The thrill of quad biking at Lukenya Motorcross

Quad biking is giving adventurous Kenyans a thrill of their life with Lukenya Motorcross being the latest to offer the fun-filled activity. For many people, weekends have been reserved for quad biking in the rough terrains of Lukenya hills.

Forty-five kilometres away from Nairobi, the motorcross is gaining popularity among lovers of adventure.

A quad bike looks like a mini-car with four wheels; similar to what is used on golf courses. But it has handles and brakes that operate like a bicycle.

The bikes are all-terrain vehicles and can be used on rocky, sandy areas, making them the best for adventure exploration.

Mike Wamae who runs the Lukenya Motorcross says the sport has picked up over the past five years with more people making bookings.

“We phased out the motor bikes because of the high cost of maintenance and brought in the quads. We wanted to provide an alternative form of recreation for people who cannot afford to own them. At the moment 95 per cent of our clients are from Nairobi,” he said.

On average, a bike costs between  Sh800,000 and  Sh1.5 million depending on the brand, if it is automatic or semi-automatic. The semi-automatic model is more intensive to ride and it is often preferred by more experienced individuals.

To be a quad bike rider, all you need is confidence. While the size of quad bike can be intimidating to most first-time users, it’s easy to ride as most are automatic.

Charges per hour

Majority of the 10 bikes in the motorcross are automatic, so even if you are an inexperienced rider you can easily handle them.

The motorcross charges Sh2,000 for every half-hour session per bike and Sh4,000 for one hour rides. If two riders share a quad bike for an hour they pay Sh3,500. Families and corporates can get discounted pricing and those riding for long times.

Mr Wamae says August to December are normally their busiest months even among corporate clients. The motorcross has a small area  where children can practise, riding under the supervision of instructors.

Adults can take also practise in this area before hitting the rough terrains.

Thrill in quarry

More experienced riders or those looking for a thrill in a challenging terrains can venture into the famous quarry area, which requires manoeuvring skills to navigate through the corners and turns; lest you end up crashing into one of the sand dunes.

For safety, every rider is required to wear a jump suit and helmet and undergo basic safety instructions before riding through the rough terrains.

“One thing we normally tell our guests is that they need to avoid the temptation to race and to keep a 10-metre distance between each rider because most of  them will end up speeding and crushing into the bushes,” Mr Wamae said.

In addition to enjoying the beautiful scenery of Lukenya  Hills while riding, quaders as they are popularly known, also have an opportunity to see zebras, hyenas and giraffes.

The quad biking business does not thrive without challenges.

“One of the greatest challenges we have is the downtime when we have mechanical problems with the bikes because we normally get the spare parts from outside the country,” Mr Wamae says.

Other areas

Quad biking has also picked up in other parts of the country. In Kiganjo town near Nyeri, for instance, a new two kilometre track has been opened at Chaka Ranch Leisure Park for quad biking.

The park has a section for children, the Toto Track, where kids as young as six years old enjoying rides in small quad bikes. Children aged 14 years and above are charged Sh2,500 to race within the park and Sh3,000 if they choose to ride through the forest or Chaka dam.

In south coast Mombasa, several  hotels have also invested in a few bikes to quench the thirst of their adventurous customers.

Kaskazi Beach Hotel, for instance, has partnered with African Quads company based in Diani to organise local expeditions for guests.

Tafaria Castle which overlooks the Laikipia plains and the Aberdare Ranges also has some quad bikes to add onto the numerous activities that guests can engage in while at their nano-conservancy.

Experienced quad bike riders can have an extreme outdoor experience exploring Kenya’s northern frontier with Latitude Adventures, for instance, which organises one day expeditions.

Sirikoi Lodge within the Lewa Conservancy also offers day safaris on quad bikes through the Ngare Ndare forest.