Sample Trip

10-Day Cycle Tour of West Uganda

"Ultimate cycling tour of Uganda for MTB fanatics!"

Budget level: Budget

Country

Uganda

When to Go

All year

Duration

9 Nights

Safari Type

Cycling

Location

Bwindi Impenetrable & Mgahinga National Parks, Kampala & Entebbe, Kibale & Queen Elizabeth National Parks, Lake Mburo National Park, Rwenzori Mountains, Uganda's Wildlife Areas

Kids Min Age

Safari Rating

adventure

wilderness

wildlife

comfort

photographic

guiding

A serious cycling trip for the fit and adventurous! The trip takes you to land of the mountain gorillas, Queen Elizabeth National Park, the Rwenzori Mountains and much much more!

Itinerary in Brief

Day 1 – Welcome to Uganda!
Day 2 – Tfr Rwenzori Mountains View
Day 3 – Slalomming the crater lakes
Day 4 – Cycling in Q Elizabeth NP
Day 5 – From savannah to the jungle
Day 6 – Monkey Trail
Day 7 – The Lake of 1,000 small birds
Day 8 – Crossing the equator
Day 9 – Lake Mburo Trails
Day 10 – Departure from Entebbe

The trip through West-Uganda will be the most unique and beautiful nature and wildlife mountain bike trip you will ever make. We’ll cycle past breath-taking lakes and through the jungle of one of world’s only habitats of mountain gorilla’s, followed by a thrilling safari ride on your iron horse through one of Uganda’s national parks to see lions, buffalo’s, elephants and much more.

Uganda Cycling 10 Day West Route 8

Experience local culture by riding through beautiful African villages and meeting its friendly inhabitants, while slaloming between magical crates lakes with a backdrop of Uganda’s massive mountains: the Rwenzoris. Too much to mention!

But be aware, you’ll have to work for it! We’ll cycle from Fort Portal to Kisoro and then through Lake Mburo and will cover between 200 and 400km with quite some elevation meters. This is not for the faint-hearted, but very much do-able if you have a adequate fitness level. If this is a bit too much for you or you just feel a bit tired during the trip, don’t worry! Every day there is an option to cycle a short route or enjoy a day of relaxation in our support vehicle.

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 – Welcome to Uganda!Day 2 – Transfer & Rwenzori Mountains View Day 3 – Slalomming magnificent crater lakes Day 4 – Safari cycling through Queen Elizabeth National Park Day 5 – From savannah to jungle Day 6 – Monkey Trail Day 7 – The Lake of 1,000 small birds Day 8 – Crossing the equator Day 9 – Lake Mburo Trails Day 10 – Departure from Entebbe Price Additional Information

Day 1 – Welcome to Uganda!

Welcome to Uganda!

Our experienced drivers are waiting for you at the airport in order to transfer you, your bike and other luggage in a safe way from Entebbe to Kampala. Explore the wonderful capital of Uganda: Visit the national museum, one of the many historical sites or go souvenir hunting at local markets. In the afternoon/early evening you will have a meet and greet with guide and driver, briefing and bicycle set-up [no meals included].

Accommodation: Viavia Guesthouse, room with private bathroom

Day 2 – Transfer & Rwenzori Mountains View

A morning transfer takes you to Fort Portal and to the edge of Uganda’s rainforest.

Though there is no longer a fort, the town is known as the heartland of the nearby tea-growing area and sits under the majestic Rwenzori Mountains. After lunch we will test the bikes on a 25km ride through small villages and the countryside. We will have a break at one of Uganda’s most beautiful crater lake. [breakfast, lunch and diner included]

Accommodation: Ruwenzori View Guesthouse
Room: room with private bathroom

Toughness: **
Technicality: **
Distance: 20km
Climbing meters: +621 / –547 m

Uganda Cycling 10 Day West Day 2 1

Day 3 – Slalomming magnificent crater lakes

A 62km (shorter route is 35km) trip in Uganda’s central location of crater lakes.

These magnificent sceneries will steal your heart. We will have a picnic lunch at one of the crater lakes and if it’s a hot day we can go for a swim. After lunch we will continue our way until we reach the main road. While we will experience a typical Ugandan bar and have some end-of-the-day drinks, the bikes will be loaded on the van.

A 2-hour car transfer will bring us to the border of Queen Elizabeth National Park. On the way we will cross the equator where we will stop for a photo. We overnight safari-style, sleeping in tents, with animals roaming in and out of the camp and the sounds of hippos and hyenas accompanying our star-lit dinner. [breakfast, lunch and diner included]

Accommodation: Bush Lodge
Room: Safari tent with shared bathroom

Toughness: ***
Technicality: ****
Distance: 62km

Uganda Cycling 10 Day West Day 3 2

Day 4 – Safari cycling through Queen Elizabeth National Park

An exciting day as we cycle 78km (shorter route is 45km with car drive) directly through the heart of Queen Elizabeth National Park, home to 95 mammal species and over 500 bird species.

We ride on a flat, wide gravel road through the savanna and have the chance to see wild animals such as buffaloes, elephants, several types of buck and maybe even the famous tree-climbing lions whose males sport black manes. Don’t worry, our vehicles will be driving right behind you and you don’t need to worry about being lunch for any animals.

We will sleep at the border of the park, near the Ntungwe river. Want to do more than cycling only: an optional boat safari on Kazinga Channel in the morning will give you a good chance of viewing elephants, buffalo and several antelopes that come to drink water. The Channel also attracts a varied range of birds and holds one of the world’s largest concentration of hippos and numerous Nile crocodiles. [breakfast, lunch and diner included]

Accommodation: Enjojo Lodge
Room: bamboo hut/safari tent with shared bathroom

Toughness: *
Technicality: ***
Distance: 78km
Climbing meters: +204 / -220 m

Uganda Cycling 10 Day West Day 4 3

Day 5 – From savannah to jungle

A marvelous change of scenery today as we leave the flat savanna behind and climb up to the rainforest.

On the way we will pass by a lovely tea plantation. Expect a challenging ride of around 60km with just under 1,000 m of ascending ahead of us.

Our final destination for today, world’s capital of gorilla tracking, Buhoma lies at 1,500 metres above sea level. In the afternoon we can go for a short hike along the river and through the village to visit some local projects. [breakfast, lunch and diner included]

Accommodation: Bwindi Guesthouse
Room: room with private bathroom (near hospital) or terraced holiday home with shared bathroom (room near entrance national park)

Toughness: ***
Technicality: ****
Distance: 60km

Uganda Cycling 10 Day West Day 5 4

Day 6 – Monkey Trail

Another challenging day 60km (shorter route 40km) climbing, ranging from singletrack through rural areas to wide dirtroads straight through the rainforest.

We will be on the edge of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, thusly named for the thick stands of bamboo and ground cover of ferns, vines, and other plants that severely hinder direct access on foot. This is also home to half the world’s population of the highly endangered mountain gorillas.

As we will be high we have some stunning views to take in. It is very likely that we will encounter a monkey or two, and if we are really, really lucky a family of mountain gorillas. We will start our day at 1,500 m and end it at 2,300 m, so expect a chilly evening when the sun goes down. Our safari tents will have a superb view over the forest. [breakfast, lunch and diner included]

Accommodation: Gorilla Friends Lodge and Campsite
Room: safari tent with shared bathroom

Toughness: ****
Technicality: *****
Distance: 56km
Climbing meters: +1535 / -735 m

Uganda Cycling 10 Day West Day 6 5

Day 7 – The Lake of 1,000 small birds

We will cycle 35km straight through Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in order to reach civilization again.

Though we descend more overall than we climb, it doesn’t mean we won’t have some hills to tackle today. Once out of the forest we will see some impressive terraced fields where the community grows a variety of crops. Be sure to look out for island-dotted Lake Bunyoni in the distance. Meaning “the place of little birds” the lake is believed to be Africa’s second deepest and has 29 islands of all shapes and sizes.

We will have lunch on the shore of the lake and afterwards take a 45-minute boat ride to the tranquil island where we will stay the night. [breakfast, lunch and diner included]

Accommodation: Byoona Amagara Community
Room: geodome (half open grass thatched huts) with shared bathroom

Toughness: ****
Technicality: ****
Distance: 40km

Uganda Cycling 10 Day West Day 7 6

Day 8 – Crossing the equator

We will leave after breakfast and digest some few good kilometres in order to reach Lake Mburo National Park.

We will have lunch at Igongo Cultural Center, which promotes the cultural heritage of south-west Uganda, particularly the Ankole, through artefacts, a cultural village replica and a heap of info.

Soon afterwards we will approach Lake Mburo, where we will stay at a bushcamp at a stones’ throw from the park entrance. Have dinner and sleep with the sounds of roaring wildlife on the background. If you are in for an optional night safari drive, this is your opportunity [breakfast, lunch and diner included]

Accommodation: Leopard Rest Camp
Room: Safari tent with shared bathroom

Day 9 – Lake Mburo Trails

Wake up and have your breakfast when looking out over the park!

In the early morning there is a high chance that animals might have approached the bushcamp to graze. After breakfast we will do a 25km/50km cycling trip along the borders of the park. Expect to encounter zebra’s, antelopes and buffaloes on the road!

In the afternoon will leave for a 4-hour ride back to Entebbe. For the second time we will cross the equator where we shall make a short stop. [breakfast, lunch and diner included]

Accommodation: Viavia Guesthouse
Room: room with private bathroom

Toughness: **
Technicality: ***
Distance: 33km
Climbing meters: +340 m / -344 m

Uganda Cycling 10 Day West Day 9 7

Day 10 – Departure from Entebbe

Depending on when your flight leaves you can do some sightseeing in Entebbe.

Walk on the beaches of Lake Victoria or visit the zoo or botanical garden in one of the greenest and most peaceful cities of Uganda. [breakfast included]