This Tour Is Offered By
A fraction of our Team.
Big Apes Africa
- Office In:
- Size:
- 1-5 employees (Founded in 2019)
- Member Of:
- USAGA, UTB & UWA
- Tour Types:
- Custom budget & mid-range tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
-
RWUG
We are a Safari Company with operations in Uganda and Rwanda handling Destination management for Tour operators around the world through well crafted private or group tailor made life impacting African experiences. We are a team of Nature lovers and believe in sustainable tourism through conservation and community empowerment. We love to constantly explore our region just for the love of it and it is from this passion and personal experience that we want to craft for you a lifetime experience.
Reviews180
ES
Discovered Uganda
It was a wonderful tour, especially thanks to our tour guide, Ronaldo, who thought us about the different animals we were watching and about the country.
A very special trip to remember.
DE
Missions done, but...
Hello Mr. Peter K Katusiime and Big Apes Africa Team,
We're back from our 8-day tour, which started in Kigali, Rwanda, and ended in Entebbe, Uganda.
We're down-to-earth people, have been traveling for 12 years, and have some safari experience.
First, the positives.
We were warmly welcomed by our tour guide, Ronald, who was friendly and approachable throughout the entire trip.
He was very knowledgeable about the flora and fauna and explained life in East Africa to us during our journey.
We clicked really well with him after just a few days, and we were sad when the trip was over.
We would definitely travel with him again.
All the best to you, Ronie, and much success! 🤝
The itinerary was well-organized.
Peter's team changed the route and some hotels at our request.
This made our dream of seeing and experiencing primates in their natural habitat come true.
The mid-range accommodations they selected were excellent.
... The food, the service, the views were breathtaking.
As a European, you don't need to be afraid, and you rarely find such friendly, dedicated, and helpful people these days.
However, some things need to be addressed and seen as tough criticism, with the hope of improvement.
First, the car.
We drove about 2,000 km in a dilapidated, old car.
Make, no idea, 300,000 km.
Some of the seatbelts didn't work, no air conditioning, some of the windows were broken or unusable.
There was a smell of exhaust fumes inside the car, and the reserve tank didn't work, which is why we had to make a two-hour stop in the middle of the bush and get help.
Yes, we know, it's Africa.
But when we pay €5,500, we expect something different; it was better in other African countries.
You sometimes felt sorry for our tour guide, Ronald, even though he never complained and made the best of it.
``` Second point: the fuel situation.
If the offer states that fuel is included, then it's included.
Even in Uganda.
Trying to squeeze more money out of tourists through any tricks is unacceptable.
Sending money via SIM card is common there and usually works perfectly.
This sometimes led to situations where we were told we should pay, as it would be faster.
Oddly enough, after a stern phone call from me, everything worked perfectly again.
This shouldn't happen and is annoying.
I also hold this against Peter and the office team around Calvin and Peace.
Third point: trust, communication, and honesty.
I asked several times via email how the remaining 60% of the payment would be handled, but received no reply.
So we took cash with us and hoped for the best.
Then we suddenly had to pay for several things in cash: a hotel, a full tank of gas, and two national park entrance fees.
You can consider this normal, but you don't have to.
After that, we received instructions from the office to stop at a bank along the way and transfer the remaining balance.
Funny.
After 1.5 hours, we were out of the bank and had lost more time on our trip, just like the previous days due to the situation with refueling, car repairs, etc.
If these issues were improved, we would gladly come back.
In conclusion, we have to say:
We managed everything? Yes.
Were we satisfied? 50/50
Regards, Robert and Anne
NZ
Excellent
We had a great time. A massive shout out to our driver/guide Ronald. He was excellent. He gave us lots of information,answered all our questions and he was fun too.
Communication with the company was good from the beginning.
Also, both the Gorilla and the chimp treck were incredible, beyond expectations.
ES
Asiimwe Ronald is the best guide ever!
Asiimwe has been the best. He has shown us the ugandan culture to its fullest. We have been able to taste all the Ugandan national dishes, explained to us all the Ugandan traditions and way of living. We could not be more thankful. He even managed to show us the Lions in queen elisabeth park. He was incredible tracking the animals. The gorillas have been simply incredible we where around 1 meter away from them and got to see the silverback and babies. Overall could not recommend this trip more specially with Ronald. Also a big football fan so if you are into football you will have some of the best conversations on the time travelling to the different parks and locations.
Amazing Experience
From start to finish, I have nothing but praise for our guide Ben from Big Apes Africa. He was on time waiting for us at Kigali airport and never left our side until he dropped us back off in Kigali 3 days later. He was very knowledgeable and kept us entertained with local history throughout the trip. The 4x4 vehicle was old but comfortable. The roads in Uganda are very bumpy so comfort is crucial.
Our first experience was a trip to the Rwanda Genocide Memorial. Such a humbling place and I would definitely recommend a visit here. We then had long road trip across the border into Uganda, where again Ben made sure everything went smoothly during the border crossing. The scenery during the drive was absolutely spectacular, such a beautiful country.
We arrived at our first lodge for the night, Rushaga Gorilla Lodge, which was basic but had everything we needed. Ben helped us get checked in and took care of the details such as dietary requirements and likes and dislikes for dinner and breakfast. The evening meal was pleasant with dancing from the local ladies community.
Early rise in the morning where we had breakfast before heading off to the orientation for the trekking. We were lucky enough to only have 5 people in our group. Pointer - If you get offered a stick to help with the trekking, take it. It was such a valuable help to steady yourself and to use as a level to help when climbing or descending. Also, there are local men who you can hire for the trek for $20 to help carry your bags, water and to also help you over unsteady terrain. Even if you are capable of carrying your own bags, if you have the resource, I would strongly recommend hiring someone as the money is crucial to them. Unfortunately, we were the only 1 in our group to hire someone.
During the trek, the guides make sure we all stayed together and took regular water breaks to make sure we stayed hydrated. I believe we were quite fortunate as we had only been walking for about 2 miles when we were told to put our masks on. Immediately I knew we had found them. I cannot express the absolutely feeling of joy when I saw the first gorilla. There were a total of 8 gorillas in the group with a large silverback, females and a couple of babies. They were super chilled and eating their way through the forest. The babies were playful, hanging upside in the trees. Although you are told to stay 10 feet away, the gorilla's did not get this message and came closer. At one point, the silverback decided he wanted to walk through the trees where we were and I could feel him brush past me. You would think this would be scary, but I was totally lost in the moment and did not feel any fear. The hour goes far too fast so make sure you enjoy every moment and don't just see it through the lens of your camera.
Couple of pointers...Make sure you have long sleeves, long trousers and long socks to tuck your trousers into. Sturdy walking shoes with grip is also essential. We were fortunate that it didn't rain, but a lightweight waterproof jacket would also be good. A pair of gloves is also recommended as the trek can be very rough in places.
We were then taken back to the briefing house where we were presented with certificates. The day was one of the best experiences of my life!!
Ben then drove us to the Birds Nest hotel on Lake Bunyonyi where we were spending our second night. The views were absolutely sensational and I could have stayed here a lot longer than just one night. The rooms were comfortable and the food was delicious. We had the steak which was lovely and lean and very tender.
The following morning we made the trip back to Kigali, Rwanda. The border crossing back into Rwanda was a lot stricter than coming the other way into Uganda, but again Ben was there to help us navigate everything.
Our flight onto our next destination (Zanzibar) was the following morning so Ben dropped us off at the Five to Five hotel for our 3rd night. This is where we parted company. A hotel taxi was arranged for the following morning to take us to the airport. The Five to Five hotel was in a great location with lovely food and drink. Rooms also large and comfortable.
All meals were provided and the food was good. Only things to pay extra for are alcohol and soft drinks.
The whole trip went smoothly and far exceeded our expectations. One of the best experiences of my life! I would have no hesitation in recommending Big Apes Africa and if you have the option to choose your guide, I would definitely recommend Ben.
Thanks you Big Apes. I will remember this trip with a huge smile forever!
