Pure, wild, earthly, heavenly and unspoilt: a motorbike tour through Rwanda and Uganda is nothing less than a revelation that lets you experience everything the African continent has to offer in a condensed form. Exciting experiences and varied motorcycling are the order of the day. Are you ready for the ultimate motorcycle adventure in Africa?
Starting in Kigali, the capital of Rwanda, we explore picturesque landscapes and fascinating nature reserves. From the green hills of Kigali to the deep waters of Lake Kivu and the imposing mountains of the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in Uganda, we offer an unforgettable motorbike journey. Along with the challenges on/off the roads, there are many highlights; a mountain gorilla tracking, safari in Akagera National Park and the ride in Queen Elisabeth National Park. Our routes take us through impressive villages, tea plantations along volcanoes, wildlife parks and lakes before we finally return to Kigali. Immerse yourself in the culture, nature and adventure of this unique region of Africa. We look forward to accompanying you on this unforgettable journey through Rwanda and Uganda!
Everything you need to know about this tour. Do you have any further questions? Please contact us!
Welcome to Kigali, the capital of Rwanda. You'll receive an airport transfer and be taken to your hotel. The time difference with Europe is usually just one hour. Nestled among hills, Kigali stands out for its cleanliness and order. In recent years, the city has evolved into a modern metropolis, renowned for its greenboulevards, friendly people, and thriving economy. It's also a significant cultural hub with museums, markets, and various events.
Leaving the city bustle behind, we head southeast, partly on unpaved roads. Today's destination is Lake Kivu, where we can enjoy a lakeside sunset and savor grilled fish. Lake Kivu is one of the great lakes in Central Africa, situated on the border between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Among the worlds deepest lakes,it's known for its breathtaking scenery. The lake plays a vital role for surrounding communities, serving both as a fishing ground and a source of drinking water. The region also features volcanic activity, adding to the lake's uniqueness.
Today's routetakes us along the eastern flank of Lake Kivu. We'll venture off-road for a stretch on the infamous Congo-Nile trail, while our support vehicle follows a different route. This mountainous area occasionally presents challenging road conditions. Passing by the numerous volcanoes of Volcanoes National Park, we often encounter spectacular views.
Navigating a winding path between two lakes, we reach the border with Uganda. Driving into Uganda's highlands involves traversing some challenging terrain. Be prepared for a beautiful but demanding day. Majestic mountain ranges shrouded in mist come into view, alternating with tea plantations—a stunning part of Uganda. Ruhija is a small village housing the Bwindi research center. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park boasts immense biodiversity, with aparticular emphasis on its mountain gorillas.
Today, you have the option to embark on a gorilla visit. The necessary permits have been organized by us before the journey, as only eight individuals per day are allowed to visit each of the three tracked gorilla families. You can spend a maximum of one hour with a family, and each gorilla family sleeps in a different location every night. Early in the morning, trackers are dispatched to locate the family. You, along with a group of eight visitors led by a guideand some rangers, will then be guided through the dense jungle to the gorillas using GPS coordinates. The duration of the trek depends on the gorillas'current location, but the fascinating hour spent with the gorillas is undoubtedly worth the trek.
Unpaved roads lead us across mountain ranges to the hilly landscape along Lake Edward, marking the beginning of Queen Elizabeth National Park. The southern part of Queen Elizabeth National Park, Ishasha Park, is famous for its tree-climbinglions. A long unpaved road traverses the park, and as we drive along it, we are sure to encounter wild animals. We spend the night at the Kazinga Channel. The Kazinga Channel is an impressive waterway, a natural link between Lake Edwardand Lake George, providing a stunning backdrop for wildlife observations. During a boat ride on the Kazinga Channel, we have the opportunity to see a variety of wildlife, including hippos, crocodiles, and elephants.
In the morning,you can optionally participate in chimpanzee trekking in the Kyambura Gorge, a massive, approximately one hundred meters deep gorge densely covered with tropical rainforest. With luck, you may encounter one of the chimpanzee families living here, with a chance of about 50%. Even if this special encounter doesn't happen, the Kyambura Gorge will not disappoint. We then continue on our motorcycles to the north, passing the equator. On the west sideof the road lies the Rwenzori Mountains with Mount Baker reaching a height of4843 meters. On the east side is Kibale Forest National Park, particularly known for its high diversity of primates, including one of the largest populations of chimpanzees in Africa. We stay overnight in the Fort Portal area.
Today brings another thrilling day of riding through Uganda's rural areas. Groups of women in colourful dresses carry heavy loads on their heads through the fields. Near Mbarara, green hills and plains dominate the landscape, characterized by agricultural fields. The region is renowned for livestock farming, and expansive pastures with grazing cattle are a common sight.
"An excellent and surprising trip! The highlight for me was the off-road riding, the guide was perfect! As a point of improvement I would better describe the possible conditions of the roads after rain."
We cross the inland in a southern direction, approaching the tri-border area of Uganda,Tanzania, and Rwanda. Here, we turn west and continue our route on varied roads, both paved and unpaved, towards Kabale. The day's stage of our motorcycle tour concludes at the picturesque Lake Bunyonyi, where we enjoy the stunning backdrop of green hills and small islands. Lake Bunyonyi, also known as the "Place of Many Little Birds," is one of the deepest lakes in Africa.
We start the morning at a leisurely pace, giving you the option to sleep in or take a canoe ride in a hollowed-out tree trunk or a village stroll. Afterward, we set our motorcycles in motion again and ride towards the border with Rwanda. Upon crossing the border, we quickly leave the highway and immerse ourselves in the tea plantation region. This adventurous route takes us to Nyagatare, a small provincial town. The accommodation is basic but adequate.
Embarking on a journey southward through warm and flat plains, we can enjoy the ride on the empty stretches of new highways, monitored by digital speed cameras. Along the way, we will undoubtedly explore some gravel roads bordering the Akagera National Park, an extensive conservation area stretching from north to south to the border with Tanzania. The park is home to savannas, forests, marshlands,and a variety of lakes.
Today, you have the optional opportunity to embark on a safari in Akagera National Park to explore the richness of this conservation area in terms of nature and wildlife. Lions, rhinos, elephants, and numerous bird species can be found here. Successful anti-poaching measures have led to the reintroduction of various animal species, making it an impressive success in wildlife conservation. Alternatively, you can opt for a half-day motorcycle excursion in the surroundings.
Another adventure awaits us today as we ride along the border with Burundi. The route will primarily consist of gravel roads, making the rest day previously scheduled a wise decision. The landscape becomes more hilly again, accompanied by a change in vegetation. The surroundings of Nyanza are characterized by green hills and diverse scenery. Agriculture is predominant in this region, and terraced fields are often seen on the hills, cultivating various crops. The population density also changes: Rwanda is densely populated, comparable to the Netherlands. However, now we enter an area where people are not visible every kilometre! Our overnight stay is in the town of Nyanza, known for its cultural significance, especially the Royal Palace Museum of Nyanza, offering historical insights into traditional Rwandese monarchy.
And so, the final riding day is upon us. We return to Kigali. Depending on the available time, we can either take the main road to Kigali or choose the route via unpaved roads. Finally, we reach our starting hotel again. In the afternoon, there's the opportunity to visit the Genocide Memorial and the Hotel des Milles Collines (known from the movie "Hotel Rwanda").
Depending on your flight schedule, there may be an opportunity to spend a few hours in the capital before being timely transported to the international airport.
During this trip we ride Haojin Hawk 200 cc motorbikes, a perfect light adventure bike for this tour.
The highlight of this motorcycletrip is the visit to the mountain gorillas in the green volcanic highlands. To encounter gorillas so close in their natural habitat is simply magnificent. Guided by experienced game rangers, we move quietly through dense mountain rainforest until suddenly a gorilla family appears just a few metres away from us! To protect the animals, our stay is limited to one hour and the group size is maximum eight people. The duration of the hike to the gorillas depends on the location of the family in the rainforest. Due to the high cost, we offer this excursion as an option. The price for this excursion is adjusted annually by the Wildlife Authority. The current price is 900,- USD per person. You have to let us know beforehand if you want to participate in this excursion. It is notpossible to decide on the spot.
During this trip through Uganda and Rwanda we do not travel to any significant altitudes. The slippery and adventurous roads in the mountains around Bwindi can make the tour considerably more challenging and off road experience is needed. However, we will only ride in this area for two days.
There are only a few paved roads in Uganda leading in all directions from Kampala. Almost all other roads are unpaved. Due to the poor infrastructure, we do not have much choice of roads in this part of the world. Therefore, we alternately follow the paved main roads and narrow unpaved side roads.
With a few exceptions,we will stay in comfortable hotels or lodges during this trip. In Nyagatare we will stay in a simple hotel and in Lake Bunyony and Ishasha we will stay in a safari camp.
Uganda has two rainy seasons: Spring - March to May, and Autumn - October to November. Since Uganda is located exactly on the equator, the average temperature is almost 30 degrees all year round. The average altitude of this country is 1000 metres. This fact reduces the heat in many places. Especially in the evenings it can cool down considerably. There are four seasons in Rwanda, the longest dry season is from June to September.
A helmet, protective motorbike clothing, good gloves and boots or other sturdy, high footwear are compulsory. Sunglasses are also useful. A helmet with a visor or good glasses to protect against dust on dirt roads can also be useful.
For this trip you need a valid international driving licence and a passport that is generally valid for 6 months beyond the trip. Most nationals from western countries do require a visa for a tourist stay in Rwanda (multiple entry) and Uganda. Uganda visas must be obtained online and a yellow fever vaccination is required. For tourist trips to Rwanda, Kenya and Uganda, an East Africa Tourist Visa can alternatively be applied for via the online portal before travelling.
Rider starting at: € 3450,-
Pillion: € 2890,-
Single room occupancy additional charge: € 525,-
Pocket money to bring with you: € 500,-*
Minimum number of riding participants: 6
Maximum number of riding participants: 10
Maximum number of pillion riders: 0
This tour is available on these dates:
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