17-day mountain bike trip in Western Uganda

As soon as you set foot on Ugandan soil, you are introduced to the cheerful vibes of this country. The customs officer takes plenty of time to warmly welcome you to their country. You immediately feel more than welcome. A beautiful start to this journey through Uganda. Depending on your arrival time, you can spend the afternoon recovering from your flight. Relax on the nearby beach or by the pool at the 2 Friends Beach Hotel in Entebbe. This pleasant town is the former capital of Uganda and, at the same time, the perfect place to unwind. Are you bringing your own mountain bike? Then you have this afternoon or the following morning to assemble it. The Ugandan team is more than happy to help you. If you are renting a mountain bike, it will be waiting for you the next morning, fully adjusted to your size.

Meals: Not included

Accommodation: 2 Friends Beach Hotel

Day 2 of this journey in Uganda is dedicated to a long transfer and testing the bikes. Our team, the Ugandan guides, and the drivers are ready, and we all get into the minibus together. You will make several stops along the way. For example, you cross the equator (wow!) and enjoy the ever-lively Uganda. See something along the way you want to stop for? Just tell the driver, and they will be more than happy to pull over. After a warm welcome at the accommodation, you have time to test your mountain bike. This ensures you are well prepared for the real adventure that begins tomorrow.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Accommodation: The Coffee Lodge at Clarke Farm

Today, the cycling in Uganda truly begins. With butterflies in your stomach and a delicious cup of fresh Ugandan coffee inside you, you get on your mountain bike. You cycle through beautiful forests and along the river of Semuliki National Park to a local market. Taste the delicious flavour of fresh mangoes and bananas here, which taste so much better than back home. Once your energy reserves are replenished, the route continues across a challenging yet stunning landscape. You cycle along the flanks of Mount Rwenzori – which means ‘Mountains of the Moon’ – where you are treated to an enchanting view time and again. Satisfied, you finally begin the descent to the lodge. A wonderful first day of cycling on this journey through Uganda.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Accommodation: Kyaninga Royal Cottages

Fort Portal is characterised by an imposing view of the Rwenzori Mountains. Here you will find Mount Rwenzori (the highest mountain in Uganda) and Mount Mawenzi, both impressive peaks soaring above 5,000 metres. You look out over these mountains featuring lush forests and snow-capped peaks. Once you have taken that in, today’s route begins. You cycle past several crater lakes, spotting endless banana trees and farms along the way. Around midday, you stop for lunch amidst the immensely green flora, with the sounds of many birds and frogs in the background. After lunch, you descend into Kibale Forest National Park. Hundreds of species of chimpanzees, colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, and olive baboons live here. Will you keep track of how many different types of monkeys you spot? On the way to your overnight stay, you ride through local villages, constantly enjoying fantastic views over tea plantations. You conclude this third day of cycling in Uganda with a real “banana experience”. What does that entail? We’ll keep that a secret for now. One thing is certain: you are guaranteed to have a great time.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Accommodation: Bweza Lodge

On this day of your extraordinary journey through Uganda, you first cycle on a paved road. That is quite nice after all the swirling red dust from the dirt tracks. You cycle through the final section of Kibale National Park, waving one last time at the cheeky baboons sitting by the roadside. After that, the red dust of the unpaved paths greets you once again. You cycle past banana and coffee plantations to Rwimi, being cheerfully greeted along the way by children shouting “Mzungu!”. While enjoying a drink in a Ugandan bar, you wait for the transfer. This takes you to Simba Safari Camp, located on the edge of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Once there, you can enjoy a panoramic view over the vast savannah plains and, with a bit of luck, spot various wild animals.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Accommodation: Simba Lodge

Brace yourself, because we are sure – absolutely sure – that Day 6 will leave a staggering impression on you. You get on your mountain bike and cycle straight through the savannahs of Queen Elizabeth National Park. What’s so exciting about that? This park is home to elephants, buffaloes, hippos, (tree-climbing) lions, Ugandan kobs, and hundreds of bird species. And you pass them from just a few metres away. Naturally, you are accompanied by rangers and our guide(s), and the car stays close by. A massive adrenaline rush surges through your body when you come face to face with wild animals, and the car is the only barrier protecting you. An indescribable experience that will stay with you for the rest of your life. Is this a bit too thrilling? We completely understand. There is an alternative: covering the route by car. During your transfer, you still get to enjoy the adventure. In the evening, you arrive at the Bush Lodge, recovering from everything you have seen and experienced today. During dinner, you look out over the Kazinga Channel, giving you a view of the hippos’ habitat. The hippos spend the entire day in the water, as it is easier for them to move and stay cool given the high temperatures outside the water. Hear some rumbling in the evening and at night? That is certainly possible. They might literally be wandering through the camp. It is not without reason that you are escorted to your ‘banda’ after dinner. This sixth day is yet another unforgettable day of your cycling tour in Uganda.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Accommodation: Bush Lodge Kazinga Channel

You wake up to the sound of chirping birds, splashing hippos in the river, and – with a bit of luck – trumpeting elephants. Today the mountain bike stays put, and the choice of how to spend your day is entirely yours. Go on a car safari, for example: there is a high chance you will spot the entire Big Five during this drive. In addition to spotting wildlife, you can visit salt lakes and a local community living within the park. A trek through the Kyambura Gorge is also an option. The vast landscape of Queen Elizabeth Park is divided by a 100-metre-deep gorge, now overgrown with tropical rainforest. Chimpanzees, red-tailed monkeys, black-and-white and red colobus monkeys, and many bird species live in this gorge. And that’s not all: at the various crater lakes in the rainforest, you will come across bright pink flamingos. Flamingos?! Yes: flamingos. This is the only place in Uganda where you can spot them. Special, right?

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Accommodation: Bush Lodge Kazinga Channel

Optional activities (excluded):

Chimpanzee trek in Kyambura €150.00 p.p.

Game drive Queen Elizabeth N.P. €100.00 p.p.

On Day 8 of your journey through Uganda, you take a boat safari on the Kazinga Channel. You first cycle a few kilometres to the starting point, where there is a high chance of encountering elephants. You’ve already ticked those off for today. While cruising along the channel, you might spot frothy bubbles on the water. Did you know this means there are hippos submerged below? It won’t be long before you can admire these large mammals from just a few metres away. Meanwhile, you will marvel at crocodiles, elephants, water buffalo, many bird species, and warthogs. After the boat safari – you can choose between a long or short one – you hop on your bike and cycle roughly 50 to 75 kilometres through Queen Elizabeth Park. Naturally, you will be full of adrenaline once again as you pass buffaloes, elephants, and tree-climbing lions.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Accommodation: Embogo Lodge

Today you see the landscape change from flat to mountainous. You leave the steppe behind, and by the end of the day, you are cycling straight through the rainforest. But before that happens, you cycle through various villages and past diverse tea plantations. You will be amazed at how many different shades of green there are. The cheerful locals you encounter constantly give you a massive energy boost for the rest of the day. And you will need it, because this is where the climbing over various dirt roads begins. Over the mist-covered hills of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, you cycle to Buhoma. This impenetrable forest, containing an immense variety of plant species, is the habitat of the mountain gorillas. After this challenging, ninth day of cycling in Uganda, you collapse into the lodge, satisfied. Enjoying all the photos you took today.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Accommodation: Ride 4 A Woman Lodge, Bwindi Community

If you thought you had already experienced the most challenging ride of this adventure, you are mistaken. Today the Batwa Trail awaits you on this journey through Uganda. It takes a little while to get into the rhythm on an easy road that rolls up and down. Then you cross the bridge, and a hefty climb awaits you: hello Batwa trail! As soon as you begin the descent, you need to pay attention. Aside from the descent being challenging due to its many bends, you will encounter many locals carrying all sorts of things. In baskets. On their heads. A lovely bit of culture, indeed. At the same time, you get to enjoy the real Uganda and the views you are treated to after every corner.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Accommodation: Gorilla Mist Camp

Today you have complete freedom to spend the day exactly as you wish. Perhaps you will choose to relax at the lodge, looking out over the landscape and doing absolutely nothing for a while.

If you are looking for an exceptional experience, you can go on an (optional) gorilla trek today. Words cannot express what you will experience here. “A unique and unforgettable experience” does not even begin to cover it. It is – certainly – not cheap, but it is 1000% worth every penny.

The gorilla is an endangered species and is now only found in the wild in 3 countries worldwide. Uganda is one of them. During the gorilla trek, you will be led through the rainforest by 5 armed rangers. There is a good reason for this, as there are, of course, other wild animals living here besides the gorillas. Whenever baby elephants or food are involved, things can sometimes get dangerous. But: you are in safe hands. You walk up a steep slope through dense undergrowth. The rangers use machetes to clear a path upwards for you. This trek is not for the faint-hearted: it is steep, tough, exciting, and also incredibly hot due to the long clothing you wear.

After 2 hours of clambering up and down, you stumble upon all sorts of things: small monkeys, elephant footprints, and much more. Then the moment finally arrives: the first gorilla. And man oh man, are they huge. You stand 5 metres away, face-to-face, with such an extraordinary and peaceful creature. You feel the adrenaline rushing through your body, but absolutely no fear. Not in the slightest. After putting on your face mask, you are allowed to spend an hour with the gorillas. Because of the dense vegetation, you follow the gorillas. And that is no easy feat, because keeping up with them is quite difficult. You see young ones playing with each other and a silverback gorilla keeping a close eye on them. Suddenly, you hear another gorilla make a loud noise in your left ear. He just wants to let you know he is the strongest. After an hour, the time is unfortunately up. Full of moments of pure joy, not yet half comprehending what you have just experienced, you make your way back down. Back at the lodge, you let it all sink in.

Prefer to spend the day differently? Pay a visit to the Batwa (optional). These original inhabitants of the forest share their knowledge and stories during a guided walk. You learn how they lived in harmony with the forest for centuries: how they hunted, gathered food, and used plants and herbs. It provides a deeper insight into the relationship between humans and nature. Since the rainforest became a protected area, the Batwa have lived outside their original habitat. By involving visitors in their traditions, they keep their culture alive.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Accommodation: Gorilla Mist Camp

Optional activities (excluded):

Gorilla trek €800.00 p.p.

Batwa excursion €80.00 p.p.

On this twelfth day, you cycle your final kilometres through Bwindi Forest during your time in Uganda. Once you reach the main road, you take a transfer to Lake Bunyonyi: the second-deepest lake in Africa, featuring 29 islands. After a delicious lunch by the lake, you hop back on the mountain bike, and a challenging path with short but steep climbs awaits. You take a boat trip to Habuharo Island, where you are surrounded by the steep hills ringing the lake. Habuharo is an idyllic and wooded island, creating a secluded atmosphere. At the jetty, you will be warmly welcomed by the staff of the Heritage Lodge.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Accommodation: Heritage Lodge, Habuharo Island

Today you cycle from lake to lake through an incredibly beautiful and picturesque environment. With views of the volcanic Virunga Mountains – located on the border between Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo – you cycle past onion and cattle farms.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Accommodation: Mulehe Lake Resort

Your legs have earned some rest today. After breakfast, your bike is loaded onto the car, and you depart for Mburo National Park. Along the way, you stop at Igongo, a cultural centre. Take a look at the traditional huts for livestock and farming: named Bariisa and Abahiingi. It is somewhat reminiscent of an open-air museum. A visit to the cultural museum, where you can admire a collection of arts and crafts and historical photographs, is also an option. Once you arrive at your accommodation, it might be nice to stretch your legs after such a long car journey. Exploring the Ugandan outskirts is therefore certainly an option. Do you prefer to enjoy the panoramic view of Mburo National Park? You can do that too. Your accommodation is situated on top of a hill, offering stunning views for miles around.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Accommodation: Kigarama Wilderness Lodge

Today you are going on a “cycling safari”. Accompanied by a ranger, you hop on your mountain bike for a beautiful ride through the park. Today, too, you will likely come face-to-face with wild animals: this time zebras, giraffes, antelopes, and much more. As the icing on the cake, you climb up to the Kazuma lookout point. On this hill, you have a stunning view over a lake amidst the vast savannah landscape. You can also opt for a boat trip on Lake Mburo, spot hippos and crocodiles, or explore the park and its outskirts by mountain bike.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Accommodation: Eagle’s Nest Lodge

Optional activities (excluded): Lake Mburo boat trip €40.00 p.p.

With mixed feelings, you get on the bus to Kampala, the final destination of this trip in Uganda. The closer you get to Kampala, the busier it becomes. This might cause some delays, but you just enjoy the vibrant Ugandan life around you one last time. Do you have a late evening flight home? Then you will be taken directly to the airport.

Meals: Breakfast

After a long flight, you land back on Dutch soil. Tired and fulfilled, but an unforgettable journey richer.