With the recent invention of 1600 kilometers of cycling routes around the pearl of Africa by Red Dirt Uganda, Uganda boosts being a cycling heaven for cycling enthusiasts and adventure tourists.
Imagine vast green tea plantations, vast open savannahs, wild rivers, snowy mountains, tropical rainforests where mountain gorillas and chimpanzees roam. Combine these with red dirt roads, countless undiscovered trails and friendly English-speaking locals and you have the perfect cycling destination, right?
We are talking about Uganda, the East African country also known as the pearl of Africa. However, to date Uganda is still one of the best kept secrets in the cycling world. We want to let you in on the secret.
Uganda remains one of the best kept secrets in the cycling world
It is not surprising that Uganda is not (yet) on the ‘cycling map’. The local population mainly uses the bicycle to get from point A to B, but certainly not for leisure activities. The bicycle in Uganda often functions as a beast of burden. Further, international tourism efforts focus mainly on primate tracking and wild life safaris. We don’t blame them; standing face to face with zebras or a large elephant is spectacular. Local and Dutch leaders in Uganda’s adventure and cultural tourism sector believe Uganda has a lot more to offer.
The birth of Uganda Cycling trail
Thus the ‘Uganda Cycling Trail’ was born. An extraordinary 1,600km cycling route that begins in extreme Southwestern Uganda and finishes in the Northeastern part of the country.
“The route (with 22 different stages) can be found online and downloaded for free,” says Thies Timmermans, owner of travel organization Red Dirt Uganda (www.reddirtuganda.com) and initiator of the trail. Back in 2016 Timmermans saw the potential of the country as a cycling destination. Red Dirt Uganda is now a pioneer in the field of cycling holidays in Uganda. “Over the years we have built up a great deal of knowledge and know exactly where in the country you can cycle and do great activities. We now have more than 1000 cycling routes in Uganda. Many of these great routes have been incorporated into the Uganda Cycling Trail.”
Travel cycling enthusiasts design their own ultimate cycling adventure with the information available on the Uganda Cycling Trail website. Suggested routes, hotels, activities, restaurants, and even bicycle repair shops in the area are listed. “This way you can set your budget and design a route suited to your skill and endurance. You can bring your own bike or rent one from Red Dirt Uganda. In other words: you are the boss,” says Timmermans.
Uganda is a cycling paradise
The 1,600km Uganda Cycling Trail takes you through Uganda’s diverse natural habitats. Just imagine: single-tracks through tropical rainforests with a thousand shades of green, slalom down rocky mountains, and stand face to face with mountain gorillas and other East African wildlife. It couldn’t get any better, could it?
“Unfortunately, the potential of adventure and cultural tourism remains largely untapped to date,” says Timmermans. “The tourism sector is not at all focused on promoting cycling trips. The international popularity of this kind of travel is not well known. Which is a shame, because Uganda is a potential paradise for cyclists. With the Uganda Cycling trail, we aim to promote the country as one of the top cycling destinations in Africa.”
Cycling 1600 kilometers in 30 days
The entire Uganda Cycling Trail has been tried and tested! Bongers and his buddy Lawrence Kakande recently cycled the full 1,600km in just one month. In an effort to show the world that you don’t need an expensive mountain bike, they cycled the route on old-fashioned Roadmasters; the typical single speed village bicycle found in Uganda.
“I am very honest; this has been my coolest adventure ever,” says Bongers. “It’s so much cooler to experience Uganda by bike. Not only do you get to know the country in a completely different way, it is much cheaper, better for the environment, and supports the local economy. Cyclists reach places where typical tourists can’t.”
The two men have just returned from their cycling adventure. “Nobody wanted to believe that we would actually do this and they said it would be way too hard. In the end it worked out pretty well for us. Some stages were tough, but at some point our physical fitness got better and better. Soon I was called ‘Legs’ instead of ‘Lex’ because I was becoming more used to riding this heavy bike,” Bongers says with a laugh.
A trail developed by and for everyone
The Uganda Cycling Trail has been developed for everyone. Whether it’s a minimalist bikepacking adventure, a family day trip or a fully supported tour with guides and organized accommodations.
“The trail can also be split into sections. Cyclists can ride the entire trail from end to beginning, or start somewhere in the middle,” says Bongers. “Uganda has almost all the climates and landscapes that can be found in Africa. That is what makes cycling there so special. During one section you will ride through the cold misty mountains, and during another one you will see giraffes wandering across the savannah or ride through a desert-like area with camels.”
One thing is certain though, the potential cycling paradise is slowly being discovered by adventurous cyclists. Every now and then a group of cyclists pass by in the countryside, and in a number of safari parks you can safely ride your bicycle among the savanna animals accompanied by a ranger.
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