Individual 14-day cycling trip in Uganda: see the west with your own guide
Would you like to see Uganda by bike but decide for yourself how much and how hard you ride each day? On this individual 14-day cycling trip you travel with your own guide and driver through the green west of Uganda. You ride quiet roads and unsurfaced tracks past crater lakes, tea and banana plantations and through small villages. Along the way you alternate riding with safaris, a boat trip and encounters with local people.
Because you travel individually, there is every opportunity to adapt the programme to your wishes and your cycling level. Would you like to cover more kilometres one day, skip a technical section or stop a little longer along the way? You set the pace together with your guide. You can also choose a mountain bike or an e-mountain bike.
From crater lakes and rainforest to savannah
Western Uganda is remarkably varied, and on the bike in particular you notice how quickly the landscape changes. From Katambale Village you ride towards Fort Portal, through fertile country with coffee fields, tea plantations, crater lakes and green hills. You then travel and ride further south. Around Kibale National Park you get to know the rainforest and the local community of Bigodi, after which the route continues towards Queen Elizabeth National Park. Here you leave the bike behind for a while and see the park on a game drive and a boat safari on the Kazinga Channel. The landscape changes again as you ride by way of Ishasha towards Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The roads become hillier and the green mountainsides more densely wooded. In Buhoma you can choose a Batwa excursion or an optional gorilla trek.
By way of Ruhija you travel on to Lake Bunyonyi, where steep green hills and small islands set the landscape. The trip ends in Lake Mburo National Park. Here one more distinctive riding day is waiting: with a ranger you take a cycling safari and look out from the mountain bike for zebra, giraffe and antelope, among others.
When is the best time to travel to Uganda?
Uganda lies on the equator and can be visited all year round. Because of the differences in altitude the temperatures in much of the country are pleasant, but the climate varies by region. A tropical shower can also fall during the drier months. For a cycling trip the relatively dry periods are popular above all, because unsurfaced roads and tracks are then generally in better condition.
The drier periods
In general, December to February and May to September are the drier periods in western Uganda. These are good months for riding, certainly if you also want to do a gorilla trek or other walks during the trip. That does not mean it stays completely dry in these months. Uganda is not so green for nothing: a shower is part of the tropical climate and can occur all year round.
Travelling in the wetter months
Most rain usually falls in March and April and in October and November. Rain does not mean it is wet without a break for days, though. Tropical showers can be short and heavy, after which it clears again. This cycling trip can be made in these months as well. Bear in mind that unsurfaced roads and tracks can be muddier and harder going. On a cycling trip in particular you notice the difference in conditions more than if you travel only by safari vehicle. In return, the landscape is beautifully green and the national parks and other sights are often quiet.
Comfortable temperatures
Although Uganda lies on the equator, much of the route is at altitude, so the temperatures are generally pleasant for being active. It is often warm during the day, while it can cool down considerably in the higher areas in the evening and early morning. Around Bwindi and Ruhija in particular, a warm jumper or fleece is good to have with you.
The route on your individual cycling trip through Uganda
On this 14-day individual cycling trip you see the varied west of Uganda on a mountain bike or e-mountain bike. You ride quiet roads and unsurfaced tracks past tea and banana plantations, crater lakes and small villages. The landscape changes constantly along the way: from the green hills around Fort Portal and the savannah of Queen Elizabeth National Park to the mountainous area around Bwindi and the shores of Lake Bunyonyi.
You travel with your own guide and driver, so there is every opportunity along the way to adapt the pace and the route to your cycling level and your wishes. Your guide knows the area and chooses the smaller roads and good unsurfaced routes where possible.
Alongside the riding there is all the time you need for landscape and wildlife. You take a game drive and a boat safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park, can choose a gorilla trek in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and finish the trip with a cycling safari in Lake Mburo National Park.
This itinerary is an example and can be adapted entirely to your wishes, your cycling level and the time you have.
Why Uganda is such a good cycling destination
Uganda is a country to see from the bike. As soon as you leave the through roads behind, you ride small tarmac roads, red earth roads and unsurfaced tracks right through daily life. You pass villages, plantations and small farms and are regularly greeted along the way. Because you travel by bike, you are much closer to your surroundings than if you saw everything from a vehicle.
Add to that the sheer variety. In a relatively short time you ride from green hills and crater lakes to tea and banana plantations, savannah and densely wooded mountains. And if the road becomes too rough, steep or technical? The support vehicle is always close by.
Landscape and wildlife along the way
Uganda has considerable biodiversity. Elephant, lion, leopard, buffalo, giraffe, hippo, zebra and various antelope and monkey species live in the national parks. The country is also a fine place for birdwatchers, with more than a thousand bird species. On this trip you combine riding with different ways of seeing that. You take a game drive and a boat safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park, can choose a gorilla trek in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and, in Lake Mburo National Park, get on the mountain bike with a ranger for a cycling safari.
Every riding day is different
One day you ride easily between tea and banana plantations, the next longer climbs or more technical unsurfaced sections are waiting. Around Fort Portal green hills and crater lakes set the landscape, while further south you come steadily closer to the savannah of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Towards Bwindi the landscape becomes more mountainous and more densely wooded. Lake Bunyonyi follows, with its steep green hills and many islands, before your trip ends among the savannah and acacias of Lake Mburo National Park.
Time for an African massage
Anyone cycling in Uganda will meet what our local guides laughingly call the African massage. Not all the roads are smoothly surfaced. Red earth roads can have holes, stones and considerable bumps, and a road that is in good condition today can look very different after a heavy shower. Sometimes the pace is therefore low and you cover considerably fewer kilometres in an hour than you are used to at home. But that is part of cycling in Uganda. There is no need for speed. You have all the time to look around, meet people along the way and take in everything happening beside the route.
And would you like some extra support on the climbs or the unsurfaced roads? You can make this trip on an e-mountain bike as well.
Would you like to lengthen or shorten your cycling trip in Uganda?
This 14-day trip is an example and can be adapted entirely to your wishes. Would you like to travel longer, add extra riding days or take more time for safari, a gorilla trek or rest? That is possible. If you have less time, we can shorten the programme just as easily. That way we put the trip together based on the time you have, your cycling level and your interests.
Highlights
Day-by-day high points of the cycling trip in western Uganda
Your trip begins gently in Entebbe on Lake Victoria. By way of the equator you travel west, where the first riding days take you past coffee fields, tea plantations, crater lakes and small villages. Around Fort Portal and Kibale you get to know the green, fertile landscape that is so characteristic of this region.
You then reach Queen Elizabeth National Park. The bike stays behind for a while and you see the park on a game drive and a boat safari on the Kazinga Channel. By way of the Ishasha region, known for its tree-climbing lions, you ride on towards the green hills of Bwindi.
The last part becomes hillier and more demanding. You ride towards Buhoma and Ruhija and then travel on to Lake Bunyonyi, where you stay on an island. The trip ends in Lake Mburo National Park with a distinctive high point: with a ranger you take a cycling safari among the wildlife.
Wildlife on your cycling trip through western Uganda
Riding and safari make a particular combination on this trip. In Queen Elizabeth National Park you see wildlife on a game drive, from the water and on the bike. When you ride in the national park, a ranger comes with you for safety. In Lake Mburo National Park too you get on the bike with a ranger and see the savannah and its wildlife at close range.
Riding and safari in Queen Elizabeth: you ride through parts of the national park accompanied by a ranger. You also take a game drive, looking for elephant, buffalo, lion and leopard, among others. On the boat safari along the Kazinga Channel you may come across hippo, crocodile, buffalo, elephant and a great many birds.
Cycling safari in Lake Mburo: with a ranger you ride through the national park, where you may come across zebra, giraffe, impala and other antelope.
Primates: various species of monkey live around Kibale and Bwindi. You can also take part in an optional chimpanzee trek and gorilla trek.
Gorilla trek in Bwindi: on day 9 you can choose a gorilla trek in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. With experienced rangers you head into the montane rainforest on foot in search of one of the gorilla families that live here. How long you are out depends on where the gorillas are that day. Once you have found them, you have the chance to watch these animals at close range. It is a notable addition to your cycling trip through Uganda.
Travelling with your own guide and driver
This is an individual trip. You do not travel with a group but with your own party, guide and driver. That gives you a great deal of freedom to match the riding days to your level and your wishes.
Would you like to stop longer at a village or a viewpoint? Then you take the time for it. Is a climb or a technical section too demanding, or are your legs tired? Then you can cover a section in the support vehicle and get back on the bike later. The vehicle stays close by on most riding days for support, water and luggage, without your feeling that you are constantly riding behind a car.
Mountain bike or e-mountain bike
You can make this trip on a mountain bike or an e-mountain bike. Because of the hills, the unsurfaced roads and the occasional technical section, a good level of base fitness is welcome. Would you like more support on the climbs, or simply keep more energy to take in the surroundings? Then you can hire a Specialized e-mountain bike through us, so you decide how much support you use along the way.
Daily Itinerary
Individual cycling trip in Uganda with a guide: day-by-day itinerary through the west
Picture it: you ride right through the green west of Uganda, on quiet roads, unsurfaced tracks and red earth roads. Along the way you pass wide tea and banana plantations, crater lakes, small villages and national parks. You travel with your own guide and see Uganda in a way you never would from a car. You ride a mountain bike or e-mountain bike and decide with us what your trip looks like. The itinerary below is therefore an example. Would you like to ride longer, take more time for safari and landscape or add a gorilla trek? Then we adapt the trip to your wishes.
Read on to see what an individual cycling trip through western Uganda can look like.
Day 1: Arrival in Uganda, the Pearl of Africa
As soon as you arrive in Uganda your trip through the Pearl of Africa begins. Our driver is waiting for you at Entebbe airport and takes you to the 2 Friends Beach Hotel on Lake Victoria.
For the rest of the day you have all the time you need to settle in. Take a swim in the pool, take in the view over the lake from the terrace or get a first sense of Entebbe. Have you brought your own bike? Then you can prepare it at your leisure for the riding days ahead. If you are hiring a mountain bike or e-mountain bike through us, we make sure it is set up properly for you.
Accommodation: 2 Friends Beach Hotel Meals: not included
Day 2: Travelling to Katambale Village
After breakfast you set off with your guide and driver towards western Uganda. Today you leave Entebbe behind and watch the landscape change slowly along the way. You pass small towns, fields and the green Ugandan countryside.
On the way you stop at the equator, where you take the time for a photograph with one foot in the northern and one in the southern hemisphere. You then travel on to Katambale Village and Clarke Farm. After arriving you get to know the area, and there is time to test your mountain bike or e-mountain bike and adjust it further where needed. Tomorrow the riding really begins.
Accommodation: The Coffee Lodge at Clarke Farm Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 3: Riding from Katambale Village to Fort Portal
Today your cycling trip through western Uganda really begins. From Katambale Village you get on the bike and head for Fort Portal. Along the way you ride past coffee fields and wide tea plantations, through green forest and along quiet country roads. The landscape changes constantly and you get a good picture of daily life in the Ugandan countryside.
You pass small villages and farms, where people often look up with curiosity as you ride past and greet you enthusiastically. On the bike you are close to your surroundings, and spontaneous encounters happen easily along the way.
How much you ride today is largely up to you. Would you like to stay in the saddle a little longer or take it more gently? You agree the route and the riding time with your guide.
Accommodation: Kyaninga Royal Cottages Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 4: From Fort Portal to Kibale National Park
After breakfast you get back on the bike and head for Kibale National Park, one of the best-known rainforests in Uganda. Today’s ride is not long, which leaves plenty of time to get to know this green area in another way as well.
In Bigodi you visit the village and the surrounding wetlands with a local guide. The nearby Magombe swamp is protected by the local community and is known for its biodiversity. Various species of monkey and more than 200 bird species live in the area, including the great blue turaco.
On the walk through the village and the wetlands you see not only the landscape but also something of daily life among local people. You visit small farms and see traditional activities such as brewing local beer and weaving baskets. So today you combine a short ride with landscape and a personal introduction to life around Kibale National Park.
Accommodation: Kibale Tourist Safari Lodge Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 5: On to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Today you ride further south towards Queen Elizabeth National Park. You begin on tarmac and ride through the last part of the green area around Kibale National Park. Keep your eyes open along the way, because baboons are regularly seen along this route.
Not long afterwards you swap the tarmac for Uganda’s characteristic red earth roads. You ride past crater lakes, banana and coffee plantations and through small villages. You are greeted enthusiastically along the way and again get a good sense from the bike of daily life in the countryside.
In Rwimi it is time to get off and have a drink at a local bar. The riding ends here for today and you get into the support vehicle for the drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park. The green hills slowly give way to the wide savannah of the park. With a little luck you will see the first wildlife along the way.
Accommodation: Irungu Lodge Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 6: Rest day, game drive and chimpanzee trek in the Kyambura Gorge, Queen Elizabeth National Park
Today the bike stays behind and the day is given over to the landscape and wildlife of Queen Elizabeth National Park. You wake to the sounds of the bush and get ready for a very different day from the riding days behind you.
In the morning you can take part in an optional chimpanzee trek in the Kyambura Gorge. This deep gorge, covered in tropical rainforest, forms a striking green ribbon through the open savannah. With an experienced guide you descend into the gorge and look for the chimpanzees that live here. An encounter is never guaranteed, but the walk is worthwhile without them too. Along the way you may come across various monkey species, birds and other animals.
In the afternoon you get into the safari vehicle for a game drive through Queen Elizabeth National Park. In the varied landscape of savannah, crater lakes and wetland live elephant, buffalo, lion, leopard, antelope and various monkey species. What you come across is a surprise on every safari.
You also visit the salt lakes and meet a local community that lives within the boundaries of the national park. At the end of the day you return to the lodge, where the sounds of the savannah form the background to your evening.
Accommodation: Irungu Lodge Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner
Optional activities, not included: Chimpanzee trek in Kyambura: EUR 200.00 pp
Day 7: On to Ishasha, with a boat trip on the Kazinga Channel
The day begins on the water with a boat safari on the Kazinga Channel, which links Lake George and Lake Edward. After a short ride to the jetty you board and see Queen Elizabeth National Park from a very different perspective.
The Kazinga Channel is known for the large numbers of hippo that live here. Along the banks you may see crocodiles in the sun, and buffalo, elephant and other animals come down to the water regularly to drink. There is plenty for birdwatchers along the way as well.
After the boat safari you get back on the bike at a local community. Depending on how many kilometres you want to cover today, you ride around 20 to 75 kilometres towards Ishasha. You ride quiet roads through the wide landscape south of Queen Elizabeth National Park, with the support vehicle close by.
The last stretch to Ishasha is covered by vehicle. This region is known above all for its tree-climbing lions. With luck you will see them today or during the rest of your time in the area.
Accommodation: Enjojo Lodge Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 8: On to Buhoma
Today you see the landscape change slowly along the way. The open savannah around Ishasha gives way to hilly country that becomes steadily greener and more densely wooded. You ride quiet, largely unsurfaced roads past small villages, fields and wide tea plantations.
As you ride further towards Buhoma the route becomes more demanding and the first longer climbs begin. How much of that you ride yourself is up to you and your guide. If you want the full challenge, you stay in the saddle. If you would rather take it more gently, you can cover part of the route in the support vehicle.
Slowly you ride further into the green hills towards Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. This dense montane rainforest is among the most biodiverse areas in Africa and is known above all as the habitat of the mountain gorilla. It is a fine setting in which to end today’s ride.
Accommodation: Ride 4 a Woman Lodge Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 9: Rest day and an optional Batwa experience or gorilla trek
Today you decide how to spend the day. Would you rather stay at the lodge to relax, get out on the bike for a while or choose an encounter in the area around Bwindi Impenetrable National Park?
One option is a Batwa excursion. The Batwa lived for generations as hunter-gatherers in the forests of this region. With Batwa guides you walk through the area and hear stories about their traditional way of life. They show how they once hunted, gathered food and used plants and herbs from the forest, so you get to know the woodland from a very different perspective.
Since Bwindi became a national park in 1991, the Batwa no longer live in the forest. On the excursion they share their history, knowledge and traditions and give you more insight into their connection with the rainforest.
You can also choose a gorilla trek in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park today. With experienced rangers you head into the montane rainforest in search of one of the gorilla families that live here. How long and how demanding the trek will be is hard to predict: sometimes the gorillas are found relatively quickly, on other days you are out for several hours. Once you reach them, you have the chance to watch these animals at close range.
Would you rather keep the day quiet? Then you can of course relax at the lodge or see more of the Buhoma area with your guide.
Accommodation: Ride 4 a Woman Lodge Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner
Today you ride from Buhoma to Ruhija on the eastern side of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The day starts easily on a gently rolling unsurfaced road, so you can get going quietly.
After crossing a suspension bridge the route is matched to your riding ability and experience. There are various options towards Ruhija. Experienced riders can choose a more demanding line with a steep climb, steeper and more technical sections and a descent where good bike handling matters. If you would rather take it more gently, the guide chooses a less technical alternative with you. That way the route suits your level and how much of a challenge you are after today.
Whichever route you choose, you ride through the green, hilly landscape around Bwindi. Dense vegetation, small villages and views over the wooded mountainsides follow one another as you climb further towards Ruhija.
Is a section too demanding after all, or would you like to stop riding earlier? Then you can always cover part of the route in the support vehicle.
Accommodation: Gorilla Mist Camp Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 11: Riding to Lake Bunyonyi
From the lodge you get on the bike for the last kilometres through the green mountains around Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Once you reach the main road you get into the support vehicle for the transfer to Lake Bunyonyi. The landscape changes again: ahead of you lies a wide mountain lake, ringed by steep green hills and countless small islands.
After a relaxed lunch by the water you decide how active you want the afternoon to be. If you have energy left, you get back on the bike for a demanding ride along the lake. Short, steep climbs alternate with descents, and along the way you are given fine views over Lake Bunyonyi and the surrounding hills. If you would rather take it easy today, you simply skip this section.
At the end of the afternoon you leave the bike behind and board a boat for the crossing to Habuharo Island. From the water you see Lake Bunyonyi from another perspective, surrounded by the steep green hills and islands that are so characteristic of this area.
On Habuharo Island you stay surrounded by greenery, in a quiet spot by the lake.
Accommodation: Heritage Lodge, Habuharo Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 12: By vehicle to Lake Mburo National Park
Today your legs get a day’s rest. After breakfast the bikes are loaded onto the vehicle and you leave Lake Bunyonyi for the journey to Lake Mburo National Park.
Along the way you stop at the Igongo Cultural Centre, where you learn more about the history and culture of the Ankole region. You get a picture of the traditional life of local people and the important part that farming and cattle keeping have long played here. You can also visit the museum, with historical objects and photographs from the region.
You then travel on to Lake Mburo National Park. The landscape changes again along the way: the green hills gradually give way to more open country of grassland, acacias and rolling hills.
After arriving at the lodge the rest of the day is free. Take a walk in the area or find a good spot to relax and take in the wide view over the landscape around Lake Mburo.
Accommodation: Hyena Hill Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 13: The last riding day in Uganda
Today is the last riding day of your trip, and you finish it in a particular way. With a ranger you get on the mountain bike for a cycling safari through Lake Mburo National Park. It is an unusual experience, because this is one of the places in Uganda where you can actually see the national park from the bike.
You ride through a varied landscape of open savannah, acacia woodland and rolling hills. Along the way you may come across zebra, giraffe, impala and other antelope. Without the sound of a safari vehicle you take in the surroundings very differently and are more aware of everything happening around you.
Along the way you visit the Hippo Pool, where with luck you will see hippo in the water. A climb to Kazuma Lookout Point follows. At the top you are rewarded with a wide view over the park and the surrounding landscape.
Later in the day you swap the bike for a boat and take a relaxed trip on Lake Mburo. From the water you get another perspective on the park and can look along the banks for hippo, crocodile, birds and other wildlife.
It is a fine close to your riding days through western Uganda.
Accommodation: Hyena Hill Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 14: The end of your trip in Uganda
After breakfast you leave Lake Mburo National Park and start the journey back to Entebbe. Along the way you watch the Ugandan landscape go by one last time and can look back on two weeks of riding, landscape, wildlife and encounters.
Depending on your flight time we take you to Entebbe International Airport for the flight home. With that, your individual cycling trip through western Uganda comes to an end.
Meals: breakfast
Pricing information
Price information for the 14-day cycling trip in Uganda
Are you as enthusiastic about this complete cycling trip through Uganda as we are? We understand. Below you can read what is included in the price and which additional costs to allow for.
The price shown is a “from” price per person, based on two travellers and on the trip as described on this page.
Does this trip appeal to you? Request a travel proposal. We arrange a call to discuss your wishes and use this trip as the basis for your personal programme. If you change the length, the excursions or the standard of accommodation, the price changes too. You then receive a worked-out proposal with a clear price and an overview of what is and is not included.
Included
All accommodation in twin rooms
Airport transfers on arrival and departure
All meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) unless stated otherwise
Private vehicle, professional driver, fuel and all transport costs
English-speaking cycling guide (with bike repair knowledge)
Routes matched to your own level
Entrance fees for Queen Elizabeth and Lake Mburo National Park
Bigodi swamp and village tour
Boat trip on the Kazinga Channel
One or more rangers (Queen Elizabeth NP and Lake Mburo NP)
Snacks, water and fresh fruit while riding
Two boat transfers on Lake Bunyonyi
Entrance fees for the cycling safaris
Game drive in Queen Elizabeth NP (including the salt lakes)
Boat trip on Lake Mburo
Excluded
International flight(s)
Travel and cancellation insurance
Visa for Uganda
Booking fees in accordance with our terms and conditions
Optional excursions listed in the daily itinerary
Personal expenses
Alcoholic beverages and drinks during meals
Hire of a Specialized mountain bike and helmet, value EUR 350.00 (see "our bikes" under the "about us" tab for a full description of our bikes)
Hire of a Specialized e-mountain bike and helmet, value EUR 475.00 (see "our bikes" under the "about us" tab for a full description of our bikes)
Single room supplement
Tips for guides
Accommodation and safety
Where you stay in western Uganda: choose what suits you
On this 14-day example trip you stay in comfortable mid-range accommodation, selected for its setting, its atmosphere and good value. Think of small lodges surrounded by greenery, places at the edge of national parks and distinctive spots by the water. Would you rather stay somewhere more comfortable during your trip, or choose simpler, small-scale accommodation? Because this is an individual trip, we can adapt the nights to your wishes and your budget as well. Request a tailor-made proposal and we will look at the options together.
At CvA travel we select our accommodation with care
For us a place to stay is more than somewhere to sleep. We want you to keep experiencing the surroundings after the riding as well. One day you wake with a view over green country, another you look out over the savannah or travel by boat to a lodge on an island in Lake Bunyonyi.
Wherever possible we choose small-scale places with a personal atmosphere and good hospitality. Where we can, we work with accommodation that was set up locally or is closely connected to the community. That way part of what you spend on your trip stays in the region and local people share in the benefits of tourism.
Curious where you can stay on this cycling trip? Below we highlight two distinctive places.
Enjojo Lodge, Ishasha
Enjojo Lodge is a family-run ecolodge on the edge of the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Surrounded by acacia trees and open savannah, it offers quiet, space and an intimate atmosphere, well away from mass tourism.
The lodge consists of spacious thatched cottages and bungalows built from natural materials by local craftsmen. Each has its own veranda looking out over the garden or the surrounding bush. The colourful garden attracts many birds and butterflies, and with a little luck you may see monkeys or elephant passing among the trees.
Heritage Lodge, Habuharo eiland
Heritage Lodge stands on Habuharo Island, which you reach after a boat trip of 25 minutes. The island is full of wildlife and is a fine place for birdwatchers. As at every other place on this trip, you are given a warm welcome by your Ugandan hosts and taken to your tent or room. The local dishes served in the restaurant are excellent.
Safety and guiding on your cycling trip through western Uganda
Safety comes first on our cycling trips. You travel with an experienced local cycling guide and driver who know the routes and the conditions well. They know where you can ride, adjust the route where needed and take account of your cycling level, the weather and the conditions along the way.
Clear safety rules apply when riding in the national parks as well. In Queen Elizabeth National Park and Lake Mburo National Park you ride accompanied by a ranger. The ranger knows the area and the behaviour of the animals and decides where and when riding is safe. The instructions of the guide and the ranger are always followed.
Support along the way at all times
A support vehicle travels with you throughout the trip. The driver stays at some distance where possible, so that you can ride freely and take in the surroundings while support is always close by. Have you had a mechanical problem, are your legs finished, or would you like to skip a hard climb or a technical section? Then you can get into the vehicle and, if you wish, ride on again later. That way you can adapt every riding day to what suits you at the time.
Good bikes and technical knowledge
You can bring your own bike or hire a mountain bike or e-mountain bike through us. For our trips in Uganda we have Specialized mountain bikes and e-mountain bikes, which suit the sometimes rough and unsurfaced roads you ride on. Our Ugandan cycling guides have had extensive training in bike mechanics and maintenance, so common technical problems can be solved on the spot. If a problem cannot be fixed straight away, we look for a suitable solution locally, so that your trip is interrupted as little as possible.
Extensions
Would you like to lengthen or shorten your cycling trip in Uganda?
This 14-day trip is an example and can be adapted entirely to your wishes. Would you like to travel longer, add extra riding days or take more time for a safari, a gorilla trek or rest? That is possible. If you have less time, we can shorten the programme as well.
A few ways to extend your trip:
Extra day or days: riding from Lake Bunyonyi to Lake Mutanda
This optional extra day can be added to the standard trip. The area around Lake Mutanda is remarkable, so you may choose to spend one or more extra days here.
On this day you get on the bike for a ride from lake to lake through one of the most scenic regions of Uganda. You follow a route with panoramic views of the Virunga volcanoes, which straddle the borders of Uganda, Rwanda and Congo. Along the way you pass wide onion and cattle farms and traditional settlements, which gives an insight into rural life here.
Lake Mutanda lies hidden among the volcanic mountains and combines clear water, hills and volcanic landscape. That makes it one of the most striking places in East Africa. The area holds a range of ecosystems, including rainforest that is home to the mountain gorilla. The lake is therefore an ideal base for a gorilla trek. But there is more to see around Lake Mutanda. With luck you will spot kingfishers close to the water. Various snakes, otters, chameleons, frogs and lizards live along the shores. It is a fine area for anyone interested in wildlife.
Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner Accommodation: mid-range
Optional excursion: gorilla trek
Price: on request
Extra (rest) day: Lake Victoria & discovery of Kampala
Would you like to close your cycling trip through Uganda in a relaxed but active way? Consider adding one or more days on Lake Victoria. Here you can unwind on the shore of the largest lake in Africa, and also see the capital, Kampala, with a guide.
Kampala is a city of contrasts. As soon as you come in from the quiet countryside, you feel the energy of this city of millions. With more than two million inhabitants and a busy but fascinating street life, it is an experience worth having. With an experienced guide you see the real Kampala safely. We advise against exploring the city on your own; with your guide’s local knowledge you see it at its best.
On the Kampala Experience you ride pillion on a boda boda (motorcycle taxi) through the city while taking in daily life in this capital. You climb the steps to the Uganda National Mosque, where you are rewarded with a panoramic view over the city. You see the mix of modern buildings and traditional markets, with the well-known taxi park as a high point, where hundreds of minibuses make their way through the crowds.
Would you like to see more of the city? Browse local markets, have a traditional lunch and finish the day with a cold beer while taking in the energy of the city. And for anyone who wants to see the evening, Kampala by night is well worth it. With an extra day or days on Lake Victoria and in Kampala you get a combination of rest and activity. Would you like to add this extension to your cycling trip? Let us know and we will arrange it for you.
Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner Accommodation: mid-range
Optional excursion: Kampala Experience
Price: on request
How do we put your tailor-made cycling trip together?
Before we put your trip together, we discuss your cycling experience, your fitness, your interests and how many days you have. We also look at whether you want to travel on your own bike or would rather hire a mountain bike or e-mountain bike.
On that basis we adapt the programme. You may want to ride more kilometres, build in extra rest, avoid a technical section or spend more time on safari and wildlife. That way a trip takes shape that suits both your level and what you want to see of Uganda.
Personal advice from our own experience
We know the routes and know what to expect along the way: from steep climbs and unsurfaced roads to the distances, the accommodation and the various safari activities. That is why we are clear about how demanding the trip is and think along with you about which route and which bike suit you best.
Itching to set off on an extraordinary ride? Can’t wait to hop on the saddle and explore your dream destination at your own pace? Take a look at all our cycling journeys below – or get in touch to request a tailor-made adventure designed just for you.
