{"id":91884,"date":"2015-02-25T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2015-02-25T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/travelstartblg.wpenginepowered.com\/9-things-to-see-in-kampala-from-the-back-of-a-boda-boda-bike\/"},"modified":"2025-11-04T13:52:36","modified_gmt":"2025-11-04T13:52:36","slug":"9-things-to-see-in-kampala-from-the-back-of-a-boda-boda-bike","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.travelstart.co.za\/blog\/9-things-to-see-in-kampala-from-the-back-of-a-boda-boda-bike\/","title":{"rendered":"9 Things To See In Kampala From The Back Of A Boda Boda Bike"},"content":{"rendered":"

Imagine being able to manoeuvre\u00a0freely through the streets of a vibrant and pulsating\u00a0African city.<\/p>\n

Face to the wind. Ear to the varied sounds. Eyes\u00a0peaked to the visual offerings. Drinking\u00a0in the very character of the city as it\u00a0floats\u00a0heavy on the air. Coming within arms reach of pedestrians, heavily laden bikes and cars,\u00a0fume-spewing buses. Marabou Storks circling overhead. Camera in hand, smiling as you capture all to memory and card as you go.<\/p>\n

I’m in Uganda’s capital, one of East Africa’s craziest cities, on\u00a0a\u00a0full day Boda Boda\u00a0or motorbike\u00a0tour, with Walter’s Tours<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The tour company was founded by the charismatic young\u00a0entrepreneur Walter Wandera in 2010. Born in\u00a0South Eastern Uganda, Walter\u00a0returned to Kampala after a year of travelling to drive\u00a0a\u00a0Boda Boda<\/em> while studying computer engineering. The Boda Boda<\/em> is a common mode\u00a0of public transport in East Africa and serves as an\u00a0alternate option to a motor car taxi. Walter built up\u00a0quite a reputation with the local expats who started recommending him as a ‘safe Boda Boda guy who carried two helmets’<\/em>.<\/p>\n

He realised that most of the people he drove needed more than an A to B service.\u00a0Also, too many arrived in Kampala\u00a0and\u00a0headed straight off on their 4X4 safari without seeing any of the attractions. He wanted to encourage them to take an\u00a0authentic guided look at the city’s highlights. With this\u00a0in mind he formed a Boda touring company that is still on the rise today, employing over 20\u00a0trained guides.<\/p>\n

My\u00a0time in Uganda had started with an\u00a0arrival in\u00a0Entebbe the night before; a place where the landing strip skirts the edge of Lake Victoria. It was hot and I’d shed layers of clothing whilst collecting my bag and seeking out my driver Stevie who was to take me to Kampala. This is a distance of only 35km, yet the journey took 2,5 hours through peak traffic. Windows down as we slowly pressed forward, Stevie chatting away and giving me the lowdown on a new country, it\u00a0was a sure way to get me all loved up on Africa.<\/p>\n

I have one day at leisure before embarking on a\u00a07-day\u00a0Nomad Tours\u00a0overland trip that culminates with Gorilla Trekking in the Bwindi National Park<\/a>. It’s so high on my travel wish list that I’m breathless at the very thought, but\u00a0first to make the most of my time in this city.<\/p>\n

Having booked the full day\u00a0Boda Boda tour with Walter, I was met at my hostel by Joseph, my driver for the day.\u00a0The tour takes about 6 hours and offers a look at Kampala from all angles. Covering the seven hills that originally made up Kampala as well\u00a0all the remaining 23 hills that Kampala has\u00a0spread out to. The term\u00a0Boda Boda<\/em>\u00a0actually refers to the ‘hop-on hop-off’ option which takes us around sluggish traffic to the many attractions we\u2019re packing into the day.<\/p>\n

These are some things I saw in Kampala from the back of a Boda Boda motorcycle:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. The Beverly Hills of Kampala\u00a0– this upmarket\u00a0area is\u00a0where all the Embassy homes and high-brow\u00a0residents reside.<\/li>\n
  2. The beautiful Bahai Temple of Africa<\/a>\u00a0with its\u00a0manicured gardens and views across\u00a0Kampala, where we learnt about the idyllic Bahai faith. It was a Sunday and we sat in the house of worship for a while, listening to their song.<\/li>\n
  3. Constitutional Square, Freedom Square and the Independence Monuments.<\/li>\n
  4. A\u00a0tour of the\u00a0Buganda Kingdom\u00a0including the\u00a0King\u2019s Palace,\u00a0King\u2019s Lake, New Scottish Parliament and the\u00a0museum of the Buganda Kingdom. Driving the Royal mile through the city, going straight to the Palace.<\/li>\n
  5. We had a sobering guided visit to the Idi Amin\u2019s torture chambers, where he is said to have killed two hundred thousand people. Forcing hundreds into small dark rooms at a time where they were suffocated, starved, and beaten to death. Inside hand and foot prints on the walls bear a strong reminder of these horrendous crimes against humanity.<\/li>\n
  6. We lingered downtown\u00a0and walked up to get a\u00a0view of the most organized chaos, the Kampala taxi rank. Loved it!<\/li>\n
  7. A\u00a0tour of\u00a0Old Kampala\u00a0and a visit to the Uganda National Mosque, previously known as the\u00a0Gaddafi Mosque. We climbed the tall minaret which offered wonderful views of the city.<\/li>\n
  8. The local craft markets of Kampala,\u00a0Owino Market\u00a0and the authentic trading markets, with fruit, veg and meat for sale, the very place where the locals shop.<\/li>\n
  9. We also stopped at 2K Restaurant for banana beer and a local rolex <\/em>meal.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

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    \"Kampala<\/p>\n

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    You can customize your day trip if you have specific interests and at one or two places there are nominal entry fees.<\/p>\n

    There were a couple of times when we were advised to put our cameras away as we traversed between the various areas. Throughout we would\u00a0drive\u00a0and then stop for a lesson on the region, the history, the reason, before taking a look around. Our guide was knowledgeable and charming, with that extra touch of acceleration when required. I was picked up and returned to my hostel and Walter even met us at one of the stops to introduce himself. A very\u00a0cool and charming man.<\/p>\n

    My visit to Uganda, the Boda Boda tour, overlanding trip and Gorilla Trekking, are some of the best investments I’ve made in travel memories.\u00a0There is no window frame between you and the world; you smell, hear and see all the sights, on the back of your Boda Boda and as you venture into this land\u00a0Winston Churchill referred to as the Pearl of Africa.<\/p>\n

    Also watch:<\/strong><\/p>\n