Into the Wild — Tanzania Motorcycle Expedition

When we started designing our motorcycle trip to Tanzania, these dreams were a big part of the inspiration: not just seeing Africa, but actually moving through it, at ground level, with time to notice what’s happening around you. Riding across open savannahs, meeting people where everyday life unfolds, watching Kilimanjaro change colour with the light, and finishing it all on the absurdly turquoise shores of Zanzibar. In the conversation below, Norbert Major, our seasoned globetrotter and long-time motorcycle guide, shares what it’s really like to experience Africa this way, from the saddle and far beyond the obvious routes.

Tanzania is one of our most popular destinations. Why do you think that is?

I think a lot of people have this healthy fear of going to Africa on their own, but at the same time they’re super curious about what it’s actually like. It’s really, really good. Tanzania somehow gives you both sides at once: you’ve got proper comfort, but you’re also right in the middle of real Africa: dusty roads, villages, everyday life. That contrast is what makes it work so well. You get the nature, the animals, the savannah, all the Africa you imagine. There’s a reason people call it the cradle of humankind. Being there feels like you’re reconnecting with something pretty basic and human again.

You’ve ridden motorcycles in a lot of places around the world. Where does Tanzania sit on your personal map? Does it mean something special to you?

It’s easily one of my absolute favourite places. Riding out in the middle of nowhere can be incredibly exciting, you genuinely have no idea what’s waiting for you around the next corner. One moment school kids are launching a full-on attack for your last piece of chocolate, the next you’re riding through the endless savannah, right among wildebeest and gazelles. It’s a massive experience.

The people add a lot to it too. They’re kind, humble, curious, but never pushy. Mostly they’re just trying to figure out what this strangely light-skinned guy is doing there. A smile almost always breaks the ice. And then there are the places we stay. One of GoBeyond’s most beautiful accommodations is in Tanzania.

What kind of preconceptions do riders most often arrive with when coming to Africa, and which ones disappear first?

Luckily, most of our guests arrive already quite open and curious, but it’s completely natural that questions around safety and quality sit in the back of people’s minds at the beginning. That usually lasts until we reach the first place we stay. That’s when jaws tend to drop, and things click into place: okay, everything’s fine here, we’re in good hands, and this trip is going to be seriously good.

What was the biggest surprise for you in Africa when you first came here?

I travel a lot, and I’m more of a curious, adaptable type than someone who gets easily surprised. But if I had to point out one thing, it would be the quality of services and the flexibility of people. There’s a certain laid-back attitude to everything, which took some time to get used to, especially when it comes to time management. Time isn’t a rigid concept there, an hour doesn’t necessarily mean sixty minutes. That adjustment didn’t come instantly.

Why is motorcycling a good way to break down the “Africa myth”?

Because on a motorcycle, you see the real Africa, not the display window. You’re not moving through activities designed for tourists, but riding through places where very few visitors ever go. You enter villages where strangers rarely show up, and you immediately feel people’s genuine curiosity.

The wildlife isn’t a set piece either, the animals are truly wild. They don’t approach you or beg for food; they get startled and run off, exactly as they should. And you don’t see Kilimanjaro from just one iconic viewpoint, but from all sides, in different light and different situations. All of this happens while you’re fully supported and safe. If anything happens to you or the bike, the team is right there, paying attention and helping out.

How challenging is the terrain? And what’s the “African factor” that European off-road riders aren’t prepared for?

You need to be a confident rider, and some off-road experience definitely helps. You should expect long days, heat, and dusty roads. But most of the route is absolutely doable, and the majority of riders handle it without issues. There are one or two trickier sections where you need to stay focused, but nothing extreme. And one more thing: always watch out for zebras — not because of pedestrians, but so you don’t accidentally hit one. I mean the animal.

Is there any local custom or gesture worth knowing so you don’t feel like just another tourist?

Absolutely. One of the most important expressions is “pole-pole,” which basically means slowly, slowly. Where are you rushing to? Why the hurry? Relax — you’re on holiday. Time there is completely subjective, and in many places it almost feels like it doesn’t really exist at all. People aren’t rushing anywhere, because there’s no real reason to. That’s something we Westerners, used to everything running on the minute, need a bit of time to adjust to. This mindset fits perfectly with another familiar phrase: Hakuna Matata. No worries.

How open are locals toward motorcyclists?

Riding motorcycles is part of everyday life for them, so there’s no weirdness around it at all. What really stands out is the contrast between us and them. We Europeans tend to overprepare everything: helmet, gloves, body armour, top-of-the-line jacket, pants, boots — and if the tyres are even slightly worn, we start questioning our life choices. Meanwhile, over there you’ll casually see three people on one bike, wearing flip-flops and a shuka (traditional Maasai clothing), riding on twenty-year-old, fully slick tyres with no tread left — on the same terrain, at the same speed. Sometimes even faster. Just watching that is an experience in itself. And somewhere along the way, you can’t help but start wondering: am I maybe overthinking life a bit?

What experience do participants most often remember afterward?

It’s almost always the people first — their openness, warmth, and that natural curiosity they welcome you with. No matter how remote the place where we stop, there’s always a Maasai or a kid watching with genuine interest, trying to figure out what these strange guys are doing there. And what’s funny is that even the dogs seem relaxed, chilled, and friendly. Of course, the nature and wildlife stay with people too. Herds of zebras, giraffes, sometimes elephants, gazelles everywhere. I mean, that’s why you come to Africa in the first place, right?

If you could take just one thing home from Tanzania, besides the riding, what would it be?

That’s an easy one: pole-pole and hakuna matata.