Biking in Uganda
 

Hi everyone

I just found this forum and have lived in Uganda for the last two years with a motorbike. If anyone needs any info on this part of the world then please don't hesitate to get in touch

glad to know. Somewhere next year we'll hope to pass Uganga on our RTW. No definited timeszchedule. Will be in touch by then. Tnx in advance:thumbup1:

sure thing, just let me know

Uganda
 

I have just about ridden everywhere you can go in Uganda, sensational country with sensational people, so many hidden gems, which I suppose why Hemmingway called it the Pearl of Africa !!

Kampalaric - I'd be interested to know how easy it would be to buy a motorbike in Uganda, ride it around for a month or so and then sell it. Just something basic like a Honda or Chinese bike (125-150cc or so). I'm guessing Kampala would be the best place to buy it??

Also, driving around the country do the police or military at checkpoints give you any trouble re: papers, or registration or anything like that?

In general is it a fairly hassle-free place to buy a bike and ride?

Thanks

Uganda
 

I think buying a bike in Uganda & keeping it in Uganda would be very easy (But check with someone who knows for sure) as for the Police checkpoints, they are a non event & you will have a trouble free trip. The police are told to help tourists in anyway possible & not annoy them, & I have spent alot of time in Uganda in the last 2 years & from experience found this to be correct.
Cheers
Paul

@PaulD: Hi Paul, if I remember correctly, Uganda got that nickname when Churchill (not Hemingway) visited the country as a young politician at the beginning of the last century, but he himself was reporting (without citing the source) a phrase by Stanley (Henry) who was there some 20 years before.

Yeh your right !!!! Hemingway had 2 plane crashes first at Murchinson Falls & the 2nd at Butiabia i think (so this is what I mixed up) Fantastic country all the same !!

yes i think so Uganda is great Motorbike land, therefore go I to Uganda in End of 2014.

Tour Plan: from Tanzania Mwanza over the Lake (with MV Augusta) to Bukoba then to Uganda Gorilla Trecking (Bwindi is this a good Idea?) and rest will see.

Best

Hi

I've just been offered a trip out to Uganda in early February - Fantastic!!!

Unfortunately, it won't be long enough (12 days) to warrant shipping a bike out so does anyone have info on renting a bike for a short trip up and down the country. It doesn't matter what the bike is (well, maybe not a 50cc but I don't need a GS either) I'll be based in Kampala

Thanks in anticipation

Pike

As a newbie, I hope I'm not breaking any advertising rules with this post. Its meant to be for information only. Huge apologies if it does

Anyway, just to say that ugandabikesafaris.com/ were all booked up and unable to rent me a bike. I eventually got sorted by emailing karibu@kariburwanda.com. They have been very helpful but as I say, I'm not trying to endorse anyone - just putting info out there.

Pike

Just to echo other contributors, Uganda is a fabulous country to visit. The wildlife is prolific and varied. But be warned you need deep pockets to go Gorilla trekking. Although well organised they charge $500 per head and that was three years ago. Hopefully all the money goes to the right places. But I am sure you will enjoy it.

Welcome to Uganda
 

Hi all,
I have lived in Uganda (Kampala) for the past 6 yrs and it is all that the others have stated... I recommend it as a stand alone trip (3 weeks) or a vital part of the N-S trip. My email is ianineurope@btinternet.com and I will help any lonely, stranded or sober bikers with their problems. Good contacts at repair centre for bikes and great social. Also know the local bike sellers and can help avoid the idiots if you are looking to buy here.
I also have good experience of all countries south of here.
If you are passing through drop me a line - cold beer guaranteed.
Parky

Well, did I ever mess up!
The bike I agreed to rent was a XL250 but on the day a 125 turned up.
No front brake, no brake light and a dangerously worn chain
I've got old bikes so I wasn't expecting perfection but the chain was going to fail very soon and you could push the bike along with the front brake on. And fundamentally, a tired 125 wouldn't be very safe on major roads coz it would only do ~65kph
I haven't been able to source another bike (other than a boda) so I couldn't do the trip. I've just rented a car and will drive up to Mbale.
Hugely disappointing and obviously, I withdraw my previous recommendation
Ho hum - if these things were easy, they wouldn't be as much fun
Pike

Addendum

Well, I had a great time in Uganda despite not doing any riding, which was bitterly disappointing. However, I did manage to hook up with Parky the day I flew home. An absolutely top chap who showed us around a few bars and the bike repair district of Kampala. (Lots of lovely old FS1Es!!)
I've now got to go away and think through my options for a longer trip next year - I might not rely on local rental this time!!! Although having said that, I think Parky may be in a position to help out with this later in the year.
I can only say, if you're in town, look him up whether you need assistance or not

Cold in the UK, innit?

Cheers

Pike

I´ve spend 2 months in the country and its one of the nicest places i´ve been to in Africa, sooo many spots to go and fantastic people !!

For a bike to get around I would buy an indian made Bajaj 150, you should get one new for around 600$ and its very (!!) easy to just sell it after your trip. All the moto taxis ( called "boda boda", the name comes from a time where there was no public transport between Kenyan and Ugandan border and local guys made a buisness out of it transporting people on bikes ) use that modell and with more than 20.000 of these "taxis" in Kampala you´ll find a buyer quickly.

They are reliable, use around 2,5l/100km, make up to 90km/h, spares are available in even the smallest roadside villages ( + everybody knows how to fix them ) and they have quite a good suspension and torque ! The same modell is used in westafrica too, we went on these bikes with 3 people nearly every day and even on the roughest pistes the bike handled well and confortable !

http://s14.directupload.net/images/1...p/fpabe6s4.jpg

http://s14.directupload.net/images/1...p/e585ldn7.jpg

Cheers,
Chris

Thanks Pike - good to meet you and glad you enjoyed the "otherside" of Uganda. Take care until next time. Parky

Great to hear , I leave on the first of May from Johannesburg on my trusted Vespae for a epic trip to tha Vespa factory in italy and will be in Uganda later in the year , so will look you up for some insider info.
Regards
Michael

There's mad and then there's Vespa...
 

I salute your madness and embrace the whole idea! Make sure you pack some Hemorrhoid cream :scooter: lol
Hope to see you when you get into town. Have cold beer on the go day and night for thirsty voyagers.
Ride well and stay safe.
Parky

I´ve done around 40.000km through north-west-cental and east Africa on a vespa myself and have to say that the seat and riding position on a vespa is not worse than on my Yamaha XT500 or the KLR650 i´ve tried when it comes to long distances on tarmac ! :thumbup1: ( which is 90% of the route if you go straight Cape Town - Cairo as Isiolo-Moyale should be all tarmac mid 2014 )

@ Michael :

Which modell did you chose for the trip ? Take all the spares you need ( MANY CDI´s, extra front/rear damper, piston, full ignition, I carried even a spare cylinder ) as you won´t find any from Kenya to Egypt ( and oh boy I did seach a lot as I was on a 125cc primavera smallframe, which makes it impossible to find anything even tires ), where they have plenty of PX 150 so with a lot of effort you´ll get all the essential stuff, especially in Alexandria so when you are there and in trouble send me a pm and i´ll tell you how to find the shop. I havent seen any vespas in Ethiopia and in Sudan only maybe a dozen, mainly they have Bajaj with three wheels as taxis but completely differant engine, even the stearing bearing is differant ! ( had to get a new bearing with dhl into Addis ) Any blog of fb page where I could follow your journey ??

Greetings from a fellow Vespisti traveller,
Chris

Arriving in Kampala
 

Hey Parky arriving in Kampala in the next week or so , I have dropped you a mail , I hope we can get together for a Uganda catch up.

Kind regards

Michael

I would just like to update this thread by recommending that if anyone is in Kampala, Uganda they get in contact with Parky. He's great company and an invaluable source of local knowledge. So if you're just passing thru and fancy a beer or have a problem which needs help....

My problem at the moment, is that I was out with him until 2am this morning!

Just to like to say that motorcycling in Uganda is highly recommended. Traffic can be a bit nuts in the big towns (but no more nuts than other places in the region) but bikes are cheap to buy, spares are everywhere, as are mechanics.

I stay here for a large proportion of the year so if anyone needs help, bike storage etc send me a PM.

Cheers.