Cycling Tours In Uganda: A Great Way To Explore Our Natural Beauty & Culture
Cycling tours in Uganda/biking Uganda safaris have taken off over the last few years. Indeed the Uganda Cycling Trail gets a mention in CNN Travel’s Where to travel in 2023: The best destinations to visit! There is no doubt about it; Uganda is a fantastic place to cycle!
The pleasant warm weather and endless, marvelous landscapes make for stunning biking safaris. The cycling tours in Uganda can be arranged together with other Uganda safari tours activities to add on your adventure trip in Uganda.
Cycling is not new to Uganda, there is an existing cycling activity in Lake Mburo National Park in southern Uganda . There are also amazing mountain bike trails in South Western Uganda around Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Lake Bunyonyi, and Queen Elizabeth National Park.
You can as well as enjoy great biking adventures in around Lake Victoria in Entebbe, Mabira Forest, Jinja, and on the foothills of the Mount Moroto and Mount Kadam in Karamoja region of northeastern Uganda.
The great thing about the Cycling tours in Uganda is that they combine the best mountain bike trails with amazing wildlife viewing and cultural experiences. You get the chance to interact with the local people who reside in and around the cycling trails, giving you an unparalleled perspective into their way of life.
9 Day Cycling Tour In Uganda
Day 1: Land at Entebbe
Your unforgettable journey begins at Entebbe International Airport where you will transfer to a nearby hotel for an overnight stay. Entebbe city has a variety of hotels that are ideal spot to rest after a long-haul flight and to get yourself ready for your exciting Uganda cycling adventure ahead.
Depending on when your time of arrival, you can do some sightseeing in Entebbe. Walk on the beaches of Lake Victoria or visit the Entebbe zoo or botanical garden in one of the greenest and most peaceful cities of Uganda.
Accommodation Options:
Luxury: Hotel No.5/Lake Victoria Serena Resort/Protea Hotel Entebbe
Midrange: Boma Hotel/Lake Victoria Hotel/2 Friends Beach Hotel
Budget: Airport Guest House
Meal Plan: Dinner
Day 2: Explore Lake Victoria Cycling Trail
The day begins with a leisurely cycle from your lodge to the shores of Lake Victoria.
With a surface area of just under 70,000 km², Lake Victoria is Africa’s largest lake and the world’s largest tropical lake. The giant lake borders three African countries – Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. From the shore, you bike through remote villages and unique paths along forests, jungle, fields and plantations.
You stop for a local lunch in the village and make your way to higher ground to take in the panoramic views of Lake Victoria before heading back to your hotel for relaxation.
Luxury: Hotel No.5/Lake Victoria Serena Resort/Protea Hotel Entebbe
Midrange: Boma Hotel/Lake Victoria Hotel/2 Friends Beach Hotel
Budget: Airport Guest House
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner
Day 3: Transfer to the Crater Lakes Region
After an early breakfast, you will be driven west through the towns of Mityana, Mubende, and Fort Portal towards the crater lakes region in the shadows of the Mountains of the Moon.
You will arrive in the early afternoon and settling in your lodge. You will a chance to explore the crater lakes area on foot to get a sense of where the cycling will be taking tour will place for the next three days.
Accommodation Options:
Luxury: Crater Safari Lodge/Kyaninga Lodge/Isunga Lodge
Midrange: Mountains of the Moon Hotel/Ruwenzori View Guesthouse
Budget: Chimpanzee Forest Lodge – Guest House
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner
Day 4: The Crater Lakes and Rift Valley Cycling Trails
Today, you will have a shorter but steeper cycling trail.
You will bike up to the edge of the Albertine Rift Valley. You will begin around the Crater Lakes and then wind its way through the tea plantations, coffee farms, and banana plantations after which you will cycle towards the valley.
Upon reaching the top of the valley you’ll have magical views of the snow-capped Rwenzori Mountains also known as the “Mountains of the Moon”. You will the cycle back to your lodge for lunch and relaxation.
Accommodation Options:
Luxury: Crater Safari Lodge/Kyaninga Lodge/Isunga Lodge
Midrange: Mountains of the Moon Hotel/Ruwenzori View Guesthouse
Budget: Chimpanzee Forest Lodge – Guest House
Day 5: Agriculture Tour & Chimpanzee Trekking In Kibale Forest
The day will begin with a 2 ½ hour agriculture tour, where a local farmer will guide you and explain all there is to know about local agriculture.
You will get the chance to harvest and eat sugar cane, look for pineapples and learn about banana varieties and other crops. Did you know that some farmers make use of – and produce biogas? The afternoon brings us to the edge of the Kibale Forest National Park –Africa’s premier chimpanzee trekking destination.
The 776 square kilometer evergreen rainforest is home to more than 1500 chimpanzees and a wonderfully diverse concentration of other primates (more than any other forest in East Africa, in fact), including red colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, blue monkeys, L’Hoest’s monkeys, Vervet monkeys, Olive baboons, Grey-cheeked mangabeys, and Black-and-white colobus monkeys.
You will follow a ranger through the rainforest and get close to the chimpanzees – our closest relatives.
Accommodation Options:
Luxury: Crater Safari Lodge/Kyaninga Lodge/Isunga Lodge
Midrange: Mountains of the Moon Hotel/Ruwenzori View Guesthouse
Budget: Chimpanzee Forest Lodge – Guest House
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner
Day 6: Coffee Tour & Crater Lakes Exploration
Today, you will be back on your bikes today. You will cycle along the edge of the Kibale Forest National Park to a local coffee farm. Here, you will learn about the coffee process from bean to cup. Your next destination of the day will be a crater lake surrounded by monkeys where you have to option to swim and enjoy a BBQ!
Accommodation Options:
Luxury: Crater Safari Lodge/Kyaninga Lodge/Isunga Lodge
Midrange: Mountains of the Moon Hotel/Ruwenzori View Guesthouse
Budget: Chimpanzee Forest Lodge – Guest House
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner
Day 7: Visit Lake Mburo National Park
Today, you will start your journey back towards Entebbe via Lake Mburo National Park. This National Park was the first to allow Cycling and walking safaris in Uganda, walking the National Park itself!
There are plenty of wildlife including zebras, giraffes, elands, impalas, waterbucks, bushbucks, buffalos, elands, hippos, and more to see to see as you cycle through the park towards the main lookout point which is a giant rock in the middle of the park.
Accommodation Options:
Budget: Eagles Nest Mburo/Leopard Rest Camp
Midrange: Rwakobo Rock
Luxury: Mihingo lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 8: Cycling tour in Lake Mburo National Park
On your final day of cycling tours in Uganda, you will be treated to a cycling trail that takes you right to Lake Mburo National Park, giving you an opportunity to see buffalo, waterbucks, bushbucks, impalas, zebras, and grey-crowned cranes.
The fun doesn’t stop there as there are other cycling trails that can be done just outside the park as well or you can just relax in the surroundings of your lodge.
Optional Activities:
- Afternoon boat cruise on Lake Mburo
- Game drive
- Game walk
- Horseback safari
Accommodation Options:
Budget: Eagles Nest Mburo/Leopard Rest Camp
Midrange: Rwakobo Rock
Luxury: Mihingo lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 9: Transfer Back To Entebbe via Masaka
After 8 wonderful days of cycling through Uganda, today will see you head back to Entebbe via Masaka. In Masaka, you will have a chance to visit an amazing initiative called the Masaka Cycling Club. The club brings together and supports local cyclists and cycling talent in the southwestern region. After the visit to the cycling club you will head back to Entebbe for your onward travels. Safe Journey!
End Of the 9 Day Cycling Tour In Uganda
9 Day Cycling Tour In Uganda – Inclusions
- All nights in lodges
- Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
- Trail food and drinks during the bike rides
- Guidance by team of several Ugandan guides
- Access to National Parks on specific days
- Extra activities: agro tour in Fort Portal, local food experience & coffee tour
- All transport whilst on safari; minibus, ferries, public transport & luggage transport
- Technical assistance during the rides
- Photo service
9 Day Cycling Tour In Uganda – Exclusions
- Flight ticket
- Bike rental (200$) or transfer own bike (we leave & collect bike box at first lodge)
- Drinks with meals & at the bar
- Insurance
- Visa
- Vaccinations (Yellow fever required)
- Tips, laundry and bicycle washing
- Souvenirs and extra activities