Of Chows and Dhows

What do you get when you mix ziplining with cycling? You get sky cycling! I first learnt about this activity on Instagram, from videos of people doing it in El Salvador and it looked thrilling. So when I saw a Tiktok of someone sky cycling in Kenya, I knew I had to do it! Currently, there is only one place that offers sky cycling in Kenya and that is Burudani Adventure Park.

Located in lush Limuru, Burudani Adventure Park is your go-to place for adrenaline-inducing activities such as high ropes, ziplining and the star of the show, sky cycling. The weather in Nairobi and its surrounding areas has been very chilly and I was worried that it would not be the best time to go sky cycling. Luckily, my chi was awake and on a sunny, albeit cool Sunday morning, armed with Google Maps and bravado, we headed to the Park.

Watch what went down here.

Burudani Adventure Park

Location

Burudani Adventure Park is located in the Mabrouke area of Limuru, about an hour away from Nairobi CBD. The road is in good condition and you will enjoy spectacular views of the surrounding tea farms as you draw closer. There is an 800m stretch from the main road that is treacherous but a 2WD will make it. I reckon accessing the Park on rainy days would be an extreme sport. The directions from Google Maps are pretty accurate.

The Park is accessible via public means. Board a matatu to Nazareth Hospital and alight at the citizen booster_mabroukie. From there you can board a boda boda that will lead you straight to the Park.

First Impressions

The Park lacks a formal entrance and from the parking lot, you are able to see the entire place. You will notice that the buildings look new, some parts are under construction and the flower beds are young. I later came to learn that the establishment is only three months old. What sets the Park apart is the incredible view of the tea farms encircling it.

Sky Cycling at Burudani Adventure Park

The first thing we did was sign a waiver. Sky cycling is a high-risk activity and whilst the probability of an accident happening is low, there remains a possibility. After that you are kitted out in safety gear, that is, a helmet and a harness. What follows next is a safety briefing and you are good to go.

At this point in time, I was very anxious. You see, yours truly cannot cycle. The thought of falling off the line terrified me. The staff were very helpful in addressing my concerns. They calmed me down, assuring me that anyone can partake in the activity regardless of whether they can cycle. Sky cycling is safe as you are strapped on a harness, which would hold you down in the unlikely event that you fall off, and, the bicycle itself is held up on the sky cycle line and track.

I opted to go last and so I had the benefit of seeing the process. This was very reassuring and it built up my confidence.

Sky Cycling

Climbing up the makeshift ladder was no joke. What you do not see, is how wobbly it is and how far apart the steps are. You have to use your hands and legs to reach the next step, which reminded me of wall climbing. You are advised to clip the carabiners on the harness onto the ladder with each step you make so that in the event that the ladder flips you do not fall down.

The difficult part is done and on to the fun part. Upon reaching the platform you get briefed on how to cycle. Climbing onto the bike was a feat in itself. I will leave that part to your imagination and you can let me know what your experience was when you go sky cycling. Let’s just say it took me back to bungee jumping.

Johnson was so kind and patient with me. I am the type to come up with all the excuses in the book to avoid doing something scary. At this point, I contemplated going ziplining because it is much easier. However, here at OCD, we are all about seeking discomfort and doing things that scare us. I put on my big girl pants and got to work.

I got onto the bike, and immediately, Johnson let go. Instinctually I just started pedalling. I was one with the wind and excitement coursed through my veins. There are no words to explain the rush, it is something you must experience. I was so amped up but as luck would have it, I got stuck. On the plus side, it is completely normal and the groups ahead of us faced the same issue so I was very calm. There is an incline towards the end of the line so you have to apply more pressure to the pedals. I was pulled to the end manually and that was that.

I would do it again and contemplated going back for a second round but the thought of climbing back up drained me.

Once I was done, we had some delicious lunch and were good to go. They have a restaurant on site where you can enjoy a meal and rejuvenate after spending your energy on the activities (or screaming out your lungs). It would be best to start off with the activities and then have your meal after.

Activities

Other than sky cycling, Burudani Adventure Park offers different activities such as High Ropes and Ziplining. They host team buildings and will set up camping grounds and introduce other activities with time.

The High Ropes have three levels that vary depending on height and complexity. The highest level ends with a zipline. However, you can do the zip line without going through the high ropes courses.

Burudani Adventure Park Rates

Sky Cycling Kshs 1,000 for adults and Kshs 800 for kids

High Ropes Kshs 1,500

High Ropes plus Ziplining Kshs 1,500 for adults and Kshs 1,300 for kids

Ziplining Kshs 1,000

Things to note about Sky Cycling at Burudani Adventure Park

• I highly recommend Burudani Adventure Park for people of all ages. It’s a good location for Team building and groups.
• The place gets windy. remember to carry a jumper.
• Because of the nature of the activities, it is best to dress in comfortable clothes and shoes. Preferably, athleisure and gym wear.
• If you plan on eating, be sure to order your meal before starting the activities because the food takes a while to be prepared.
• Remember that sky cycling is for all adventure junkies, whether you can cycle or not. So please do not let the fear limit you, have an open mind.
• As with all similar activities, challenge yourself and have a positive mindset. Have fun and enjoy the ride.
• Children can do the activities but I would recommend it for those above ten. Please reach out to Burudani Adventure Park for more information on the same. You can find them on social media platforms at Burudani Adventure Park or call them at 0115707820/0115008562.

Conclusion

I would highly recommend sky cycling and Burudani Adventure Park in general. Given that they are fairly new, I know they are only going to get better. If you are not into adventure activities you can still pass by for a meal, the crisp fresh air, and spectacular views.

Here are more things you can do in Limuru.

I hope this post inspired you to try sky cycling and to push yourself out of your comfort zone.

Thanks for sticking around and until next time,

Do hard things!