Why Uganda is the ultimate cycling destination
Uganda is a destination that will probably surprise you. Where many trips focus on either nature or culture, Uganda offers a rare combination of both. The landscape is different every day: you ride through savannah, rainforest and mountain scenery that follow on from one another effortlessly. But what really makes this destination distinctive is the atmosphere. There is a reason Uganda is called the land of the smile. From the moment you arrive you are given a warm welcome. There are no stern looks at customs, but genuine questions about your journey.
While cycling you experience that hospitality continually. Local people are friendly, cheerful and sincere. You ride largely on unpaved roads, past villages where life takes place out on the street. That sometimes makes for what we jokingly call an “African massage”: the shaking caused by unpaved roads full of holes, which is part of the real adventure. It is an experience that stays with you for ever, because you are not only an onlooker but really become part of the surroundings.
A rare combination of nature and culture
In Uganda you will find an overwhelming biodiversity. It is home to the “Big 5”: elephant, lion, leopard, rhino and buffalo. But you will also see giraffe, hippo, zebra and countless birds. This natural wealth is combined with welcoming communities. You get to know people in a personal way, people who are happy to take you into their traditions and daily life.
A landscape that changes every day
The variation in the landscape is enormous. In the west you ride through a region where crater lakes, banana plantations and tea fields set the scene. One day you ride through forest with views of the Rwenzori mountains, the next you are on the savannah or in the rainforest. That variation means no cycling day feels the same and you keep finding new views.
The “African massage” experience
Cycling in Uganda means cycling on unpaved roads. Sometimes these roads are red and full of holes, so that you make progress in fits and starts. Our local guides laughingly call this the “African massage”. It is part of the charm of cycling in Africa. The pace is sometimes low, perhaps not even 10 kilometres per hour, but that is precisely what gives you the time to take the surroundings in properly.
Our cycling trips through Uganda: 12 or 16 days of adventure
We offer a range of trips through the fine west of Uganda. The basis is a 12-day trip starting in Entebbe. This route takes you past the finest places in the region, including the many crater lakes near Fort Portal and the tea plantations. You ride through national parks and past villages, and may regularly cross paths with wildlife such as monkeys and antelope. The route is built up so that effort and relaxation are in balance.
For anyone with more time who wants to go deeper into the country there is the 16-day version. This trip builds on the 12-day route but offers extra days. That gives you more time to experience the landscape, the national parks and the area of lakes and mountains more fully. The pace is a little calmer and more cycling days and extra stops are scheduled. This is ideal for travellers who do not want to rush and who want to combine the adventurous character with more time to take it all in.
Highlights of the cycling trip
The route is full of highlights. You ride past the many crater lakes in the hills near Fort Portal and through the banana plantations. An absolute highlight is Queen Elizabeth National Park, where you go on safari and visit the Kazinga Channel. You also ride through Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and visit Lake Bunyonyi, a place of quiet and islands. The trip often finishes with a cycling safari in Lake Mburo National Park.
Flexibility for every level
Our trips are suitable for a broad range of people: from very fit riders to travellers who want to take things more gently. We use vehicle transfers where needed. That means you can shorten a day’s distance or make a stage easier if you wish. It is even possible to cover a section entirely by car while others cycle, so that the group always stays together.
E-mountain bike options
To make the trip accessible to everyone, we offer the option of riding with the support of an e-mountain bike. We have sent Specialized e-mountain bikes to Uganda especially, to give our travellers the best experience. That means that even if your fitness is a little less, or if you simply want to take in more of the surroundings without extreme effort, you can take full part in the adventure.
Eye to eye with wildlife in Uganda: gorillas, chimpanzees and the Big 5
Spotting wildlife is an essential part of a trip to Uganda. The country is home to impressive animals. One of the most remarkable experiences is the gorilla trek in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. This is an optional activity, but for many the highlight of the trip. The mountain gorilla is an endangered species that still occurs in the wild in only three countries in the world, and Uganda is one of them.
Besides gorillas, Uganda has a great deal more to offer. In Queen Elizabeth National Park you can see the well-known tree-climbing lions in the Ishasha sector. You can also see chimpanzees in the wild, which is the best place for these primates. On a boat trip on the Kazinga Channel you see hippo, crocodile, elephant and buffalo from the water.
In the Kyambura gorge it is an even purer experience. The Kyambura gorge is an underground tropical rainforest in Queen Elizabeth National Park. The gorge is 100 metres deep and about 1 kilometre long. The surrounding savannah gets a great deal of sun, while the gorge itself stays relatively cool thanks to the tall trees that receive less direct sunlight. The Kyambura river is an important source of water and flows straight through the forest, so that plants and animals are supplied with water all year round. The Kyambura river draws most of its water from the rocks around the gorge and during the rainy season.
The chimpanzees in the Kyambura gorge have the remarkable habit of climbing down from the trees as soon as they see visitors. That makes for excellent close-up photographs. Besides the chimpanzees, a walk through the gorge gives visitors the chance to discover a distinctive and surprising biodiversity. Visitors have the opportunity to spot rare plants and tall tropical trees. The gorge is also home to mammals such as hippo, elephant (occasionally) and other smaller primates. The whole activity takes between 2 and 3 hours.
The gorilla trek to remember
A gorilla trek is an intense experience. Led by rangers you make your way through dense rainforest on steep slopes. It takes physical effort, but as soon as you stand eye to eye with a silverback or playing young gorillas, you have forgotten the walk. You may stay with them for an hour, which is a moving and distinctive experience that is hard to put into words.
Cycling among zebra and giraffe
What is distinctive about our trips is that you do not only look at animals from a car, but also ride among them. In Lake Mburo National Park you can do a safari by bike. Here you ride among zebra, giraffe and antelope. It is a safe but exciting way to experience nature, often finishing at a fine viewpoint over the savannah.
Chimpanzees in Kibale Forest
Kibale National Park is known for its many primates. During the trip we descend towards this rainforest. Here you have the chance to look for chimpanzees. Seeing these animals in their natural surroundings, swinging through the trees or walking on the ground, is a distinctive addition to the gorilla trek and completes the wildlife experience.
