Moshi Villages Bike Tour: Cycle Through Chagga Countryside
German colonial railway stations sit frozen in time, and you reach one by pedaling through working farmland.
A beginner-level bike tour through Moshi villages in the Kilimanjaro region where you cycle past rice fields, sugar cane plantations and Rau forest to spot Colobus monkeys, then arrive at an old railway station built during German colonial rule. The route covers 20 kilometers on paved and gravel roads over 4 to 5 hours, with a guide, bike, lunch and hotel pickup included. Children from age 3 are welcome.
Step-by-step itinerary
Cycling through Moshi villages and sights
- Ride through TPC sugar cane plantation
- Cycle past rice fields, mosques, and churches
- Stop at local market in New Land village
- Visit Rau forest and watch colobus monkeys
- Arrive at old railway station
- Cycle to Moshi town markets
- Visit fish market and historic clock tower
- Pass Hindu temple and Africa gift shop
- Cycle through Karanga and Rau rivers
- Enjoy views of Mount Kilimanjaro from savannah
- Rau Forest Reserve Entry included 1h
- Moshi 2h
- Mount Kilimanjaro 2h
What’s included
- Bike and helmet.
- live English-speaking guide.
- lunch (packed box or traditional hot meal at a restaurant).
- water and soda.
- hotel pickup and private transportation.
- all fees and taxes.
Times
- Every day No fixed time
Information
Cycle through Moshi villages past rice fields, sugar cane plantations and Rau forest where Colobus monkeys live, with a guide and bike provided.
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The experience
You start from your hotel and head into the TPC sugar cane plantation on flat terrain, riding past rice fields, mosques and churches before stopping at a local market in New Land village. The path mixes paved roads and gravel, so the bike handles both surfaces without fuss. Along the way you pass small village houses and see how the Chagga people manage their land through mixed farming: growing enough food year-round on small plots. Mount Kilimanjaro rises in the distance across the savanna, visible because the countryside has no tall buildings or trees blocking the view.
The ride takes you into Rau forest, where Colobus monkeys live in the tree crowns with their long fluffy tails. Watch for them in the branches above. You cycle through the Karanga and Rau rivers and past the big Lutheran churches built by Germany during the colonial period. The final stop is the old railway station, a structure from that same era that feels stopped in time. Lunch (either a packed box or a traditional hot meal at a restaurant), and water or soda come with the tour.
A live English-speaking guide leads the ride, and the bike is provided. Private transportation picks you up from your hotel and brings you back, so you don't arrange your own way there. The route is beginner-level and suitable for all fitness levels, though it is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, pregnancy or poor cardiovascular health.
Top questions
Can I be picked up at my hotel?
You can choose: pickup at your hotel, or go straight to the meeting point. When you book, you choose your hotel from 40 pickup locations; if yours isn’t listed, you can type in your address. Pickup is about 60 minutes before departure.
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Youth (18 to 24 years); Child (3 to 17 years). Children under 3 can't be included in the booking.
What happens if it rains?
It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.
What will I see in Rau forest on the bike ride?
Rau forest is home to Colobus monkeys, which you can spot in the tree crowns with their distinctive long fluffy tails. The forest sits partway through the route before you reach the old railway station.
How far is the bike ride and what kind of roads do I cycle on?
The total distance is 20 kilometers over 4 to 5 hours on a beginner-level route. The path mixes paved roads and gravel, so you ride on both surfaces through the villages and farmland.
What's included in the tour price?
The tour includes the bike, a live English-speaking guide, lunch (either a packed box or a traditional hot meal), water and soda, hotel pickup and private transportation back. All fees and taxes are covered.
Will I see Mount Kilimanjaro on this bike tour?
Mount Kilimanjaro is visible from the savanna countryside around Moshi because there are no tall buildings or trees blocking the view. You'll sight it across the landscape as you ride through the villages and plantation areas.
What happens at the old railway station at the end of the tour?
The old railway station was built during German colonial rule and remains unchanged, stuck in time. It is your final destination after cycling through the villages, forests and farmland.
Operated by Bike2kili safaris. Explorevia does not run this tour: we compare it with similar options, and you book it with our booking partner.
Prices and times updated yesterday
Moshi Villages Bike Tour: Cycle Through Chagga Countryside
4h–5h · EN
from US$ 50 per person
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