Around Lake Victoria 4 countries

Day 1 - Home - Departure
For those who did not buy this tour as a package tour including the flight ticket, this day does not apply. 

Day 2 -  Arrival - Nairobi
Karibu, welcome! You will be picked up from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, which is named after Kenya's first president post-independence. You immediately experience the hectic city life of Nairobi, full of traffic and people on the move. The city of Nairobi has a population of around 5 million people, increasing to 10 million if the suburbs are included. The city is named after the Nairobi River and is located at an altitude of 1.800 meters, which makes the temperature very pleasant and even quite cool at night in the summer months. The city was officially founded in 1899 with the arrival of the railways. Today's program depends on whether you arrive in the morning or late afternoon / evening.

Day 3 - Nairobi - Naivasha
Early rise to leave the city: We head north, quickly leaving the main roads and follow country roads, driving through small towns. The roads will be a mix of mainly asphalt and some gravel. We will quickly leave behind construction work, buildings and traffic jams and welcome village life, nature and lush hills. We will pass the Aberdare National Park, and taste some gravel with our wheels.  Then we head west wise, towards Lake Naivasha.  The lake and its surroundings are rich in natural bounty, and the fertile soils and water supply have made this one of Kenya’s prime agricultural regions. You can find many (Dutch) flower farmers here. We will stay at the lake.



Day 4 - Naivasha – Kisumu
We start with an optional early morning boat cruise on the lake, spotting hippo’s and fish eagles. But before 10 am we need to start the engines again, to start the day with some gravel fun. We drive along the lake, and we climb up and down the rift valley. As we head toward Kisumu, the landscape transforms into lush hillsides and vibrant farmland. Kisumu is Kenya's third-largest city, situated at Lake Victoria. We can enjoy fresh fish from the lake, and sunset views over the water.

Day 5 - Kisumu – Jinja (Uganda)
Today it is another border-day. Cross the border into Uganda at the Busia border post, where the journey continues along scenic roads lined with forests and farmland. Arrive in Jinja, the adventure capital of Uganda, known for the source of the Nile and wild white waters.

Day 6 - Jinja - Masaka
Today our challenge is to handle the busy traffic. The closer to Kampala the busier the roads, the more polluted the air, and the more intense the trading centers. But as soon as we left the capital behind us, it gets less chaotic. The terrain becomes more rural, passing through rolling hills and plantations of coffee and bananas, and driving through swamps. Masaka is a lively town surrounded by scenic farmland. We can take a dip in the pool to wash off the sweat and dirt of today.

Day 7 - Masaka – Rubirizi
Today we cross the center of Uganda, driving from east to west, close to the Congo borders. We swindle our way through the tranquil Ugandan countryside, where rolling hills and lush vegetation create a serene backdrop. We ride through small towns and vibrant markets, absorbing local life along the way.  As we your destination, the terrain becomes more rugged, leading you to the unique crater lake areas of Uganda. We stay at one of the many crater lakes at a local family run Ecolodge and campsite.



Day 8 - Rubirizi – Ruhija 
Uganda is still the only country in Africa where you can ride through some nature parks with a motorbike and today, we start the morning riding. A long, unpaved road runs through the Queen Elisabeth National Park. We follow this route and almost certainly see wildlife on the way. After lunch we get our way into dense rainforest: Our last kilometers will be on a gravel road riding on the edge of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, home of an immense diversity of species but most famous for its Mountain Gorillas. There are about 459 Gorillas’ living in the forest, which makes up almost half of all the mountain gorillas in the world. 

Day 9 - Ruhija – Gorilla Trekking
We will spend the entire day visiting the Gorillas. We will have arranged the necessary permits in advance for those requested for it. Only twelve people per day are allowed to visit one of three gorilla families. We can stay with the family for a maximum of one hour. A family sleeps in a different place every night. In the early morning so-called 'trackers' are sent to locate the family.  The group of visitors, led by a guide and a few rangers, will then be guided through the dense forest to the family via GPS coordinates. How long we have to walk to get to the gorillas is therefore entirely dependent on where the family is. But this unique hour with the gorillas is worth every walk. Alternatively, you can stay relaxing at our nice hotel, walk around the forest village where we stay, or do a guided nature tour. 

Day 10 - Ruhjia – Lake Bunyonyi
We leave the lush Bwindi Impenetrable Forest via a gravel mountain road. The road winds through remote villages and lush hillsides. After an hour or so we hit the asphalt. Then we curl our way to lake Bunyonyi, the lake’s crystal-clear waters, surrounded by lush islands, offer a tranquil escape, a perfect spot for relaxation after your rugged journey through Uganda’s wilderness.



Day 11 - Lake Bunyonyi – Ruhengeri (Rwanda)
We start the engines again and head south to the border – weather permitted we take an adventurous short cut.  After the border, we quickly leave the highway and ride into the tea plantations region. Depending on the border crossing time, we either ride between two lakes or around two lakes. With clear skies we have a good view on the first volcanoes.

Day 12 - Ruhengeri - Gitesi
We had west to Lake Kivu, ride alongside the many volcanoes of the Volcanoes National Park. This gives way for spectacular scenery. Once we arrive at the Lake, we decent south following the coastline. Lake Kivu is believed to be one to five million years old and has a depth of 485 metres. Straddling the border between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kivu is one of a string of lakes lining the East African Rift Valley where the African continent is being slowly pulled apart by tectonic forces. The resulting stresses thin the Earth’s crust and trigger volcanic activity, creating hot springs below Kivu that feed hot water, carbon dioxide and methane into the lake’s bottom layers. We will spend a while riding the notorious Congo-Nile trail while our support car follows another route. We stay at the Lake.

Day 13 -  Gitesi - Kigali
We head east to Rwanda’s capital. Our journey takes us through the country side, and village live. We will stop for a simple lunch and slowly have to get used to more traffic on the way – we approaching urban live! Kigali is a big city with friendly inhabitants. The city is scattered over several hills.  It is developing rapidly, with shopping malls and office buildings. It is a safe city, and many claim it to be the tidiest urban area in Africa. You are not allowed to bring in plastic bags, and it is unmentionable to through rubbish on the streets. We stay in a nice hotel with a swimming pool and bar. 



Day 14 - Kigali - Stay
Today is a rest day. You can organise our photo’s, clean your clothes, stay at the swimming pool, or enjoy other hotel facilities. You can also go out and explore the city, stretch your legs, visit the genocide museum and the hotel Milles Colinnes (hotel Rwanda from the film of the same name).

Day 15 - Kigali - Akagera
Today the adventure on wheels continues! Set off from Kigali on a ride through Rwanda’s vibrant eastern landscapes. We ride past terraced hills, bustling roadside markets, and tranquil villages. We will get close to near the Akagera Plains, Rwanda’s largest National Park. Maybe we spot the first wildlife!

Day 16 - Akagera – Biharamulo (Tanzania)
An early rise to make our first border crossing, and experience the changing landscape: from the wild savannahs of Akagera to the valleys of Biharamulo. We ride through highlands, bustling towns, and remote mountain passes as we make our way into Tanzania. We stay in a simple gueshouse in a small town.



Day  17 - Biharamulo - Mwanza
We ride along the southeast of Lake Victoria, it is smooth ride asphalt ride through vibrant Tanzanian towns, and we explore small tracks along the amain road to visit fishermen villages.  Lake Victoria is Africa’s largest lake by area, and the world largest tropical lake, and 2^nd largest freshwater lake. We will take a ferry just before Mwanza and then check in our accommodation for the night

Day 18 - Mwanza – Migori
The journey continues! We jump on our bikes, and head towards Kenya. We ride through quiet fishing villages, lush banana groves, and rolling countryside.  We cross the Tanzanian-Kenyan border at Isebania, where vibrant market scenes greet you. Continue to Migori, a bustling town in Kenya’s green highlands. We stay in a friendly family guesthouse.

Day 19 - Migori – Masaai Mara (Kenya)
An adventurous day today! We head east ways, and ride most of journey over the gravel roads of
Masaai County! You already have encountered the Masai tribe in Tanzania, but now you drive through a vast part of their homeland: The landscape opens into vast grasslands dotted with acacia trees and grazing livestock. We will pass several conservancies, and you can spot wildlife. We stay in a self-contained tented camp with views on the Sekenani Plains.

Day 20 - Masaai Mara – Stay (Game Drive)
People are not allowed to live in a National Park. It is hardly fenced. Apparently, that is enough for a rich animal life. Landscape in the Masaai Mara is splendid. We leave the motors partly at rest and take an optional car safari: You will encounter large herds of buffalo, wildebeest, zebras and antelopes as well as giraffes and lions crossing the road. We can ride around until late in this magnificent wild park of Kenya. There is an option for a motor safari too! Take enough power and memory cards for your camera because it is really beautiful. The real safari experience!



Day 21 - Masaai Mara - Nairobi
We leave early to spin the wheels of our motorbikes again. In the morning there is a lot of game along the road. We will follow a long dirt-road to reach the asphalt to Narok. After lunch we continue the main road, and then we branch off on a quiet bypass from Suswa. We will pass Mount Suswa Conservancy and ride around Ngong Hills Natural reserve. The closer we get to Nairobi, the busier it becomes. Air pollution, traffic jams, high buildings and people on the move. On arrival at Nairobi, we relax with a well-deserved drink to celebrate and share our memories.

Day 22 - Nairobi – Departure
Depending on the time of your flight, you either leave very early or you have the day to explore Nairobi. If exploring Nairobi, there are a range of activities to enjoy from visiting the Maasai Market or one of the big malls for souvenir shopping, admiring more animals at Nairobi National Park, partaking in a slum tour, or just relaxing in the hotel. Then it is time to say goodbye, kwaheri!