How to Reach the Summit of Mount Kilimanjaro by Motorcycle? An Altitude Record in Africa
Tanzania, africa
20,000 km
5,895 m
hard
Year-round
Picture this: Africa's majestic Mount Kilimanjaro, its peak reaching a staggering 19,341 feet (5,895 meters). And get this - back in '74, a group of adventurous souls from Moto Club Igualada actually rode a Bultaco Sherpa T 250cc motorcycle to the very top!
This wasn't your average Sunday drive. We're talking about navigating through Kilimanjaro National Park, adjusting to the altitude, and tackling unforgiving terrain of snow and ice. Along the way, they crossed volcanic rock scree without assistance.
Their journey started in Igualada, Spain, drove to Algeciras by road, then embarked to Tangier and crossed Africa from north to south, covering a massive 20,000 kilometers, crossing the Algerian Sahara on the way back. The route took them through multiple countries, before finally arriving at the mountain, starting at the Marangu Hotel. The team reached Gilman’s Point at 5,820 meters, eventually making their way to Uhuru Peak.
While not necessarily paved, it's a road with a view - one that few have ever experienced from the seat of a motorcycle!
Where is it?
How to Reach the Summit of Mount Kilimanjaro by Motorcycle? An Altitude Record in Africa is located in Tanzania (africa). Coordinates: -5.7717, 33.3625
Road Details
- Country
- Tanzania
- Continent
- africa
- Length
- 20,000 km
- Max Elevation
- 5,895 m
- Difficulty
- hard
- Coordinates
- -5.7717, 33.3625
Related Roads in africa
moderateClivia Pass: a curvy paved road to the summit
🇿🇦 South Africa
Okay, thrill-seekers, listen up! Let me tell you about Clivia Pass in Mpumalanga, South Africa. This road climbs to almost 2,000 meters (that's over 6,400 feet!), so you know the views are gonna be epic. Now, a word of warning: This ain't your Sunday drive kinda road. It's paved, sure, but it's twisty, turny, and can be a real handful. Think hairpin after hairpin, with some seriously steep sections thrown in (we're talking 1-in-5 gradients!). Plus, you'll be sharing the road with big trucks who sometimes hog the whole lane. Seriously, stay alert. Despite the challenges, the scenery is absolutely stunning. Just be careful out there!
moderateA tricky desert road to Fish River Canyon
🇳🇦 Namibia
Okay, picture this: you're in Namibia, ready for an adventure. Head south, almost to the South African border, and you'll stumble upon Fish River Canyon, Africa's grandest canyon! Seriously, this place is HUGE. Think 160 kilometers (100 miles) long, 27 kilometers (17 miles) wide, and a staggering 550 meters (1,800 feet) deep. Some say it's second only to the Grand Canyon. To get there, you'll want a 4x4 because the 57km (35 mile) road from the C10 is pure, unadulterated dirt. You're smack-dab in the Namibian desert here, so prepare for serious remoteness. Cell service? Forget about it. But trust me, the views are worth it! Think dramatic landscapes that'll leave you breathless. It's the perfect road trip for those craving a raw, untamed experience.
extremeWhy is Erta Ale volcano famous?
🇪🇹 Ethiopia
Okay, adventure junkies, buckle up, because the road to Ethiopia's Erta Ale volcano in the Afar Region is not for the faint of heart! We're talking serious off-roading through some of the most brutal landscapes on the planet. Erta Ale, a 613-meter (2,011 ft) basaltic shield volcano, is known as the "Smoking Mountain" and the "Gateway to Hell" for a reason. It's in the Danakil Depression, one of the hottest, driest, and lowest spots on Earth, and this bad boy has been erupting pretty much non-stop since '67! The 80 km (49.70 miles) stretch from Afdera to Erta Ale will take you around 6 hours of bouncing and bumping along completely unpaved tracks of sand and jagged lava rock, often with dust swirling everywhere. The landscape is a mix of solidified lava flows, rocks, and sand, with the occasional mind-blowing oasis popping up. You can get within about 4.3 miles of the volcano itself. Now, for the reality check: this region is no walk in the park. Think scorching temperatures (77°F to 118°F), plus the need to hire armed guards or police due to political instability in the area. You'll be driving through areas known for landmines, terrorism, malaria, the risk of kidnapping and banditry, and even armed attacks. A German tourist was even fatally shot near the volcano back in 2017. So, yeah, extreme caution is the name of the game here. It's an experience that will test your limits, but the views? Unforgettable.
easyHow long is R703 road in the High Atlas?
🇲🇦 Morocco
R703 is a scenic high mountain road located in the eastern part of the High Atlas Mountains in Morocco. How long is R703 road in the High Atlas? The road is 83.2km (51.69 miles) long. It runs south-north from R317 Road (near Agoudal, a small mountain town at an elevation of 2.300m-7,545ft above sea level) to N10 Road, near Tinghir, also known as Tinerhir (a city in the region of Tinghir, south of the High Atlas). Is the R703 road in Morocco paved? It’s a pretty spectacular road in parts, running through (subject to flooding) and climbing up to , a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.675m (8,776ft) above sea level and subject to winter closures. The gorge requires a careful driving (water flows over the road) in the rain. The road was fully paved in 2014. Do not travel this road in severe weather conditions. Ziz Gorges: A Comprehensive Travel Guide Driving to Jbel Ayachi, one of Africa's highest roads Embark on a journey like never before! Navigate through our to discover the most spectacular roads of the world Drive Us to Your Road! With over 13,000 roads cataloged, we're always on the lookout for unique routes. Know of a road that deserves to be featured? Click to share your suggestion, and we may add it to dangerousroads.org.