12 Days Uganda Rwanda Cycling Adventure Safari Tour

12 Days Uganda Rwanda Cycling Adventure Tour – Overview

The 12 Days Uganda Rwanda Cycling Adventure Safari Tour, Gorilla Trekking & Golden Monkey Tracking in Bwindi and Mgahinga Gorilla Safari Parks.

Uganda the Pearl of Africa and Rwanda the land of a thousand hills present a very rich and diverse landscape ranging from rugged highlands to gentle slopes marked with lush green cover, a range of water bodies, abundant wild animals and impressive local settlement.

The 12 Days Uganda Rwanda Cycling Adventure Tour starts from Kigali Rwanda and ends in Entebbe Uganda.

12 Days Uganda Rwanda Cycling Adventure Tour – Highlights

Day 1: Cycling to Kibuye Lake Kivu 134km via rugged landscapes exploring the countryside scenery and local settlement. Paved road.

Day 2: Cycling to Gisenyi Lake Kivu along the Congo Nile trail 92km along the shores of Lake Kivu. Paved road

Day 3: Cycling to Uganda – Kisoro via Virunga Mountains 94km with incredible views of Virunga Mountains – a chain of eight Volcanic Mountains that comprise the Virunga massif. Paved road.

Day 4: Golden Monkey tracking in Mgahinga Gorilla NP. Cycling in Kisoro Area in the afternoon exploring Lake Chahafi, Mutanda and River Mucha

Day 5: Cycling to Lake Bunyonyi – following the scenic Kisoro Kabale road & lake side track on Lake Bunyonyi 60km

Day 6: Cycling to Ruhija – East of Bwindi via the scenic Kigezi Highlands 52km or a dirt road – rugged landscape

Day 7: Mountain Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park & relax at the lodge

Day 8: Cycling to Ishasha via Buhoma and Kihihi town. Dirt road – rugged at the start and gentle towards the end

Day 9: Cycling to Kasese town via Queen Elizabeth NP. 150km. This is Albertine rift valley floor and the landscape is flat with Savannah grassland

Day 10: Cycling in the Ndali Kasenda Crater field enjoying the views of Rwenzori Mountains – Africa’s third highest Mountain at the back yard and those of the series of crater lakes in this Explosion field.

Day 11: Transfer to Lake Mburo NP by cycling on the section of the journey and then drive. The landscape is undulating and the road is paved except the last few Kilometres as you approach Lake Mburo NP. The sights include local settlements, gardens and farmlands. 205km

Day 12: Half day Cycling in Lake Mburo NP amidst the wild animals. Dirty road. Drive to Entebbe in the afternoon 280km about 5 hours’ drive with a stop at Uganda Equator crossing Kayabwe. Paved.

12 Days Uganda Rwanda Cycling Adventure Tour – Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Cycling to Kibuye Lake Kivu 134km via Rugged Landscapes Exploring the Countryside Scenery And Local Settlement. Paved road.

Depart Kigali and head to the west of Rwanda traversing the beautiful hills of Rwanda that have earned her – the dub as the land of a thousand hills.

You enjoy the sights of local settlements, the beautiful terraced farmlands and the natural cover along with streams as you cycle up hill and downhill across this countryside.

The final destination is Kibuye on the shores of Lake Kivu – the largest lake in Rwanda and a stop at the panorama will be made for remarkable sightseeing experience.

Accommodation
Midrange: Cormoran Lodge
Meal Plan: Full Board

Day 2: Cycling to Gisenyi Lake Kivu along the Congo Nile Trail 92km Along The shores of Lake Kivu. Paved road

After breakfast, embark on the cycling adventure along the Congo Nile trail enjoying the tranquil environment of this magical point that separates the watershed for River Nile and River Congo – the great Rivers of Africa.

The views of Lake Kivu on the left and the terrain is rugged. Spend the evening at the sandy beaches of Gisenyi Lake Kivu – close to the Congo boarder at Goma.

You can actually cycle to the boarder and gain the views of Mount Nyiragongo – famous for its world largest and most violent lava lake at a distance.

Accommodation
Midrange: Hotel Paladise Malahide
Meal Plan: Full Board

Day 3: Cycling to Uganda – Kisoro via Virunga Mountains 94km with Incredible views of Virunga Mountains – a Chain of Eight Volcanic Mountains that Comprise the Virunga Massif. Paved road.

From Gisenyi, you cycle through Ruhengeri, Volcanoes National Park – the home to Mountain Gorillas in Rwanda, the eight Virunga Mountains stretching from Uganda through Rwanda to Democratic Republic of Congo before proceeding to Kisoro entering at Cyanica boarder post.

Accommodation
Midrange: Lake Chahafi Resort
Meal Plan: Full Board

Day 4: Golden Monkey Tracking in Mgahinga Gorilla NP. Cycling in Kisoro Area in the Afternoon Exploring Lake Chahafi, Mutanda and River Mucha

Golden Monkeys thrive only in Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo world over and are listed as endangered species on the IUCN red list.

Thus, this is a special trek to explore these beautiful primate species with golden patch on their back thriving in the Bamboo zone of Mount Gahinga.

The golden monkey trek lasts about 4 hours and you have one full hour of actual viewing and photography. From the activity, settle for lunch

at the hotel before embarking on an exciting cycling adventure into the fascinating Kigezi Highlands traversing the steep hills and narrow valleys marked with natural streams and rivers like River Mucha and beautiful lava dammed lake Mutanda and Lake Chahafi. Return to Kisoro for overnight

Accommodation
Midrange: Lake Chahafi Resort
Meal Plan: Full Board

Day 5: Cycling to Lake Bunyonyi – Following The Scenic Kisoro Kabale road & Lake Side Track on Lake Bunyonyi 60km

After breakfast, you cycle down to the beautiful Lake Bunyonyi shores and along terraced farmland. Follow the meandering scenic road stretch curving past great highlands of Kigezi some of which are terraced for farming while others still feature their natural forests like Echuya Forest Reserve.

Accommodation
Midrange: Lake Bunyonyi Rock-resort
Meal Plan: Full Board

Day 6: Cycling to Ruhija – East of Bwindi via The Scenic Kigezi Highlands 52km or a Dirt road – Rugged landscape

Embark on an adventure cycling experience to Ruhija in the east of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Cycle past Kabale town, follow small tarmac stretch to Ruhija junction and the proceed on the dirt road to Ruhija.

A stop will be made at the view point to explore one of the incredible scenic part of Kigezi Highlands. You are welcomed to the dense forested landscape of Bwindi dubbed the Impenetrable.

Accommodation
Midrange: Gorilla Mist Camp
Meal Plan: Full Board

Day 7: Mountain Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park & Relax at the Lodge

Embark on the Mountain Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park gathering at the assembly point for the respective headquarters at 7:30am for briefing and eventual start of the Gorilla trek.

Bwindi is marked with steep slopes and narrow valleys all covered with dense vegetation that has earned it the name – Impenetrable.

During the gorilla trek, you explore these amazing landscapes before coming across the Mountain Gorillas noted to be critically endangered world over as they forage, play among other behaviours for a period of one hour.

The gorilla trek lasts 2 – 8 hours. From the trek, you spend the afternoon relaxing at the lodge. You can take an optional visit to the Batwa Pygmy community to explore one of the remaining groups of short people in the world.

Accommodation
Midrange: Gorilla Mist Camp
Meal Plan: Full Board

Day 8: Cycling to Ishasha via Buhoma and Kihihi town. Dirt Road – Rugged at The Start and Gentle Towards The End

Cycling to Ishasha sector in the southern sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park via Buhoma in the north of Bwindi 86km.

This dirty road passes through neck – a beautiful tranquil area between Ruhija and Buhoma with the dense forest of Bwindi on the left side and community lands on the right-hand side.

You eventually join entirely the local settlements, cycle past Kihihi town and proceed to Ishasha for overnight

Accommodation
Midrange: Enjojo Lodge – Thatched Cottages
Meal Plan: Full Board

Day 9: Cycling to Kasese town via Queen Elizabeth NP. 150km. This is Albertine rift Valley Floor and the Landscape is Flat with Savannah Grassland

The terrain here is flat and the road is dirt from Kihihi / Ishasha sector to Ishasha Junction in Upper Queen 75km and it is paved from the junction to Kasese.

You explore the open savannah landscapes of Ishasha and some wild game can be viewed if they are close to the road, proceed through Maramagambo forest – one of the largest forest reserves in Uganda and then back to the savannah stretches of upper Queen Elizabeth NP.

The exciting Kazinga Channel connecting Lake George and Lake Edward is explored at Katunguru Bridge, cross the Equator at Kikongoro before you are welcomed by the legendary Mountains of the moon – the Rwenzoris. You can choose to drive on this last part of the journey starting from Ishasha junction.

Accommodation
Midrange: Sandton Hotel Kasese
Meal Plan: Full Board

Day 10: Cycling in the Ndali Kasenda Crater field enjoying the views of Rwenzori Mountains – Africa’s third highest Mountain at the back yard and those of the series of crater lakes in this Explosion field.

Depart Kasese and drive along the foothills of Rwenzori Mountains – Africa’s third highest peak rising to 5,109m above sea level with snow-capped peaks.

At Rwimi 32km from Kasese, you branch off from the main Kasese – Fort Portal and cycle to Kibale National Park for the remaining 47km exploring the scenic landscapes of Ndali Kasenda Crater field marked with a myriad of lakes presenting a memorable sightseeing experience.

Accommodation
Midrange: Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse – Cottage
Meal Plan: Full Board

Day 11: Transfer to Lake Mburo NP by Cycling on the Section of the Journey and Then Drive.

The landscape is undulating and the road is paved except the last few Kilometres as you approach Lake Mburo NP.

The sights include local settlements, gardens and farmlands. The sights of Ankole long horned cattle – a unique breed of cattle marked by its long horns and different body patterns may not be missed along this transfer.

Accommodation
Midrange: Rwakobo Rock
Meal Plan: Full Board

Day 12: Half day Cycling in Lake Mburo NP Amidst the Wild Animals. Dirty road. Drive to Entebbe in the Afternoon 280km About 5 hours’ drive with a Stop at Uganda Equator Crossing Kayabwe. Paved.

Engage in an exciting cycling experience within Lake Mburo National Park – the Whispers of the wild! It is recorded as the smallest savannah park in Uganda but marked with beautiful Acacia savannah vegetation and home to a range of grazers including; Burchell’s Zebra, Impala, Elands, Topis, waterbucks among others.

The ancient Precambrian rocks dating far back to over 500 million years also mark some sections of this park.

Settle for lunch after which you transfer to Entebbe 280km about 5 hours’ drive making a stop en route at Uganda Equator crossing Kayabwe for amazing photoshoots with one leg in southern hemisphere and another leg in the northern hemisphere.