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Cycling the Wilds of Uganda

Day 1 Meet in Entebbe

Welcome to Uganda! We meet in the laid-back city of Entebbe, nestled on the shores of Lake Victoria, Africa’s largest lake. Entebbe is also conveniently located near Uganda’s only international airport, making it the ideal launchpad for our Ugandan bike adventure. We’ll gather at our tour hotel in the late afternoon for a trip briefing and welcome dinner. If you arrive early, feel free to explore the lush Entebbe Botanical Gardens or relax by one of the nearby lakeside beaches. Please let us know if you require assistance with airport transfers or pre-tour hotel bookings.

ViaVia Guesthouse
Dinner

Day 2 Entebbe - Fort Portal

It’s time to hit the road! This morning, we embark on a 5-6 hour drive to the far west of Uganda. Get comfortable and take in your first impressions of the country’s expansive countryside, which we’ll soon get to know intimately by bike. Our destination is the city of Fort Portal, situated at the base of the mighty Rwenzori Mountains and surrounded by rolling hills blanketed by rows of tea bushes. We arrive in time for lunch, and in the afternoon, saddle up for an undulating warm-up ride into Fort Portal’s lush rural hinterland, passing by small villages and tea plantations as we ride along East Africa’s iconic red dirt roads. Before dinner, we treat ourselves to a sundowner at one of the most beautiful lakes in the region.

Ruwenzori View Guesthouse
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 26km
+450m
-448m

Day 3 Fort Portal - Crater Lakes - Queen Elizabeth National Park (QENP)

This morning, we leave Fort Portal and cycle south, navigating bumpy dirt roads that wind through hilly, agrarian landscapes. After about 25 km, we reach the “Crater Lakes,” a breathtaking area on the edge of Kibale National Park, where volcanic activity has created a patchwork of water-filled craters, some over 400 metres deep. Cycling past these shimmering lakes, surrounded by forests and tea estates, is a serene experience, capped with a lakeside picnic lunch. After a few more kilometres of riding, we join the main road — our queue to hop into the support van for a two-hour transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park. Along the way, we pause briefly at an equator marker, the exact point of 0° latitude where Uganda is split between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. Tonight, we settle into safari-style accommodations in Queen Elizabeth National Park, the first of two nights immersed in the park's wildlife-rich surroundings.

Bush Lodge
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 48km
+576m
-990m

Day 4 Queen Elizabeth National Park Game Drive & Boat Safari

Queen Elizabeth National Park (QENP for short) is Uganda’s most popular wildlife reserve, and for good reason! Nestled between the Rwenzori Mountains and Lake Edward, its diverse landscape of savannahs, wetlands, and crater lakes is home to a staggering array of wildlife. Today we give our bikes a day off and explore QENP in full force. Early this morning we venture out on a game drive in an open safari vehicle, on the lookout for grazing herds of buffalo and antelope, along with large herds of elephants and giraffes roaming the plains. If we're lucky, we might catch sight of the elusive leopards or the famous tree-climbing lions, found only in QENP! After a late morning siesta and lunch back at the lodge, we spend the afternoon aboard a boat cruising on the Kazinga Channel, one of the most biodiverse waterways within QENP. As we drift along, we may spot massive pods of hippos splashing about, crocodiles lounging on the banks, and elephants and buffalo coming down for a drink. Up above, birds of prey circle the skies. After an enriching day in QENP, we ring out the day with dinner back at the lodge.

Bush Lodge
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5 Queen Elizabeth National Park by Bike

As the perfect sequel to yesterday’s safari in QENP, today we cycle through the park. Riding along a relatively flat, wide gravel road that winds through savannah and forests, we head south, right into the heart of QENP. At a leisurely pace, followed by our support vehicle, we have plenty of time to take in the stunning terrain around us. Herds of buffalo, antelope, giraffes, zebras, and even elephants are frequently spotted, while the more elusive tree-climbing lions, often found resting in large fig trees, are a rare but exciting possibility. At 76 km, this is the longest ride of the trip. However, with no technical off-road sections and a maximum gradient of just under 3%, it remains an achievable endurance challenge. If you prefer, you can cycle a shorter distance and complete the rest of the route in the support vehicle. We’ll spend the night at another cosy lodge, situated right at the doorstep of Uganda’s wilderness at the southern edge of QENP.

Enjojo Lodge
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 76km
+407m
-383m

Day 6 Ishasha - Buhoma

Today’s route marks a transition from savannah to rainforest. Starting from our lodge, the first 5 km serve as a gentle warm-up before a gradual climb takes us higher into the highlands of southwestern Uganda. As we cycle on dirt roads, we pass forest-clad hills, small villages, plantain fields, coffee farms, and tea plantations. After around 30 km, we cruise downhill, followed by a final short uphill stretch to our lunch spot, where a wholesome Ugandan meal awaits. In the afternoon, we transfer by vehicle for an hour to Buhoma, situated at over 1,500 m ASL. We have now reached the edge of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, home to Uganda’s beloved mountain gorillas. Our guesthouse for tonight is connected to the Bwindi Community Hospital, and a stay here supports medical care and other vital services in the local community.

Bwindi Guesthouse
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 43km
+632m
-430m

Day 7 Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

A truly special day awaits as we embark on the unforgettable experience of gorilla trekking in the mist-shrouded hills of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Beneath towering trees and amidst dense bamboo thickets, ferns, and twisting vines, we venture into the habitat of nearly half the world’s endangered mountain gorillas. Guided by expert rangers, we track these magnificent creatures, following clues to their movements on a journey that may take 1 to 4 hours and involve steep hiking sections. While sightings aren’t guaranteed, the rangers’ expertise offers our best chance of success. Once located, we spend up to an hour observing the gorillas in their natural habitat. Opportunities to encounter wild mountain gorillas don’t come often in life, so flexibility and a go-with-the-flow attitude are key! After this incredible experience, we transfer to a safari lodge in Ruhija, perched on the western edge of Bwindi, where we unwind with stunning views of the ancient, wildlife-rich rainforest.

Gorilla Mist Camp
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 8 Ruhija - Lake Bunyonyi - Lake Mburo National Park

Despite its name, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest does have some roads! From our lodge, we ride directly into the protected rainforest, following the gentle rise and fall of a gravel path that winds through the misty highlands for around 15 km. Exiting the forest, we transition into an agrarian landscape of terraced fields etched into hillsides, grazing lands for livestock, and mudbrick houses with thatched roofs. Continuing south along undulating dirt roads, the views open to reveal the island-dotted Lake Bunyonyi in the distance. Known as the “Place of Many Little Birds” for its abundant birdlife, Lake Bunyonyi is also one of Africa’s highest (nearly 2,000 m ASL) and deepest lakes. This tranquil area is the perfect spot to conclude our ride and enjoy a lakeside lunch. In the afternoon, we begin a 4–5 hour transfer back north. Our destination is Lake Mburo, where we spend the night at an eco-lodge perched on a scenic outcrop, overlooking the lush ecosystem below.

Rwakobo Rock
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 45km
+757m
-1148m

Day 9 Lake Mburo National Park Safari Cycling – Entebbe

It’s time for our final ride, and we’ve saved some of the best for last! Lake Mburo National Park, one of Uganda’s smallest wildlife reserves, offers us the chance to cover much of its interior on a 40 km cycling safari. We’ll crisscross undulating jeep tracks through savannah grasslands, with opportunities to spot zebras, warthogs, buffalo, impalas and giraffes from the saddle. Skirting the shores of the lake we may also see hippos lounging in the shallows and crocodiles lurking in the reeds. After lunch, we transfer back to Entebbe, completing our epic loop through Western Uganda. The drive takes 4-5 hours, with a crossing of the equator for the second time on our tour. In the evening, we gather for a celebratory farewell dinner in Entebbe.

ViaVia Guesthouse
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 40km
+500m
-500m

Day 10 Entebbe Departure

Our tour has ended but feel free to extend your stay in Entebbe or continue your journey through East Africa. Please let us know if you require assistance with post-tour hotel bookings or airport transfers.

Breakfast

Disclaimer: The adventure cycling tours we operate often go beyond the beaten track, and the countries where we ride are not always predictable. Due to these reasons, it is occasionally necessary to reroute or update itineraries. Our guarantee is that we will not change a trip unless for safety or to improve it. Our listed hotels are always accurate at the time of writing, but should we have to change any hotel, it will always be for a similar or better one.