Migration Gravel Race 2024: The Journey to Maasai Mara
By Mike Hadjioannou
Even though I promised daily updates from the Migration Gravel Race to keep friends updated and share the adventure, that wasn't possible. Life in the Maasai Mara is more challenging than you can imagine.
The Adventure Begins
The idea of riding this adventure/race in one of Kenya's wildest areas, the Maasai Mara, started almost a year before the race. It became more tangible in early 2024 when I decided to go for it. I checked the dates, booked flight tickets, scheduled time for training, and informed my son about my adventure in this wild place. By March, everything was sorted.
Preparation and Journey
Improving my fitness through regular biking was not easy, but I felt I was in good shape to finish the race decently without overexerting myself. However, things turned out differently.
The long journey from Cyprus to Nairobi via Cairo marked the beginning of "stage 0" of the race. After making it just in time to the bus that would take us from Nairobi to the base camp in the Mara, the adventure began. The route to the Mara was stunning but slightly uncomfortable in the big overlanders we used. Despite the sunny weather, the chill wind of the altitude was noticeable.
The Road to Maasai Mara
The tarmac road felt rough, or maybe the overlander lacked suspension. The real experience began when we turned off the tarmac road onto dirt roads leading to the base camp. We passed through small villages (Sharmas) where excited kids shouted "Jambo" (Hello) and waved as we passed by. Their joy was evident on their faces.
Another characteristic of the area was the use of motorbikes, called "boda boda," for transportation. These motorbikes, usually made for tarmac roads, were skillfully ridden on dirt roads by locals. The boda boda often carried three passengers, or sometimes a mix of people and animals or large items like wood sticks, sinks, or wardrobes.
The rough road to the Maasai Mara slowed us down, and some overlanders even got stuck in the mud. As we neared the base camp, the scenery became wilder, and we began to see giraffes, elephants, zebras, wildebeests, and beautiful birds. The adventure was becoming real!
Arrival at Base Camp
The base camp was peaceful, with tents set up and waiting for us. It was late afternoon, and the anticipation for the race was high. There were still tasks to complete, like assembling bikes, preparing food and spare parts, attending the race briefing, and having dinner. We went to bed early as the race was starting early the next morning.
Pre-Race Camaraderie
During dinner and the race briefing, I met fellow participants. The main topic of conversation was how to survive the four stages of the Migration Gravel Race 2024. Encouragement was abundant, and the motto was, “We will enjoy the route and we will make it,” slowly and steadily.
Night fell, and it was time to rest and gather the courage to start the next day's adventures. Stay tuned for the detailed reports of the racing days in the next blog story.
Photos and videos of the day: https://drive.google.com/file/d/128huFl65EQsi2DVraqdJTx34Ycx0wI4Z/view?usp=sharing
Stay tuned for more updates!
