Rwanda 2025 - Travel Buddy wanted

[Ibraheem Laher]

🌍 Rwanda 2025 UCI Road World Champs – Travel Buddy Wanted 🇷🇼🚴‍♂️

Hey cycling community!

I’m heading to the 2025 UCI Road World Championships in Rwanda this September and I’m looking for a travel buddy to join me for the trip.

This is a historic edition — first time the Worlds are held in Africa — and I’m super keen to take in the full experience: elite racing, electric crowds and Rwandan cycling culture!

👥 Why I need a travel partner?
My parents have agreed to send me on the trip (shoutout to them 🙌), but they’ve asked that I don’t travel alone — so I’m looking for someone who’s just as excited about this trip and down to share the experience.

🗓️ Trip Details:
    •    Flying out: Wednesday 24th September
    •    Returning: Tuesday 30th September
    •    Staying in: Airbnb (already found a few good ones!)
    •    Cost: Flights individually paid for and we’ll then split the Airbnb and any shared local costs
    •    Taking my bike: Yes! Planning to ride and explore a bit between race days

✅ About me:
    •    I’m 21 years old and deeply passionate about cycling — road racing, the culture and the whole experience
    •    Easygoing, organised and always up for a lekker adventure
    •    Hoping to do some riding while there (not training camp intensity, just vibes and exploring)
    •    Keen to see both the road racing and a bit of Rwanda outside the event bubble

👀 Looking for someone who’s:
    •    Also planning to attend or seriously considering it
    •    Reliable, respectful and easy to get along with
    •    Ideally from a cycling racing background 
    •    Down to share minimal costs and the experience fairly
    •    Bonus if you ride too, but not essential

If this sounds like the kind of trip you’ve been dreaming of and you want someone to plan and travel with, hit me up. I plan on travelling together from home and share the whole experience together, I’d love to connect and make this trip unforgettable.

Drop me a message and let’s chat! 🌈🇷🇼🚴🏻‍♂️🔥

060 678 7232

Edited August 28, 2025 by Ibraheem Laher
Confirmed dates for flights

[Prince Albert Cycles]

Great post and iniative 

[BMCfan]

I havent even considered something like this, but now i'm pretty keen to do it 🤫

[Rowl]

Hope you come right!

 

For interest sake, what does it cost to fly there. What is the general accommodation cost? I know I can google, might be useful to have on your post?

[Ibraheem Laher]

52 minutes ago, Rowl said:

Hope you come right!

 

For interest sake, what does it cost to fly there. What is the general accommodation cost? I know I can google, might be useful to have on your post?

Flights are anything between R5800 to R7000 return (almost the same as a peak season Cape Town flight)

Accommodation is actually really cheap from R300 a night to R1200

This is basically my DC for the year..rather experience a different country than ride the same route 2 years in a row. 

[NC_lurker]

25 minutes ago, Ibraheem Laher said:

 

This is basically my DC for the year..rather experience a different country than ride the same route 2 years in a row. 

Great attitude 👍🏼

I did a bit of work in Kigali 2016-18, it's a super safe destination and not at all comparable to SA from a crime & safety perspective. If your folks have any concerns DM me and I'd be happy to have a chat with them.

Just make sure to check your accommodation reviews and using Google Street view if possible. I'm surprised at how low the costs you've quoted are, things might be a little more "rustic" than you expect 😄

Hopefully flights are easier now, but when I was traveling there it was impossible to go CT to Kigali same day as the JHB - Kigali flight used to leave around 8am. Likewise coming back Kigali - JHB would only land around 10pm.

Finally, take your climbing legs... it's not called the land of 1000 Hills for nothing! 

[Dusty]

I've done 3 Race around Rwanda bikepacking races. Truly an amazing place to visit. Stunning country, safe, and a marvellous place to ride a bike. As @NC_lurker says, there is a wee bit of climbing😉.

The cycling culture in Rwanda has to be experienced. If I had leave I would be jumping at this.

Grab this opportunity if you can.

PS you must take a bike with you. The riding (road, gravel and mtb) is amazing.

Edited July 31, 2025 by Dusty

[Ibraheem Laher]

On 7/30/2025 at 4:41 PM, NC_lurker said:

Great attitude 👍🏼

I did a bit of work in Kigali 2016-18, it's a super safe destination and not at all comparable to SA from a crime & safety perspective. If your folks have any concerns DM me and I'd be happy to have a chat with them.

Just make sure to check your accommodation reviews and using Google Street view if possible. I'm surprised at how low the costs you've quoted are, things might be a little more "rustic" than you expect 😄

Hopefully flights are easier now, but when I was traveling there it was impossible to go CT to Kigali same day as the JHB - Kigali flight used to leave around 8am. Likewise coming back Kigali - JHB would only land around 10pm.

Finally, take your climbing legs... it's not called the land of 1000 Hills for nothing! 

Will definitely hit you up with a DM soon bro

I’m from JHB so yes flights seem to be less complicated

Climbing legs are my only legs 🤭

[Ibraheem Laher]

10 hours ago, Dusty said:

I've done 3 Race around Rwanda bikepacking races. Truly an amazing place to visit. Stunning country, safe, and a marvellous place to ride a bike. As @NC_lurker says, there is a wee bit of climbing😉.

The cycling culture in Rwanda has to be experienced. If I had leave I would be jumping at this.

Grab this opportunity if you can.

PS you must take a bike with you. The riding (road, gravel and mtb) is amazing.

Love the fact that everyone is saying that it’s safe..what has South Africa done to us 🙈🙈

Just take some sick leave and say only your bike will make you feel better (I’m in clinical research that’s what I’m doing ℓøℓ)

Definitely going to make it happen

[mopats]

Hi Ibraheem ,an awesome initiative hope you you find a compatible buddy soon .Sounds awesome ,does the race start and end in Kigali ?

[The Black Eagle]

Awesome, I'm stoked you're up for this! Cycling in Rwanda sounds amazing. Great opportunity! Make CCL proud

[Ibraheem Laher]

13 hours ago, mopats said:

Hi Ibraheem ,an awesome initiative hope you you find a compatible buddy soon .Sounds awesome ,does the race start and end in Kigali ?

It is a circuit race so yes it starts and ends in Kigali

[Ibraheem Laher]

11 hours ago, The Black Eagle said:

Awesome, I'm stoked you're up for this! Cycling in Rwanda sounds amazing. Great opportunity! Make CCL proud

Thanks @The Black Eagle, hoping to find a partner soon. 

[Ncayi]

On 7/30/2025 at 1:46 PM, Ibraheem Laher said:

Taking my bike: Yes! Planning to ride and explore a bit between race days

Hi Ibraheem

Do you have an idea how much it cost to travel with a bike. I will be visiting Rwanda in September as well but after your dates. So Im trying to figure out if its practical and cost effective to travel with a bike 

[Dusty]

On 8/27/2025 at 10:17 AM, Ncayi said:

Hi Ibraheem

Do you have an idea how much it cost to travel with a bike. I will be visiting Rwanda in September as well but after your dates. So Im trying to figure out if its practical and cost effective to travel with a bike 

If you fly Rwandair, your bike counts as one of your 23kg luggages allowed, therefore no extra cost.

Edited August 28, 2025 by Dusty

[igihozo]

Hey cyclists 👋 I’m curious how many here are planning to attend the 2025 UCI Road World Championships in Rwanda? It’s the first time the event is coming to Africa and the buzz here in Kigali is huge. What’s the biggest thing you’d need to make travel easy flights, accommodation, or local cycling routes to explore before/after the race?