Meet locals, see Mt. Kilimanjaro on Kenya-to-Tanzania bicycle ride

See giraffes, zebras and elephants from a bicycle? That’s part of the draw of a cycling tour from Kenya to Tanzania that offers an intimate look at some of western Africa’s most iconic wild spots.

The 16-day guided ride includes visits to the foothills of Mt. Kilimanjaro and Amboseli National Park in Kenya and wildlife-rich Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania.

British-based Responsible Travel organizes the tour that starts in Nairobi, Kenya, and covers about 350 miles in 16 days before arriving at Dar es Salaam in Tanzania. Participants ride for 12 days, mostly on dirt backroads, to become more immersed in the lands they travel through.

“Social integration with the local people is a central part of our trips,” the company’s website says. “Simply traveling by bike is a great start -- a great way for our bikers and local people to meet and start a conversation.”

The group visits preschools along the way -- one Maasai school in Kenya and another in the Usambara Mountains of Tanzania -- and camps with families too. During daily rides, participants pedal through open savannah, the Maasai Steppe, and rain forest until they reach the coast in Tanzania. You can bring your own bike or rent one for about $260.

When: Tours start July 24 and Sept. 13. Dates in 2015 include June 13, July 2 and 21, and Aug. 9.

Price: $3,928 per person, double occupancy. It includes ground transportation with support vehicle, most meals, accommodations and activities. International airfare is extra.

Info: Biking Holiday in Kenya & Tanzania, 011-44-1273-823-700