Olpopongi Maasai Cultural Village & Museum is the first authentic Maasai Boma and Museum with overnight facilities in Tanzania. Olpopongi provides a unique Maasai & wildlife experience in the West-Kilimanjaro Maasailand, Just 85 km from Arusha While at the village you will share the authentic Maasai life & culture. The income obtained from your tour supports local Maasai families with water, food, employment, personal income, medical treatments and education.
All Maasai – jewelry on sale is hand-made and produced by the local Maasai women of other nearby villages. All Museum tours & walking safaris are performed by experienced English speaking Maasai guides.
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You will be transferred from your hotel in arusha to Simba Farm where you will start your bike tour. Your cycle today starts with a downhill slope through the farm as you head toward the main rough road. You follow the main rough road through the. Ngare Nairobi village and cycle along the Ndarakwai Conservancy border towards the West Kilimanjaro airstrip. You then follow the main dirt road towards the Tinga. Tinga village. Your cycle today will end at the Olpopongi Maasai Village where you will be spending the night. Upon arrival at the Olpopongi Maasai Village you will be welcomed by a traditional Maasai dance and before having lunch and settling into your Maasai-hut style rooms. You will engage in a Maasai cultural tour and meet the oldest women Maasai with more than 100 years in the evening before ending your day by enjoying a great dinner around a bonfire.
Distance covered: 28km
Meals: Lunch & Dinner Included
Today we will start off cycling early in the morning and proceed south towards the Ngabobo Village. An early start is good to ensure you cover enough distance before the wind and sun comes out. Today’s path is very interesting as you will be cycling through the dry and semi arid open grasslands, an environment completely different from the lush, green slopes of Mt. Kilimanjaro which you have left behind. Wildlife such as wildebeest, giraffes, zebra and elands can be seen in the morning when you start cycling. Today’s route will shorter but a bit more challenging due to the terrain and weather. The final part of the path is a gradual ascent on gravel road as you cycle through the Ngabobo Village towards the lodge. Today you will be spending the night at the Maasai Lodge.
Distance covered: 21km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
Today’s route takes us to a new vegetation zone as we leave the arid zone and proceed towards the greener slopes of Mt. Meru.
We will pass up at the Arusha National Park (Momella Gate) where your tour will continue. Your bike ride starts with a gradual ascent as you head south of the park along the main dirt road.
Along the sides of the roads, you will cycle past families of baboons and blue monkeys. After cycling for about 2km, we will take a 1km detour towards the Rest house near Margarete Trappe’s grave. Margarete Trappe also is known as the “Iron Lady” was one of the early missionaries who lived in the area and was regarded as Africa’s greatest huntress. Here you will get a brief explanation about the history of Margarete and her impact on the area before continuing with your ride.
After riding on the main road for about 5km, you will turn right and enter the Kilinga Loop. This loop which spans 7.3km traverses the thick lush forest. Due to the canopy cover, the path will be muddy on some sections hence making it the most challenging but fun to ride a section of the tour.
After completing the Kilinga loop, you will continue cycling gradually downhill along the main dirt road for about 3km towards the Ngongongare gate, where your tour will continue outside of Arusha park towards right to roughly road to Meru forest farms. Then have local lunch on village.
Distance covered: 21km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Included
