About the race
A race like no other
The Grumeti Fund K2N is a 5-day mountain bike race (24 May - 1 June) in the scenic and seldom traveled backcountry of northern Tanzania. Cyclists race a prologue and 4 stages through stunning landscapes and extraordinary wildlife areas, from the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro to the shores of Lake Natron. The 5 days of racing are nestled inside a larger, all-inclusive 9 day / 8 night Tanzanian experience.
K2N offers varied terrain, spectacular scenery and wildlife viewing, and the opportunity for racers to experience an incredible new culture.
With the addition of a prologue in 2024, the course will be approximately 285 kilometers (177 mi) long with over 5220 meters (17125 ft) of vertical ascent.
An important note: K2N is Tanzania in its purest form; undiluted; unaltered; fully and resolutely in your face. Our trails are not groomed, but natural. We have thorns in sizes small, medium, and large. There will be hike-a-bike sections, probably more than you are accustomed to (bring LAST year’s trail shoes). To ride K2N is to experience northern Tanzania as it is, not as some cyclists wish it were.
food and accommodation
The Grumeti Fund K2N is an all-inclusive experience for 9 days and 8 nights. We provide all food (3 meals per day + race feed zones) and drink (alcohol included, friends), accommodation, race transport, logistics, park fees, and emergency evacuation insurance. Racers are responsible only for Tanzanian visas and flights in and out of Kilimanjaro Airport.
Accommodation for the first 7 nights is in four race villages complete with tents, mattresses, toilets, and simple hot water shower facilities. Food in race villages is fresh, delicious, and plenty. The coffee is hot, and the beers are cold. Our chefs have years of experience cooking in the backcountry and do not disappoint. Vegetarian dishes are available, and we do our best to provide for those with dietary restrictions. Racers will spend the last night at Mount Meru Game Lodge, where a post race celebration dinner will be held.
New for 2024! We’ve added an additional day of riding before stage one; a prologue ride through West Kili Forest Trails.
Who can ride?
Both professional and amateur mountain bikers, no qualification required. While K2N is a race, and we do record times for finishers, the course is designed to be enjoyable for both elites and adventurers. The front end will be fast, but many riders come primarily for the challenge, the scenery, and the wildlife — and we encourage these cyclists to turn up (it may just be they have the most fun).
Youth under the age of 18 must have a guardian’s permission to participate. Youth under 16 years old are not guaranteed entry, and must go through an application process. Email us for more info.
Participants are responsible for ensuring they arrive at K2N with the necessary fitness level to participate.
Full medical checkup by a doctor is recommended prior to K2N. Each rider must also provide proof of insurance and sign a personal indemnity form before participating.
race rules
The 2024 race rules will be made available to riders in pre-race participant emails. However, we’d like to stress a few important rules here:
K2N race categories are solo (male and female and duo teams (male, female, and mixed).
Do not be disrespectful of or rude to others.
Do not litter.
The rider is responsible for any and all bike repairs — and required spares — at all times. Participants should be able to manage their own bike builds, maintenance, and repairs. K2N washes all bikes post-race each day and will have mechanics on site to assist should you run into serious problems, but we do not have a bike drop-off / pickup service. Race mechanics will be available to assist in race villages, but not on course.
All bicycles must be outfitted with tubeless tyres. Bikes with tubes will absolutely NOT be allowed on course.
Any rider who does not complete A SINGLE STAGE, or who fails to complete ANY STAGE under the maximum allotted time, WILL be allowed to continue riding the next stage, but will NOT be classified as an official race finisher.
K2N has a two strikes policy: any rider who fails to complete A SECOND STAGE — for any reason — will not be permitted to begin another stage. We do not require a two strikes cyclist to leave the race; he/she may continue with us in a race or spectator vehicle of the director’s choosing. Should the two strikes cyclist choose to leave the race, transport and any additional costs will be the sole responsibility of the racer.
