Do I need a partner to enter?

Entry is in two-person teams to qualify for double KCRS series points. If you don't have a partner, you can register online as a solo rider and the organisers will try to pair you with someone on site. Contact info@mtkenyamtbseries.co.ke if you need help finding a team.

What does the two-person team format mean for the race?

Both team members race together on the course. Completing the event as a two-person team earns double points in the KCRS series standings compared to a solo entry.

Yes. A kids category is available for riders aged 8 to 16 years at KES 1,500 per child.

MTBAnnual Event

Kari MTB Challenge 2026

Q: What bike do I need?

The terrain is technical with significant climbing so a hardtail or full suspension MTB is strongly recommended. Road or gravel bikes are not suitable for this course.

Q: What is the KCRS series?

The Kenya Cycling Race Series (KCRS) is a season-long points competition where cyclists accumulate points across multiple events throughout the year to determine the overall best at the end of the season. The Kari Challenge is one of the qualifying events, and two-person team entries earn double points toward the overall standings.

Saturday, 25 July 2026 · 9:00 AM (Registration 7:00–8:45 AM | Briefing 8:45 AM)

Hailed as the best one-day mountain bike event in Kenya, the Kari Challenge is an integral part of the KCRS series. Two-person teams race approximately 60km of technical terrain, earning double KCRS points. Solo entrants can be paired on site.

KALRO Retreat Centre Muguga, Kikuyu

9:00 AM (Registration 7:00–8:45 AM | Briefing 8:45 AM)

~60km

~1,200m

KES 4,000 per 2-person team→KES 1,500 per child (8–16yrs)

Mt Kenya MTB Series

+254 722 344 885, info@mtkenyamtbseries.co.ke

www.mtkenyamtbseries.co.ke

@mtkenyamtbseries Facebook @MtKeMTBseries

www.mtkenyamtbseries.co.ke/my-account

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Event Highlights

Hailed as Kenya's best one-day mountain bike event - now in its 14th year

Part of the Mt Kenya Cycling Race Series (KCRS); two-person teams earn double series points

~60km of technical terrain with approximately 1,200m of climbing

Open to all levels: adult teams and kids aged 8–16 years

Solo riders can register and be paired with a partner on site

Race Distance

~60km

Race Fees

Category	Fee	Status
Adult Team Entry (2 persons) Two-person team entry. Qualifies for double KCRS series points. Solo riders may be paired on site.	KES 4,000	Available
Kids Entry (8–16yrs) Per child entry for riders aged 8 to 16 years.	KES 1,500	Available

Course Details

The Kari Challenge covers approximately 60km on the technical trails around KARI in Kikuyu (including the scening Gacuthi and Bama Forest), with around 1,200m of elevation gain. The terrain demands technical skill, stamina, and endurance - loose singletrack, punchy climbs, and fast descents typical of the Kikuyu highlands. A hardtail or full suspension MTB is strongly recommended. Teams race together; both members must finish for the result to count toward KCRS double points.

Event Schedule

7:00 AMRegistration opens

8:45 AMRegistration closes & race briefing

9:00 AMRace start

Getting There

KALRO (Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization) Muguga is in Kikuyu, approximately 27km northwest of Nairobi CBD via the A104 Nairobi–Nakuru highway. The drive from central Nairobi takes around 46 minutes. From Gitaru interchange the venue is just a few kilometres further along the A104. Parking is available on site.

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Did You Know?

🌍One of the forces behind the Kari Challenge, Julie Matiba-Wahome, is the founder of Extreme Outdoors Africa and Africa Extreme, an Ivy League alumna (Cornell University), and a hospitality and outdoor sports professional with over 25 years of experience across East Africa.

🌍The Kari Challenge has been running since around 2012-2013, making the 2026 edition approximately its 14th year.

🌍David Kinjah, founder of Safari Simbaz and another force behind Kari, is one of the most celebrated figures in Kenyan cycling and famously mentored Chris Froome during his early years in Kenya.

🌍Jordan Schleck, one of the event's most celebrated alumni, went on to compete in some of the toughest MTB races in the United States after developing his skills on Kari's trails.

🌍The Kari Challenge is one of the events in the Kenya Cycling Race Series (KCRS), a season-long series where cyclists accumulate points across multiple events throughout the year to determine the overall best at the end of the season. Two-person team entries at Kari earn double series points.

🌍KARLO Muguga terrain sits at around 1,800m above sea level in the Kikuyu highlands, adding an altitude element to the physical demands of the course.