The Heart of Africa Motorcycle Expedition

Foreword to our Heart of Africa Motorcycle Expedition

After two decades, we are repeatedly asked which country in Africa is the most beautiful. The beauty of a travel destination is often shaped by its people and their history, which you will experience with all its contrasts on the Heart of Africa trip. You will encounter the joyful Kenyans, Rwanda marked by genocide, the fascinating landscape of Uganda, and the unspoiled Tanzania. In other words, 1000 facets of Africa and a motorcycle journey that can only be topped by the Transafrica Expedition. The special feature: we take only SIX participants on the motorcycle expedition!

Motorcycle trip through Kenya: on African tracks with the Enduro

Day 1: Arrival in Kenya

Participants usually fly overnight from Europe to Kenya and land in the early morning in Nairobi, which is jokingly also called Nairobbery! The OVERCROSS driver will pick you up from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi and take you to the workshop where the Yamaha Ténéré T7 Rally rental bikes are waiting for the participants. At the adjacent campground, you can pitch your tent with the other participants, pack your rental motorcycle, and then gather for the first tour briefing around the campfire. After the BBQ, enjoy one last glass of wine and then head to your sleeping bag.
 

First day of this expedition at the Nairobi Camp

 

Day 2: On and Off-road through Kenya

We leave Nairobi late in the morning after a hearty breakfast and travel about 300 kilometers north over the equator line. We have planned the first day on the YAMAHA Ténéré 700 Rally rental bikes as an "acclimatization day" for man, machine, and traffic. About 100 kilometers after Nairobi, we make a short stop at a typical Kenyan coffee vendor on the roadside before continuing on light off-road trails to our destination for the day. In the late afternoon, we will reach the camp near the Ugandan border and pitch our tents. 

Offroad mit der Enduro Richtung Uganda unterwegs; the kids just love adventure! 

Day 3: From Kenya to Uganda

Today marks the first border crossing with the motorcycle convoy and our support vehicle (Land Rover Defender). Welcome to Uganda, welcome to the heart of Africa! 

Offroad to the  Masai in Kenia!
 

Day 4: Through Uganda

We travel on typical African roads towards Jinja, on Lake Victoria, where the Nile originates. The source of the Nile was first discovered by Western explorers in 1862. Here begins the 6,650 km long Nile, the longest river in the world. We arrive at sunset in the chaotic traffic of Kampala and dive into the nightlife of Uganda's largest city. 

Stop at a relaxed roadside post on the enduro tour through Uganda

Day 5: Along the Lake Victoria

We ride our enduros along the shore of Lake Victoria towards the southwest through the East African highlands, which can reach up to 1,500 meters in Uganda. Our route takes us through the Ruwenzori area, which borders the Congo and is a phenomenal hiking region. After a roughly 300-kilometer day stage, we reach Lake Mburo. Here we set up our night camp and end the evening as usual around the campfire. 

The Ténéré 700 Rally as a rental motorcycle for the Kenya-Uganda-Rwanda-Tanzania motorcycle tour

Day 6: On-road to the Congolese Border

Near the border with the Congo are two parks where the last mountain gorillas live. One of them is the Bwindi Rainforest, which we reach via roads with many hairpin bends and smaller off-road sections. The Bwindi National Park has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1994 and is world-famous for the mountain gorillas that live here. We set up our camp for the next two days at the foot of the Albertine Rift.

Bwindi National Park 

Day 7: Gorilla Safari Day in Bwindi National Park

Today, participants have the option to relax for a day or visit the Bwindi National Park, which hosts half of the entire gorilla population! With a bit of luck, you might spot one of the ten species of monkeys such as the black-and-white colobus, the silver monkey, or the chimpanzee, as well as elephants and various small antelopes, and of course, the very impressive mountain gorillas!

No shortage of Antilopes in this motorcycle enduro expedition

Day 8: From Rwanda to the Congolese Border

At the foot of the Virunga Volcanoes on the border with the Congo, we ride the long winding roads to the small town of Kisoro. In Kisoro, we make a coffee stop, stock up on provisions, and then travel to the border with Rwanda. Depending on how long we take at the border, we will either travel via the main road to Giseny by the lake or through the hinterland along the border with the Congo, where we will have a great view over the lake.

Offroad through Uganda, on the way to Ruanda's border

Day 9: From Uganda to Rwanda

We say goodbye to the rainforest and ride to the capital Kigali. Our route takes us over beautiful mountain passes until we reach the legendary Hotel Rwanda. Terry George filmed the story about the 1994 genocide in Rwanda against the Tutsi and moderate Hutu. The film is based on the true story of Paul Rusesabagina, who saved over 1200 people from certain death. Paul Rusesabagina is a true modern-day hero, currently imprisoned in Kigali.

The Heart of Africa Motorcycle Expedition brings about all beauty of fauna and flora 

Day 10: Through Rwanda's Dark Past 

After breakfast, we head to the Kigali Genocide Memorial, about 12 kilometers away. About 250,000 Tutsis are buried here. After visiting the memorial, which offers insight into Rwanda's dark history, we will likely ride our motorcycles in deep thought along well-paved roads, questioning every police checkpoint: Where were you in 1994? After this experience, even the border control into Tanzania won't faze us. In Tanzania, we tackle the last hard 50 kilometers on rough roads and wash down the day with a good wine around the campfire in the evening.

Somewhere in Africa, just a short stop to play around with kids

Day 11: With the Enduro around Lake Victoria

Along the Burundian border, we travel on typical African trails towards the east. We can expect a day full of dust and dirt, as every enduro rider dreams of. If we are unlucky, rain might add to the challenge, turning the day into a "battle day" through African mud. We reach our camp on Lake Victoria in the late afternoon, where we leave our motorcycles and take a raft trip. We will also cast our fishing rods! So hopefully, there will be fish for dinner, along with fire and... wine?

To Lake Vitctoria with the motorcycles ;)

Day 12: A Day for BMW Riders

Today, you ride on a boring road along the eastern shore of Lake Victoria, clocking up kilometers on the Ténéré 700 until we reach the border with Kenya. We skirt the Serengeti, which stretches east to Ngorongoro and the Rift Valley, and reach our campground at sunset.

This is what you will going to find quite often through the equator line!

Day 13: A Battle Day for Enduro Riders

The sun rises and we start the engines of our Ténérés. We have several hours of off-road riding ahead of us until we reach the border with Kenya. After crossing the border, we treat ourselves to a cool drink at the edge of the Masai Mara, with hardly any time for more. We leave the Masai Mara behind and head towards Lake Naivasha with the throttle wide open.

Onroad with the bike can be as strenuous as offroad!

Day 14: The Last Kilometers to Nairobi

We wake up early and at dawn, we start the last kilometers on small national roads to Nairobi, where we return the motorcycles to the workshop for inspection and then head to the airport. Those with time can end the evening as usual with us around the campfire with BBQ and wine.

the last kilometers on small national roads to Nairobi

Conclusion 

The Heart of Africa is a motorcycle EXPEDITION that truly excites us! It is IMPORTANT for each participant to be aware that this unusual motorcycle trip is advertised and conducted as an EXPEDITION. This means each day is a new challenge, we discover new things together, and experience a new adventure!

Video of the trip through Kenya, recorded during the Transafrica Tour. More videos of the countries we travel through in Africa can be found under this link:

Possible Follow-up Tour:

Equator Go South Motorcycle Expedition  

The countries of the Equator Go South Motorcycle Expedition are:

Kenya

Tanzania

Malawi

Zambia

Namibia