A few years ago we wrote about our mountainbiking with lions experience in Kenya. If you haven’t yet, you should really read it and see how close we got to the lions! We really loved the Rift Valley Odyssey and were keen to ride it again as Eric and Gerald plus numerous scouts like Alex always find amazing single track through the most stunning scenery.

Optimistically we signed up months in advance, hoping we would miraculously find some trails to ride in the area around Dar es Salaam for our training (we’re still looking…). We didn’t find any nice trails, but we did find some other mountain bikers in Dar who showed us a loop with some hills. We met Ryan and John at the paddle to Zanzibar crossing, and they introduced us to all the other guys here in Dar who were training for the RVO.

Through them we met Alex, Darren, Dave and Grant who all ride several times a week in the morning. Very early in the morning we should add… meeting at 4.45 at the Food Lovers Supermarket… And of course we already knew Dimple who was also heading over to Kenya for the ride.

Alex, Darren and Grant were also riding the three-day version of the RVO, like us. The rest were going for the full 5-days experience from Nairobi to the Masai Mara. The five of us flew to Nairobi on a Tuesday, and were picked up by two vans with drivers who would take us to the campsite on top of Mt Suswa from where we would start the next morning. It took a little longer than expected so we arrived in the dark, but we had made it, complete with bikes.

2017 RVO route overview from Nairobi to the Masai Mara

The camp was buzzing, the red little tents all in a row looked amazing and dinner was being served. We bumped into several good friends and familiar faces; Eric, Gerald, Anne-Marie, Alex, Guy, Steve, Marco, Farook and several others. It was good to be back!

all the red tents in a row looking great

We spent the night preparing our bikes and getting numbers for the bikes sorted before diving straight into our tents for a good night’s sleep hopefully. As the tents are tiny, big enough for a comfy mattress and a bag, we each get our own.

Jude getting our numbers from Anne-Marie

the queue for breakfast

The next morning we get stuck into the usual rush before an event. Breakfast, toilet stops, packing of bags, dropping of bike boxes and more toilet stops. Until we all line up at the edge of the crater for the start, the local Masaai people give us their blessings and off we go! Some hit the paddles hard, but most have a more cruisey attitude, knowing there are lots of kilometers to go today before we reach the finish line, 94km to be exact.

Jon and Jude on top of Mt Suswa, overlooking the inner crater, ready for day 1 of the RVO

the blessing ceremony by the Maasai elders

2017 RVO route profile day 3 (our day 1)

The trail starts in the outer crater and has some smooth single track through the trees, we find ourselves all alone here and really enjoy the riding. Several downhill sections follow and we are making good progress. It isn’t long though before we remember the profile of today’s ride, it has a lot of ups too… 1260m of up to be exact… But the scenery is so beautiful it is a pleasure to ride here in Kenya, so different from our training rides in Dar.

riding in the outer crater, sweet single track

water point on day 1, always a welcome sight

there are stunning views on the rides

and lovely climbs…

Jon on the open plains

We make it to the finish line, slipping and sliding in the bull dust the last kilometers, pretty tough when you are already tired. The camp next to the Ewaso Nyiro River is in a beautiful spot and many wade into the cool river to sooth aching muscles. We are pretty tired with the usual soreness after a long day in the saddle, and quickly go about getting ready for the next day. The team do a wonderful job cleaning the bikes and Jude has a massage before a quick dinner and then bed.

the guys clean your bike for a small fee, they were pretty busy

2017 RVO route profile day 4 (our day 2)

The next day is a super early start as it is a tough day. We are ascending from 1250m to 2300m with a total of 1900m of climbing over 95km. The start is through some of the same bull dust as the finish from yesterday, but not for long. And then we all find ourselves at the one and only bridge across the Ewaso Nyiro river. Blocked by Maasai people who want more money. Eric had already made all the arrangements of course, but it seems Maasai people don’t honour a business deal with a contract… nearly an hour later the negotiations come to an end and the bridge is opened up to let us through and we are finally on our way.

Jude and Jon, ready for day 2 in different matching outfits

Jude in the early morning of day 2

and then we are blocked at the one and only bridge across the Ewaso Nyiro River, the Maasai don’t honour the agreement in place…

Straight after the bridge the torture starts and we found ourselves climbing 150m straight up the cliffs to get out of the Rift Valley. Bits can be ridden on the newly built track, but several sections are too steep with too many large boulders. But the views are all worth it, and so it the sweet, red-earth single track we find at the top of the escarpment.

finally across we head straight to the escarpment, we have to climb out of the Rift Valley

most of the ascent is a hike-a-bike fest (but with stunning views)

Again the scenery makes it all worthwhile and we keep paddling happily until we reach waterpoint 2. From there we ride the steep section up through the forest (Jude’s very pleased with herself for not having to stop) until we get to waterpoint 3. We have decided to take the option here to follow the ‘easy’ route to camp. It is still the same distance to ride, but it excludes some climbs in the last 25km. We still have a day to go and we’re just not fit enough… it was a tough call, and we will always wonder what would have happened if… But seeing guys who normally finish several hours before us, coming in several hours after us made us think we did make the right decision…

Jon and Jude on day 2

red soil and lovely single track, mountainbiking heaven

we bump into Alex at one of the water points

in the villages there are always people watching and cheering

another water point, just before the steep section through the forest

this young girl runs next to Jude on the uphill for a few kilometers

Because of our decision we arrived around 2pm. In time for lunch, a shower, a nap, a walk to the hot springs and getting ready for the last day. We had dinner around the campfire, which was great as it felt cool here at night at this altitude.

dinner and relaxing around the big campfire

2017 RVO route profile day 5 (our day 3)

The next day is the longest ride, 100km, with again a fair amount of climbing although not as much as the second day (only 1570m on this last day). We ride past the Tanzanian – Kenyan border posts and especially the last 15km or so it feels like we are flying. It’s downhill on some smooth, flowing single-track and we are happy we will finish. Yet again we tell ourselves that we’ll need to make sure we are fitter next year…!

Grant, Darren and Alex ready for the final day (can you spot Jude?)

different terrain, again beautiful riding tracks

these tracks are usually made by people and cattle walking and boda bodas (motorbikes) riding to fields or the next village

Jon attempting another selfie with Jude in the background

this is at a water point and we are both stuffing our faces

the scenery always changes, but is always beautiful

Jude next to one of the border markers

Jon smiling, we are near the finish line!

Last night in camp is fun. No more worries about surviving the next day, and we finally have some decent time to catch up with friends before all are heading home again. Bike boxes are quickly packed for transport by bus back to Nairobi. We will see them again at the airport. Ryan has organised a charter flight for us directly from the Masai Mara to Wilson airport on the last day. We even arrive in Nairobi with plenty of time to go for lunch at the Purdy Arms and visiting the Giraffe Centre, Kazuri and Matbronze. As always a huge success.

Jon packing his bike

our own charter flight back to Nairobi from the Masai Mara: Grant, Jon, Bernie, Dave, Darren, Dimple, Jude and Alex

Bernie giving the giraffe a kiss

Jude giving the giraffe a kiss

Dave giving the giraffe a kiss

Jon giving the giraffe a kiss

Flying home Kenya Airways all of a sudden decide they want to charge for our bike boxes, but we finally manage to convince them we can board without paying for our bikes. It is getting harder and harder though…

We’re definitely putting the RVO on the calendar for September 2018. The question is, will we ride 3 or 5 days, and will you join us? Check out this little promo video of this year’s RVO (2.28min) maybe that will convince you?!