Tour Itinerary: Day 1. You will depart your country of origin en route to Entebbe International Airport, Uganda. Day 2. Landing at Entebbe airport, a short transfer of 45 minutes will take you to the Speke Commonwealth Resort, Munyonyo, to relax and recuperate on the shores of Lake Victoria, Africa’s largest lake and the source of the world’s longest river, the Nile. Day 3. Today is our first day cycling, a slightly shorter ride than what is to come to get used to the terrain and break our legs in. After a healthy breakfast, we shall transfer to the cycling start point, just two hours’ drive from Kampala City along the Western road. Advanced riders will cover a ‘leisurely’ 50 miles (80km), and intermediate riders will be transferred a little further along the road and cover a more modest 30 miles (50km). This stretch will give you a chance to get accustomed to cycling in Uganda and a taste of the beautiful scenery to come… The destination today is a luxury tented camp set up amidst the hills of Mubende, providing a genuine flavour of rural Africa. Day 4. Today is the first big challenge of the tour. A big distance as the road gradually ascends the undulating plateau to the Western town of Fort Portal. An early wake-up and breakfast, and out of the camp at the crack of dawn. Advanced riders leave directly from the tented camp for a 93 mile (150km) marathon that runs West towards large and picturesque town of Fort Portal. Intermediate riders will be transferred to pick up the route further along, for a no less challenging (for a non-expert) 56 miles (90km) ride. The route passes through countless rural villages, as the road passes through deep cuttings in the hillsides and the landscape varies between swamps, forests and tea estates. Nearing Fort Portal, we pass right through the middle of the Kibaale Forest National Park, home to scores of elusive chimpanzees. You won’t see any of those near the road, but keep your eyes open for the much more ubiquitous baboons, and several varieties of monkeys! In Fort Portal we will be staying a number of picturesque lodges. Advanced Route: Intermediate Route: Distance: Distance: 93 miles (150km) 56 Miles (90km) Height gain: tbc Height gain: tbc Day 5. At Fort Portal our route turns South to skirt the great Rwenzori mountain range that divides Uganda from the Democratic Republic of Congo. The road descends the escarpment into the Western Great Rift Valley, making this enjoyable ride of 70 miles (110km) for both groups. Don’t think it will be easy though – there are still plenty of upward inclines along the way! The imposing Rwenzori volcanoes provide the backdrop to your right as you cycle through the town of Kasese with its famous cement works, before crossing the equator and entering the open savannah grasslands of the Queen Elizabeth National Park, with views of the serene Lake George where it sits in the geological basin to your left. After a few kilometers cycling along the road through the park (keep your eyes open for wildlife), you will leave your bikes in the safe custody of the organisers and take a mini-safari along a dirt road to the magnificent Mweya Safari Lodge, set high up on a peninsula with panoramic views of the plains below, vibrant with wildlife. Before dinner, you will enjoy a boat ride on the narrow Kazinga Channel that connects Lakes Edward and George, where you can expect to see hippopotamuses, crocodiles, elephants, buffaloes, eagles, kingfishers, storks, lions – wait, did someone say lions?! Advanced Route: Intermediate Route: Distance: Distance: 70 miles (110km) 70 miles (110km) Height gain: 738m Height gain: 738m Day 6. Out of bed and fed early enough to jump in a vehicle for a short hop back to the tarmac, then on the bikes to cycle over the Kazinga Channel, and up out of the valley into the vast tea and banana plantations of Bushenyi. Todays ride is the second big challenge of the ride with a steep ascent up the other side of the Great Rift Valley. The views over your shoulder will make the tough going worth it, though, not to mention the satisfaction of reaching the top… Intermediate riders finish at a beautiful crater lake 25 miles (40km) horizontally and 550m vertically from where you started. Advanced end up 700m higher, covering 47 miles (75km) and finishing at the busy town of Ishaka. From there, a beautiful drive on dirt tracks will take towards the remote Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, where again, various luxury lodges will host us. Advanced Route: Intermediate Route: Distance: Distance: 47 miles (75km) 25 miles (40km) Cumulative height gain: 1124m Cumulative height gain: 806m Day 7. Today gives you the opportunity to spend some time exploring the beauty of this part of Western Uganda for yourself. Many will want to take advantage of the opportunity to track the endangered mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. For those who have other activities in mind, there are a number of ways to explore the area, including trips to discover the world’s only known tree-climbing lions. Others may simply wish to rest, relax and enjoy the environment. At the end of the day, everyone will come together for a celebration dinner to mark the end of a memorable week together, before retiring again to comfortable tents for a final night beneath a glittering, starry African sky. Day 8. The final day is spent mostly on the direct road North-East, back up to Entebbe for departure. The journey is long but not without its highlights, including crossing back into the Northern Hemisphere via a more Eastward point along the equator. The AidChild cafe there will provide an excellent opportunity to pick up some souvenirs to take to the folks back home. After that, it’s into the air to start the journey back home! Day 9. Arrival in home country, with lots of memories and experiences. End of 9 Days Cycling Trip Member discount: Notes: Price includes: 
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