Our Approach
Embracing our adventurous nature is fundamental to what we do and offer – it’s why it’s in our name. It opens up new opportunities for us all to unearth and explore, whether you’re seasoned cyclists or true beginners.
And it’s for that reason that we believe that the ride or the journey is just as important as the final destination. It’s not just about reaching the end. It’s about being engaged in the journey that takes you from start to finish. All the things you get to see and experience, and the people you meet along the way.
Building strong partnerships with the local Tanzanian communities not only offers up important ways to support them in their work, but it also keeps things running smoothly for our adventures. And allows us to provide our riders with truly once-in-a-lifetime experiences.
Responsible tourism
Tanzanian Velo Adventures is fully committed to responsible tourism, aiming to strike harmony between nature, the local culture and our guests.
As one of Africa’s most popular tourist destinations, Tanzania is no stranger to the negative effects of tourism. However, we are committed to maximising the positive effects, and minimising the negative environmental, economic, and social impact in our adventures around the country.
In all aspect of our business activities, we attempt to ensure that the environment and communities remain profitable for future generations. Specifically, that means generating income through the employment of local staff, or contributing a share of TVA profit to local charities and organisations that focus on the conservation of local ecosystems or capacity building programmes.
Here’s more detail on our aims across the most important areas to us:
OUR STAFF & PARTNERS
As a minimum, we guarantee well-trained, courteous local staff who pledge to live our values, and act in the interests of both our guests and the communities into which we operate.
In addition:
• All our lead guides are very experienced, qualified and understand our pledge towards sustainable tourism
• Other staff and drivers are properly certified to the level expected of their duties and responsibilities
• We choose our partners and collaborators based on our shared values
We partner with Safari Bookings.
THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT
Cycling through the national parks not only gives our guests a unique perspective of the animals’ natural habitat, but it has a far lower impact on the physical environment and on the animals themselves – it’s quieter and leaves the wildlife undisturbed by loud and unnatural sound.
Other than bicycle tyre tracks on a designated path, our absolute aim is to leave no trace behind; everything that we take with us, including lunch boxes, energy bar wrappers etc., come back with us to ensure the environment is left unspoiled. We use refillable water bottles, and have a strict recycling policy.
OUR GUESTS
Our responsibility to our guests is to ensure that they do not treat Tanzania as merely a safari theme park. We will do this by:
• Providing educational information about the places that they visit – its history, people and cultures
• Offering them an amazing experience that reflects the unique characters of these places.
• Ensuring that they feel safe to enjoy their experience with us. Their safety is of paramount importance to us, and we work hard to ensure we anticipate any potential dangers.
THE LOCAL CULTURE
In return, we encourage our guests to:
• Respect local people, their culture and history
• Purchase and use environmentally-friendly, local products and services i.e. gifts and crafts
• Interact with local people and their communities
• Visit and support local cafes, bars and cultural attractions
• Support our partners directly or through us
• Follow the provisions of Tanzanian laws and regulations, of which we will make them aware
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Chris Mdee
Director
Chris was born and raised in the remote village of Uchira near Moshi, at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro. As a child, Chris was fascinated by tourism and the visitors whom he would see travelling through his village, often running after them shouting what he thought were English words in an effort to engage with them. And as an adult, the appeal of experiencing the exotic and travelling to inaccessible places has remained, particularly on a bike.
Before moving to the UK in 2005, bikes were purely a means to an end for Chris; he would ride long distances to fetch water and carry products to, and from, the local market for his mum. But since living in the UK, cycling has become his true passion. He commutes ninety percent of his 32-mile round trip by bike, and he has ridden through places he would never have imagined as a child; from the Dales and Moors of West and North Yorkshire to the Cols and Alpes of France. All in search of sportive with an adventurous twist.
While he can appreciate the reasons why members of his cycling club disappear to places like Mallorca every year, Chris believes there is a real gap in the market for an alternative adventure. Through the cycling tours and events in which he has taken part, he has acquired a vast amount of knowledge and experience. And he knows what both participants and organisers expect and value. He’s also extremely passionate about his homeland – from its rich natural beauty and wildlife, to its friendly people and diverse, yet cohesive culture. All this makes him extremely qualified to run Tanzanian Velo Adventures and encourage others to discover all of the country’s hidden gems.
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George Mbwambo
Director
George has been a safari guide and driver for the past 10 years, showing countless tourists Tanzania’s hidden gems.
Born in 1986 in the Southern Pare Mountains with an immediate appreciation for nature, he saw first-hand the benefits of bringing eco-tourism to small communities, and he aspired to establish himself within the industry. He remembers walking 30 kilometres multiple times a week as a small child, selling bananas at the local market in order to fund himself through school, eventually earning a certificate from the Mweka College of Wildlife Management. He continually works hard not only to fund the education of his three young sons, but also to encourage his extended family to become involved in his passion and enter the tourism industry.
George has dreamt of opening his own eco-tourism company, bringing visitors deeper into the communities that he cherishes, and unearthing a rich cultural experience for them, while at the same time empowering the local people by delivering opportunities to enrich their lives and villages. He also wants to make tourism available to visitors of all ages and walks of life, and to encourage longer stays by specializing in custom travel itineraries. George especially enjoys meeting and hosting new travellers, aiming to learn as much from them as he has to impart from his own seemingly endless supply of information.