9 Days Discover Rwanda Burundi by Motorcycle
9 Days Discover Rwanda Burundi by Motorcycle
9 Days Starting and ending in Kigali, Rwanda
Visiting: Kigali, Kirundo, Gitega, Bujumbura, Karongi, Ruhengeri, Nyagatare
Tour operator:
Tour code:
RWB
Specialist Group:
18-30 Somethings
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
6 - 10
Age range:
18-90
Special diets catered:
Meat
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
The two smallest countries of East and Southern Africa lie next to each other on the west side of Lake Victoria. Rwanda is the more famous of the two. This country quickly stabilized and developed after the unrest in the 1990s. It now even applies as an example for Africa. Burundi is much less known and less developed. Both countries have few flat areas and are dotted with beautiful mountains. This makes the country unique and immediately a beautiful motorcycle travel destination. We start the trip in the capital of Rwanda and drive directly to the neighbouring country of Burundi. Here we drive beautiful routes and visit the capital Bujumbura located on the gigantic Lake Tanganyika. In Rwanda we drive the Congo Nile trail, visit the volcano area and drive a beautiful off-road route back to Kigali. A short but powerful motorcycle trip through two special African countries
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Arrival - Kigali
Location: Kigali
Accommodation: Hotel
You arrive at Kigali airport in the evening. You will be picked up and taken to the hotel in the city. There you will meet your Tour leader and the rest of the group.
Day 2 : Kigali - Kirundo
Location: Kirundo
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
A beautiful day straight away. We drive south out of the city and partly follow asphalt and then gravel again. We cross the border with Burundi. This takes some time. If we go quickly, we will drive a beautiful route along the lakes in Burundi. Kirunda is a small town with limited accommodation options.
Day 3 : Kirundo - Gitega
Location: Gitega
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
In the morning we follow the main road, which has now been paved. We have lunch in the town of Ngozi. Then we alternate between unpaved paths and main roads towards Gitega, off course all through beautiful mountain areas.
Day 4 : Gitega - Bujumbura
Location: Bujumbura
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
We drive a beautiful off-road route through the mountains, past small villages that have not seen many foreigners yet, especially not on motorcycles. After lunch we head to the Monge Forest reserve and via a narrow path we return to the main road close to the capital. Bujumbura is a quiet, small, well-organized city, beautifully situated on the shores of Lake Tanganyika, which is shared with Congo on the other side.
Day 5 : Bujumbura - Karongi
Location: Karongi
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
A long drive today. But from Bujumbura to the border with Rwanda we drive through the only lowland in the country. The road is straight and flat and we can cover quite a distance before the border. You will still find Congolese refugee camps here and there. The border crossing will be faster than the first because we take the motorcycles into the country of origin. After the border, if we have time, we can drive a beautiful route straight through the Nyongwe National Park. Here you will find many monkey species along the road and the park is full of special birds. If we have less time we drive past the park. Then we arrive at the main road that runs along the shore of Lake Kivu. This gives beautiful views. Karongi is a small town on the lake.
Day 6 : Karongi - Ruhengeri
Location: Ruhengeri
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
We follow the coastline of Lake Kivu all day long. This is a mountainous area and therefore often offers beautiful views. We will largely take the famous Congo-Nile route, while our support car will follow a different route. Ruhengeri is the place we are going. Sometimes the road is very bad. At the top of the lake we turn off and drive past the many volcanoes of the Volcanoes National Park of the same name. This produces spectacular images.
Day 7 : Ruhengeri - Nyagatare
Location: Nyagatare
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
All day we drive through beautiful mountain areas and most of the route will be unpaved, sometimes narrow and difficult, sometimes wide and easy. We drive past tea and coffee plantations and beautiful lakes. It is the most challenging day of the trip. Nyagatare is a small town with only simple hotels.
Day 8 : Nyagatare - Kigali
Location: Kigali
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
The last day of driving first takes the main road south. Just before Akagere National Park we turn onto a dirt road. We then follow the south side of the reservoir with beautiful views again. The closer we get to Kigali, the busier the traffic becomes. We are back at the hotel towards the end of the afternoon.
Day 9 : Kigali - Departure
Location: Kigali International Airport
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today you can explore the city. For example, you could visit the genocide museum or the famous Rwanda hotel. Departure to the airport is often in the late afternoon or evening
What's Included
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Accommodation
• All overnight stays
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Additional Services
• Support vehicle with local driver and mechanic, Fuel for the support vehicle
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Airport Transfers at Destination
• All airport transfers
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Fully Guided
• English tour guide on motorcycle
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Insurance
• Liability insurance for the motorcycle
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Meals
including most breakfasts
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Transport
• Motorcycle hire
What's Not Included
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Insurance
• Travel and Cancellation Insurance
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International Travel
• International flights • Airport taxes and fuel surcharges
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Meals
• All other meals, and drinks
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Optional
• Optional Gorilla Tracking Permit • Optional Chimpanzee Tracking Permit
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Transport
• Fuel for motorcycle
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Visa
• Cost of visa
Mode of Transport
During this trip you ride on a Haojin 200cc or equivalent motorbikeAccommodation
With a few exceptions, during this trip you will stay in comfortable hotels or tented camps, mostly with breakfast included.Check out our Q&As
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Medicines, illnesses and physical condition
If you are dependent on medicines (such as insulin) or if you have certain limitations due to your health, you should inform the tour guide of this at the beginning of the trip. If you are not sure whether you can carry out the trip in a responsible manner with a certain illness or health problems, contact your doctor well before departure. Keep in mind that the journeys can be physically and mentally strenuous and that this can be reinforced if the weather conditions or other external factors influence the journey. We expect each participant to be well informed about the difficulty of the journey. You must declare that you are in sufficient good health to complete the trip successfully and without any problems (see bottom of this page). Motor Trails is not responsible for the consequences of your own health and physical condition during the trip. Of course, if possible we will assist you en route for long as possible, provided that the rest of the group does not suffer too much from this.
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Clothing
The climate is different at each destination. At the furthest tip of Tierra del Fuego it can be around freezing, whilst in Cambodia it is rarely below 25 degrees. It is wise, therefore, to base your riding gear on the local temperature. Regardless, the minimum equipment comprises: - Sturdy long (mountain) boots or motorcycle boots - Gloves - Sturdy (motorcycle) jacket with added protection at shoulders and elbow, with or without removable lining - Helmet - Sturdy long (motorcycle) trousers preferably with knee protection or motorcycle trousers Additional advice on clothing and riding equipment is available upon request.
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Weather conditions and natural influences
Our trips are planned as much as possible in the most favorable season. Nothing, however, is as unpredictable as the weather. Especially in the areas where Motor Trails organizes trips, the weather is an important factor in the experience of the journey. The weather can force us to take alternative routes, to adapt the program or, in the event of a very bad weather forecast and in consultation with the participants, to end the trip prematurely. Natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions can also strongly influence the course of the trip. In this event, Motor Trails will offer alternatives and put these into practice in consultation with the group. Motor Trails is not in any way liable, however, for the consequences of these external influences on the trip. In such cases, Clause 9.5 of the General Terms and Conditions will come into effect.
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Book with Confidence
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Low Deposit
Motor Trails requires a minimum deposit of 15% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 57 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of motor trails charges.
Up to 57 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 56 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 28 days before tour starts: Forfeit 75% of booking price.
At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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