Safaris By Jon

4.9/5 – 14 Reviews

$2,063 pp (USD)

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John while on a game drive/ safari

John while on a game drive/ safari

Safaris By Jon

4.9/5  
(14 Reviews)
Office In:
Uganda Uganda
Size:
1-5 employees (Founded in 2018)
Tour Types:
Customizable private tours and fixed group tours
Destinations:
Kenya KE
Rwanda RW
Uganda UG
John while on a game drive/ safari

John while on a game drive/ safari

Welcome to Safaris By Jon! We are a Ugandan owned safari company with 10 years of experience in the tourism industry in Uganda. We create bespoke travel experiences and trips uniquely specific to the interests and needs of every client. Our tailor made trips are privately guided by local Uganda travel experts with over a decade of experience leading trips and hundreds of safaris. From Gorilla Trekking to River Safaris on the River Nile.

Reviews14

Jon, went above and beyond in ensuring we had an extraordinary holiday
5/5

My journey with "Safaris by Jon" in Uganda was an adventure of a lifetime. Our guide, Jon, went above and beyond in ensuring we had an extraordinary holiday and his efforts truly elevated our experience. His deep knowledge about Uganda, its wildlife, and culture was highly impressive, adding layers of richness to our safari.

We started with a chimpanzee safari that was skillfully organized. Jon's enthusiasm and knowledge of these fascinating creatures greatly augmented our experience, rendering it a captivating and educational tour. He proved to be not only our guide but also a passionate educator, eager to share his love for Uganda's wildlife.

Jon also took us through a national park, where his keen eyes and extensive knowledge about the wildlife enhanced our understanding and appreciation of the diverse ecosystems within the park.

The grand finale, however, was the gorilla trekking expedition, which was nothing short of magical. Jon's expertise and respectful approach to these magnificent creatures enabled us to enjoy a genuinely profound and humbling experience. It was clear that Jon was committed to responsible tourism, a characteristic that I greatly appreciated.

Accommodations throughout our trip were meticulously chosen, reflecting a blend of comfort, local character, and breathtaking views. Jon's choice of lodgings was a testament to his thoughtfulness and dedication to providing an unforgettable experience.

Jon was incredibly professional, always punctual, and maintained a positive demeanor throughout our journey, adding to the overall enjoyment of our safari. Even before our trip began, Jon was always available on WhatsApp, promptly answering our queries and providing useful tips and information to ensure a smooth experience.

The decision to choose "Safaris by Jon" proved to be an excellent one. Not only did we get to experience the beauty of Uganda and its wildlife, but we also had the pleasure of touring with an exceptional guide. Jon's passion, knowledge, and commitment to exceeding expectations made our safari an unforgettable adventure. We are immensely grateful for this incredible experience, and I wholeheartedly recommend "Safaris by Jon" to anyone seeking an extraordinary safari experience in Uganda.

Mountain Gorilla Trekking was exceeded our expectation!
4/5

We booked a 5D4N package with Safari by John starting on the 13th June.

Lucky (the name of our driver) came to pick us up from our hotel. We were initially a little bit disappointed that our car was not a land rover but instead a 4by4 van, but it is also something we should have double-checked beforehand. Honestly though in some ways this car was better than a land rover (we had one in Kenya), as it was faster and on tarmac roads the ride was smoother.

Lucky was a very chilled-out, calm and experienced driver and we were similar age (28) so felt like we had things to talk about.

Our first meal was a local Ugandan buffet popular with the locals which was very good in particular the sugar cane juice with lemon.

Our first accommodation was a bit of a disappointment as it was not the lodge we were expecting as per our itinerary. John explained the one originally listed was booked up for that night but it would have been nice to have been warned in advance. John did manage to get us to the originally intended lodge for the second night we were at Queen Elizabeth National park though, where the food was noticeably better. The downside was we got two single beds instead of a double and the shower was an outdoor one, so more of a sidegrade than an upgrade.

We did the Kalinzu Chimpanzee Trekking, which in hindsight I think we should have done the Kibale one instead. As our fellow gorilla trekkers later told us, the monkey and chimpanzee number is far greater in Kibale than Kalinzu. We saw five chimpanzees but they mostly stayed high up in the trees, I guess safari is all about luck on the day.

Having done safariing in Kenya a week prior to this, the animal density and variety in Queen Elizabeth National Park were noticeably sparser. We were also admittedly a bit burnt out. However, the Kazinga channel boat safari was definitely worth doing, with a huge number of animals including elephants, buffalo, hippos, baboons and water birds. We even saw a monitor lizard and a Nile crocodile sunbathing.

The following day we travelled to the Ishasha region of the national park where we were fortunate enough to see one of the famous tree-climbing lions. This is rare though as our guide said he has only seen them several times in his 8 years of being a safari tour guide. Definitely a highlight of the trip.

Without a doubt though the main highlight of the trip was the mountain gorilla trekking. The lodge we stayed at had an amazing view of the forest and is also run by a NGO which gives a lot back to the local community. The trek can vary greatly depending on where your group of gorillas are (tourists are split into groups of 7 with a guide, two bodyguards, and porters). I strongly recommend a porter to carry your stuff, i.e. packed punch, camera etc as the trek can be quite challenging, very steep and slippery in some places. Our porter held my girlfriend's hand for a good portion of the hike which she very much appreciated otherwise she would have definitely slipped several times! It was all worth it though as we got very very close to several gorillas including a large silverback male and a baby gorilla. Certainly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The guide and the tracker make extra efforts to ensure we could get good photos and videos of the experience.

Bunyonyi Lake was a nice place to chill at the end. We had another hiccup with the accommodation though where we were put in a small cabin with no ensuite. Fortunately, after we brought this issue up with Lucky we were moved to a better room with an ensuite. The lake is worth visiting in my opinion and if you dont feel like rowing yourself there are tourguide services which do the rowing for you or motorboat hire is also an option.

Lucky then drove us safely back to Entebbe, stopping by for local pineapple, bananas and berries, which were delicious. The Ugandan countryside is something special and different to Kenya's for sure.

Overall a worthwhile trip and despite the hiccups is still something I'd recommend!

Amazing experience and jon gives you an experience that is beyond your expectations.
5/5

It was a great experience to go by safari's by jon. He knows what he is talking about and he makes sure he gives you the best experience you like. He will ask you what you like and dislike. And when you dont expect something he surprises you and makes your trip even more better.
Big thanks to Jon to take care of us!

Professional and attentive.
5/5

A wonderful experience with great personal attention from Jon who had clearly considered all our needs and those small touches that make a trip special. Jon is personable, informative and professional. His time keeping is excellent which was greatly appreciated. From the initial contact to the final drop off we were in great hands. I highly recommend Jon to organise a trip. He is accommodating and lets you know the pros and alternatives of what you want to do. February was the perfect month to see the gorillas and we were not disappointed. I would happily do another trip with Jon.

Experience of a lifetime
5/5

Had a great time with Safaris by John! John is a terrific guide and very personal and caring and we felt very taken care of. The choice of Safaris by John had a big impact on why we had such a good time in Uganda!

Other Safaris & Tours23  – Offered by Safaris By Jon

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Disclaimer

  • This tour is offered by Safaris By Jon, not SafariBookings.
  • This operator reserves the right to change rates advertised on SafariBookings.
  • If you request changes to this tour, the advertised rates will likely change.
  • The exact order, contents and rates of this tour is subject to availability.
  • If an accommodation is fully booked, the operator will suggest a comparable alternative.
  • Gorilla tracking permits are subject to availability.