Uganda Motorcycle Safari Tips
East African motorcycle adventures are not so much different from any motorcycle gravel adventures. The only thing that usually stands out is the culture and the attractions you are likely to visit through most of the gravel roads.
Whether you are an experienced driver or not, you will need to have the following tips on your Motorcycle adventures in Uganda;
Before the Adventure Tips
There are a number of things you might likely have to work on even before setting off for your adventure trip in Uganda among which includes the item below;
Biking Wear
There are five things to consider in your biking wear; Boots, jackets, gloves, pants and Helmets. When it comes to boots, we recommend you to choose between riding shoes and touring shoes for the sake of comfort and protection during your ride.
Jackets And Pants
When it comes to jackets, leather is the best option. It offers extra protection in case of an accident than jeans or any other type of fabric. However when riding on your motorcycle adventures in Uganda, most of the time you keep off the main road, so you can take your luck on any wild attire since you will keep your speed low.
Gloves
Gloves are essential, sometimes it is very cold to drive without any gloves; they help you to keep your fingers warm during the early morning ride yet giving you extra protection in case of any accident.
Boots
Boots should always be the kind that cover the ankles, your safety on a motorcycle adventure is paramount, but in a self drive hire, no one will be there to restrict you from riding without boots that cover your ankles however much they are very important for your safety.
Helmet
The Helmet has always been known for head protection; but when it comes to wilderness motorcycle adventures, the helmet can be pimped up with a rear camera to help you record everything that transpires during your ride. The helmet camera visuals are often different from the motorcycle camera visuals, but any of the two can work during your trip.
Though at the moment, Offroad Bikes Uganda offers no camera gear for the motorcycle and helmet, you can carry your own advanced camera gear in to enjoy your motorcycle adventure to the fullest.
Choosing the Right Motorcycle
There are mainly three things to consider when choosing a motorcycle for your self-guided adventure in Uganda; hire rate, comfort and fuel consumption.
Hire Rate
Motorcycle hire in Uganda ranges between US$50 per day and US$70 per day. The rates also vary with the terms and conditions of hire for your self-guided motorcycle adventure. Unlike the rule of thumb that tells you to go for the cheapest, I would recommend you go for the average rate; this will save you from being over charged as well as hiring something too cheap only to find it expensive in the long run.
Fuel Consumption
Adventure motorcycles range between 250cc and 450cc. Though it is possible to find a motorcycle of 125cc or 150cc; we highly recommend motorcycles of 250cc. They are both economical and strong enough for any gravel motorcycle adventure.
Motorcycle Comfort
When it comes to comfort, it is often recommended you consider the BMWs. However they might not be as fast as the raised sport bikes for the off-road trip. For this reason, you might have to consider the raise sport bike. Most of the 250cc motorcycles are somewhat comfort too.
Speed is not often a factor in the African motorcycle adventures. You are likely to do most of the riding off the main roads. In other words, more than 50% of your trip time will be spent on gravel/rough roads.