Cycling guide
Machakos gravel ride: the Safari Gravel Series route
Machakos hosted the second leg of the 2025 LOOP Safari Gravel Series, organised by the Amani Project, on 8 March 2025. The routes ran through the hills and farmland of Machakos County on a mix of gravel roads and single track.
Safari Gravel Machakos 2027: date, venue, entry
Date: Machakos was not on the 2026 calendar, which had legs at Limuru, Hell's Gate, Vipingo and Mt Kenya. The organiser's homepage mentions Machakos alongside "see you all in 2027", but no date has been published.
Venue: the 2025 race was held in Machakos; press reports placed it at Machakos People's Park. No 2027 venue has been published.
Routes: in 2025 there was a kids' zone and three routes: Chui, 20 km; Duma, 60 km; and Simba, 120 km.
Entry fees and race pack: not published for 2027.
Official website: www.safariraceseries.com
Checked on 8 November 2026 against the official race website; confirm details there before you enter.
The route
The organiser describes a course through the hilly landscape of Machakos County, mixing smooth gravel roads, flowing single track and paths through local farmland. Flat sections let riders settle into a rhythm between short, punchy climbs.
The Simba route was advertised as 120 km. On our map, drawn from the organiser's GPX file, the loop covers about 102.6 km.
Riding around Machakos
Machakos sits on hilly ground surrounded by the Iveti hills. Founded in 1887, it was the first administrative centre of the colony before the capital moved to Nairobi in 1899. Machakos People's Park lies beside Maruba dam, the town's main water source.
Riding it
Plan for a long day in the hills:
- Pace the long route carefully: the climbs are short but they keep coming.
- Tyres with some grip help on the single track and farm paths.
- Carry water and sun protection; the open farmland has little shade.
Keep the ride on your wall
We print the Machakos route on the real terrain, so the hills around the town stand out in 3D with your line raised in colour. Add your name, date and time, or upload your own GPX.
Common questions
When is the Safari Gravel Machakos 2027?
No date has been published. Machakos was last raced on 8 March 2025 and was not on the 2026 calendar; check safariraceseries.com for the 2027 series.
How long is the Machakos gravel ride?
The longest route, Simba, was advertised as 120 km. On our map, drawn from the organiser's GPX file, it covers about 102.6 km.
What is the terrain like at Machakos?
Hilly, with gravel roads, single track and paths through farmland, broken up by flat sections and short, punchy climbs.
Who organises the Safari Gravel Series?
The Amani Project, with the LOOP banking app as title sponsor.
The maps in this guide
Safari Gravel, Machakos Framed 3D map · from KES 4,000 
LOOP Safari Gravel, Hell's Gate Framed 3D map · from KES 4,000 
LOOP Safari Gravel, Limuru Framed 3D map · from KES 4,000 
Ngong Hills traverse Framed 3D map · from KES 4,000 More guides
- Mt Kenya routes compared: Sirimon, Naro Moru and Chogoria
- Ngong Hills hike: distance, climbing and what to expect
- Gift ideas for runners in Kenya
- Mt Longonot hike: the crater rim loop explained
- Karura Forest walk: Gate A to Gate F
- Nairobi marathons: the StanChart and Nairobi City Marathon courses
- How to download a GPX file from Strava, Garmin and other watches
- Day hikes near Nairobi: Ngong Hills, Longonot and Karura
- The World Marathon Majors explained
- How to display your marathon medal and race bib
- Kilimanjaro routes compared: Marangu or Machame
- Three classic South Africa hikes: Table Mountain, Lion's Head and the Amphitheatre
- African marathons worth running: from Kilimanjaro to Comrades
- Berlin Marathon course guide: route, landmarks and 2027 entry
- Boston Marathon course guide: Hopkinton to Boylston Street
- Chicago Marathon course guide: the Grant Park loop and 2027 entry
- London Marathon course guide: Greenwich to The Mall
- New York City Marathon course guide: five boroughs and five bridges
- Sydney Marathon course guide: Harbour Bridge to the Opera House
- Tokyo Marathon course guide: Shinjuku to Tokyo Station
- Paris Marathon guide: the course, landmarks and the 2027 race
- Rotterdam Marathon course guide: Erasmus Bridge to the Coolsingel
- Valencia Marathon course guide: a flat, fast race in December
- Nairobi City Marathon: course, Expressway route and 2027 date
- Lagos City Marathon: the coastal road course and 2027 date
- Cape Town Marathon: course, Majors status and 2027 date
- Kilimanjaro Marathon: Moshi course, hills and 2027 date
- Two Oceans Ultra Marathon: the 56 km course and 2027 date
- Comrades Marathon: the down run course, hills and 2027 date
- Hell's Gate gravel ride: LOOP Safari Gravel route in Naivasha
- Limuru gravel ride: the LOOP Safari Gravel route through tea country
- Sirimon route, Mt Kenya: day by day to Point Lenana
- Naro Moru route, Mt Kenya: the direct way to Point Lenana
- Chogoria route, Mt Kenya: lakes, gorges and Point Lenana
- Marangu route, Kilimanjaro: hut by hut to Uhuru Peak
- Machame route, Kilimanjaro: day by day to Uhuru Peak
- Mount Meru climb: the Momella route to Socialist Peak
- Platteklip Gorge hike: the direct way up Table Mountain
- Lion's Head hike, Cape Town: the spiral path to the top
- Drakensberg Amphitheatre hike: Chain Ladders to Tugela Falls
- Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon 2027: course, date and entry
- Ol Donyo Sabuk hike: climbing Kilimambogo from the KWS gate
- Mt Suswa hike: the inner crater rim to the summit
- Ol Donyo Lesatima hike: the Aberdares' highest peak
- Elephant Hill hike, Aberdares: Njabini to the summit
- Kinangop via Elephant Hill: a two-day Aberdares trek
- Koitobos Peak hike: Mt Elgon's highest point in Kenya
- Hell's Gate gorge walk: into Ol Njorowa Gorge, Naivasha
- Kenya's best hikes: from Kilimambogo to Mt Elgon