is already in progress, at a prorated amount. (back)

Is it safe? (Also see above question)

Pedal Safari makes extra efforts to ensure the safety of every rider. Some of the choices we have made to ensure your safety are:

1. We have chosen a politically stable region of Africa for Pedal Safari.
2. We will have an experienced and well-equipped medical team accompanying the safari.
3. The very nature of this event promotes goodwill from the peoples and governments of the region.
4. 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.

Basically, the kinds of risks you may encounter on Pedal Safari are the kinds 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 is the condition of the roads?). While we do everything possible to minimize risks, it is necessary to realize that you share the responsibility for your 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. (For a wealth of safe-cycling information, visit the Safety section of this site.) Riders should understand that Pedal Safari East Africa can only minimize the inherent risks associated with bicycling; we cannot eliminate them. To help increase the awareness of all road users in the region, we will also be launching TV, radio and press campaigns in the before and during the event.

Part of the orientation sessions will be devoted to maximizing safety during Pedal Safari and ensuring that all riders have a fairly good sense of the environment through which they are riding. Additionally, there will be periodical safety meetings scheduled throughout the duration of the ride.

We require that basic safety rules are followed, such as always riding with a helmet and using a rear view mirror attached to your helmet, sunglasses, handlebar or other place to enable you to monitor traffic behind you. Riding after dark is discouraged and will only be done under unavoidable circumstances. As a precaution and in anticipation of the fact that there may be times when one has to ride after dark, we recommend attaching a light to your bicycle or bringing one along.

Extra visibility will enhance your safety chances. Compared to most traffic on the road, a cyclist is a small object. Wearing reflective material will increase your visibility.

While bike maintenance will be part of the orientation, a head start before you come will put you at an advantage. The advantage of knowing basic bicycle repairs is that you may save time by beginning the repair process while you wait for the repair crew, or if it is something relatively simple, you can just fix it yourself. If you are not comfortable doing repair work, that is okay - the Tech-Team will do it. If you'll be joining us, you should begin practicing now.

Each Pedal Safari SAG (support and gear vehicle) is equipped with a first aid kit and cellular phones for emergencies. Each rider will always carry a copy of medical insurance information in case of an emergency.

If you have specific concerns about safety on Pedal Safari or any other questions, please do not hesitate to e-mail us. (back)

What tools and spare parts should I bring along?

You should have handy a patch-kit, frame pump or mini-pump, chain-wrench, spoke-wrench, allen keys (or a multi-tool with allen keys), and tire levers.

The spare parts that you need to bring along are: brake-cables and housing, gear cables and housing, tubes, tires, chain and chain-pins, cogs/sprockets, spokes with nipples attached. Remember to give your bicycle a tune-up (or take it for one) and then test ride it before shipping it for Pedal Safari. Talk to your local bike shop for extra tips. (back)

What else should I bring with me?

We highly recommend that you travel with the absolute minimum. Along with a helmet, your bicycle, bicycle gloves, sunglasses, sun-screen, bicycling shorts (preferably padded), bicycling shirts, socks, shoes that match your pedals (if you will be using clip-on pedals), a reflective vest (optional but recommended to boost visibility), riding gear and camping equipment, you should bring a water bag (preferably one you can carry on your back), bicycle repair-kit, chain lubrication oil, spare tire tubes and one set of clothing for outings (including a pair of pants and no more than four t-shirts). The ideal pants would be synthetic cargo pants with zip-off legs, as these double as shorts and trousers. And instead of regular cotton T-shirts, synthetic materials are a better option, given that we will be sweating a lot.

Unless your bicycling shoes double as walking ones, you should bring walking shoes as well. If you will be climbing Kilimanjaro, you will need to bring hiking boots (which can double as walking shoes). It will be cold up on Kilimanjaro (sub-zero temperatures), so bring warm clothing if will be participating in this segment of Pedal Safari.

We will be doing a quite a bit of dancing (the dancing part is optional), from tribal to ballroom; if you are picky about what shoes you dance in, bring along a pair of dance shoes.

A handle bar bag or a bag on your rear rack is quite handy for carrying stuff you may need during the day, like a camera, walkman and tapes, batteries (these are expensive in East Africa so bring some along), sun-screen, repair-kit, etc. If you like, you can also bring souvenirs from home such as pencils and pens (or whatever else you might think of as long as it is not bulky) to share with people you meet along the way. A Polaroid camera to leave people some photos is usually appreciated, especially if you are going to be taking photos of them. (Please always ask before you take photos of people in Africa; It is considered rude not to.) (back)

How much does it cost?

Tourism and sporting events have tended to price out potential participants from regions with low per-capita incomes. To address this anomaly and ensure that Pedal Safari is an inclusive event, the cost for participants from regions with low per-capita incomes will be subsidized in relation to the economy of the region. (Please contact us for more details about this or to find out if your region qualifies as "low-income.")

Please see the table below for the cost of whatever package you choose. These prices do not include airfare. Also please note that these prices are subject to slight

For descriptions of the packages listed below, please visit The Safari.

Please add an additional $950 to any of the first four packages if you would also like to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro. The Kilamanjaro package is only available to 60 persons on a first come, first serve basis.

(back)

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 things to the next point. (back)

Where will we be spending the night?

We will mostly be camping in schools; occasionally we will also stay in 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. (back)

What kind of bicycle should I use for Pedal Safari?

A good multiple-speed bicycle, used or new will do the job. This is a 1200 mile/2000 km ride, so a one-speed bicycle will probably be too hard on your body. The bicycles best suited to the ride are touring or road bicycles with at least 18 speeds. Mountain bikes with road tires will do the job too; we do not recommend off-road tires unless you are planning on burning a lot more calories and moving at a much slower pace!

If you have a fancy or unique bike you would like to use, bring it. The most important thing is that you are comfortable riding, and the nicer your bike, the more comfortable you will be during Pedal Safari.

One thing that is particularly important is that you take the time to try out your bike (especially if it's new or new to you) before you ship it to East Africa; what counts most is that your bike is functional! Also bring along some spare parts, such as a spare chain, a set of cogs, and spokes. (Also see the question What tools and spare parts should I bring along?) Talk to people at your local bicycle shop, as they may have some good tips for you. (back)

Will we be doing any off-road riding?

There will be very little off-road riding, if any. If there is ample demand for it, however, it will be arranged; please let us know your thoughts on this. (back)

What is the condition of the roads on which we will be riding? (Also see above question)

The roads we will be riding on are mostly paved and single-lane, with bike lanes mostly unmarked. The driving culture, especially in the bigger cities, is not the most courteous; we intend to improve this situation thMussrough media campaigns. 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 in catering to bicycling events coming along with us, and they will be at your service. You should bring along a spare chain, spare tubes, a spare set of sprockets/cogs, a small repair kit and chain lubrication oil. (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 camp 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: The average day starts between 5:00am and 9:00am, depending on the anticipated weather and distance to travel for the day. We will, as much as possible, try to take advantage of the cool morning temperatures and cover some distance before it gets too hot. This will make the ride more pleasant.

Setting off: After you ensure you bags are packed and ready to go into the SAG (support and gear) vehicle, have your breakfast, you can set off. Those in the race category will have a flagged off at a predetermined time. You can find the departure times for each day on the program. During the day, everyone rides at a pace that he/she finds comfortable and stays on designated routes. You will find riders who are comfortable with your pace and you can ride along with them. You can of course also ride alone if you prefer. As mentioned above, there will be SAG vehicles accompanying the entire event: one ahead and one following behind, with all riders will be spread out between them, a third Sag will go to and forth catering to the needs of the cyclists.

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. Riders in the race category can choose when where and how to have their lunch. (back)

How much distance will we be covering per day?

The Non-race Category will be covering an average of 74 miles/119 kilometers per day, and the Race Category daily average will be 106 miles/170 kilometers. (back)

What kind of food will be provided for us?

Many varieties of delicious regional foods will be provided: wheat- and corn-based foods, plantain, millet, sorghum, meat, fish, eggs, soy, and various exotic fruits, among other things. You may not readily find the kind of food that you get in your hometown, however we will have chefs catering to participants with special dietary needs and preferences.

While engaging in long distance cycling such as Pedal Safari, it is necessary to maintain a high caloric intake during the day; thus we strongly recommend that you bring along plenty of energy bars, such as Cliff Bars or Power Bars and ride with a few handy each day; regardless of what you feel now, you will need them, and they are not available in East Africa. We used honey, bananas and a baby formula called Celelac as a substitute when we ran out of power bars during the AfricaTrek bicycle expedition.

While riding, you will need to drink constantly to stay hydrated. Do not wait until you are thirsty. A water bag that you strap over your back, now readily available in virtually all bicycle shops, will be a great complement to the water bottles on your bicycle. We emphasize drinking water even when you feel mildly thirsty. (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 though, and mostly organic. (back)

How does Pedal Safari compare with other established bicycling events?

There is no basis for comparison, since this is going to be the first Pedal Safari event. However, 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 and disadvantaged children. Two of the founding members, Micheal Mpyangu and James Thomas bring on board experience from previous bicycling events such as AfricaTrek, DHL Cycle for Youth and the Environment, Bike-Aid, Bike & Build '97 Uganda, and AfricaQuest. (back)

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