Nairobi Chapel’s Reverend Nick Korir and his crew of speed bike enthusiasts are on the fourth leg of their whirlwind tour around Africa to raise money for the church’s education fund. Here’s his account on how the journey has been so far:
DAY ONE: The harsh reality of leaving home for the next four months hit me as I rode out at 6:15 am on Saturday, January 18, to join the team at Shell petrol station near Signature Mall.
This marked the beginning of legs two, three and four of our adventure around Africa.
The turnout of bikers was humbling and affirming. Friends and families’ support gave us strength as we started the epic journey.
The ride along Mombasa Road was smooth and relaxed, only interrupted by water breaks and lunch at Mtito Andei.
Apart from a minor technical hitch on one bike— which was quickly resolved—the day was uneventful until we met Pwani bikers at Shell petrol station in Mariakani.
They outnumbered us and their energy and excitement was infectious. As we rode into Mombasa, navigating miles of lorry traffic, disaster struck. One biker lost control at a corner, plunging into a shallow ravine.
Shocked and shaken, we rushed to provide first aid, called an ambulance and used a stretcher from one of our bikes to assist. He was taken to the hospital, leaving us in disbelief.
We cancelled our plans to ride into the city and instead accompanied him to the hospital.
That evening, we sat with the Pwani bikers leaders for dinner which was filled with fellowship and gratitude. Their hospitality, generosity and support reminded us why this journey is so special.
DAY TWO: From Mombasa to Tanga in Tanzania: After a quick stop at the iconic Mapembeni Tusks in Mombasa for breakfast, we bid farewell to the Pwani bikers, who escorted us down the stunning Dongo Kundu Bypass towards Lunga Lunga border.
Along the way, bikers from Diani and Ukunda joined us, making the ride even more memorable.
At the border, what we hoped would be a quick clearance turned into a four-hour ordeal.
By the time we crossed into Tanzania at 4:30 pm, we had to quickly change our plans.
That evening, we collectively agreed to have an impromptu day of rest in Tanga to recover and refocus.
DAY 3: Rest Day in Tanga: After a late morning and an extended breakfast, we spent the day at the serene Tanga Yacht Club. It was a day to rest, reflect and regroup.
As much as this journey is about adventure, it is also deeply rooted in purpose: Supporting the Logos Endowment Fund, which provides education for life and eternity.
You can join us in this mission by contributing to Paybill 8060305, using your name as the account number. Every donation helps us move close er to this greater goal as we ride across Africa.
DAY FOUR: Tanga to Iringa: We made our earliest start at 6 am to tackle the 650-km journey from Tanga to Iringa. Joined by Jones, a biker friend from Dar es Salaam, we rode through Chalinze and Morogoro, enjoying smooth progress and breathtaking landscapes.
Lunch at Morogoro featured the classic Tanzanian delicacy, Chips Mayai, fueling us for what turned out to be the most picturesque ride of the trip so far—a lush green valley flanked by mountains clothed in every imaginable shade of green.
As we approached Iringa, the clouds grew menacing, threatening to drench us. Somehow, we escaped by a whisker, though Leo claims he was rained on.
By 6 pm, we were comfortably checked-in and ready to rest.
DAY FIVE : Iringa to Matema: We started day five with our usual early start—breakfast at 6:30 am followed by departure at 7 am.
Iringa’s high altitude greeted us with a chilly morning, a refreshing change after days of Tanzania’s scorching heat.
Layered up, we braved the long ride towards Mbeya, traversing expansive cornfields, extensive tea plantations and high-altitude forests.
As we rode up from Iringa into the foggy highlands of Mafinga and Makambako, the threat of rain loomed ever so present.
Approaching Uyole, the skies began to clear and the warmth returned just in time for us to shed our jackets.
Entering the tea plantations of Kyela.
I couldn’t help but feel at home—it was just like Kericho. We had a late lunch at Uyole, savouring the local flavours before spending the night next to the Songwe border (Tanzania-Malawi) in Matema town.
This
strategic stop allows us to explore
Lake Nyasa and prepare for our
second border crossing.
