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Joyful adventures with Bushcraft Safaris
Bush Craft Safaris
- Office In:
- Size:
- 1-5 employees (Founded in 2024)
- Member Of:
- UTB & UWA
- Tour Types:
- Custom budget & mid-range tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
-
BIKERWTZUG
Welcome to Bush Crafts Safaris, a premier safari company based in Uganda, where we specialize in unforgettable wildlife experiences, gorilla trekking, and chimpanzee trekking across the breathtaking landscapes of East Africa. Our mission is to connect travelers with the rich biodiversity and stunning natural beauty that defines this vibrant region.
Reviews38
A Great Guide Makes All the Difference
This will be a practical review about the tour's logisitic. I will not speak about the experience because we all know that animals are amazing.
Tour Guide Review – Alan
Alan is a real asset to the company and, in my experience, was a key part of what made the tour so enjoyable and memorable.
While many tour operators offer similar itineraries, it is the guide who can truly make the difference. Fortunately, Alan is an exceptionally competent and personable guide. He manages expectations extremely well, keeping you informed about what to expect each day so that you are never left feeling unsure.
Alan consistently went above and beyond to check in with me and make sure everything was okay. He genuinely cared about whether I was enjoying myself and did everything he could to ensure I had the best possible experience.
What particularly stood out was that Alan understands the bigger picture. He isn't simply taking tourists from one activity to another; he understands the importance of showcasing Uganda in a way that creates a lasting and positive impression. His knowledge, professionalism and genuine care make a significant difference.
My experience with Alan was so positive that I am now seriously considering booking the Rwanda tour offered by the operator — as long as Alan is my guide!
I would highly recommend Alan and believe he is a tremendous asset to the company.
The Tour review:
1. Communication prior to tour- email communication has generally been quick, and questions were answered in a timely manner.
2. Hotel pick up- hotel pick up was at 7am, Alan had arived at 6:40am, and waited for me to finish breakfast, somehow i took too long and he patientaly waited an hour for nearly me (30 mins after the scheduled time), for me to finish eating and packing
3. Drive from Kampala to Bwindi
I would like to give my 100% appreciation and thanks to Alan for how he handled the journey from Kampala to Bwindi.
Our drive happened to coincide with Uganda’s National Cleaning Day, which takes place on the last Saturday of the month between 7:00am and 10:00am. During this period, vehicles are generally not permitted on the roads, with certain exemptions, including tourists. As this was a relatively new rule for local residents, there were numerous checkpoints along the route, and Alan had to repeatedly explain to the authorities that we were exempt because we were tourists.
We encountered two particularly challenging checkpoints, where we were held on the road for approximately an hour. Throughout this situation, Alan remained calm, professional and determined to resolve the issue. He made phone calls to the relevant governing bodies to clarify the exemption and did everything within his power to get us safely on our way. When the authorities asked him to help with the road cleaning, he even got involved and helped them.
What impressed me most was that, throughout the entire hour, Alan remained conscious of my wellbeing and made sure I was safe and comfortable. Although I personally never felt that my safety was at risk, I can appreciate that a situation like this could be extremely concerning or nerve-wracking for another tourist, particularly if they were unfamiliar with the country or the local regulations.
Alan handled the situation exceptionally well. His ability to remain composed under pressure, communicate effectively with the authorities, and continue to look after his passenger demonstrated a level of professionalism and care that I greatly appreciated.
As the drive is about 10 hours, Alan ensured i was comfortable , you can tell he was very attentive, as i didn't want to recline the seat backwards..but he wanted to make sure my neck wouldn't be jolted too much on the drive, and kept checking in as i was dozing offf.
4. Arrive at Bweza Gorrilla lodge- on arrival its pretty late, and you order your dinner and eating time. You will be eating with your guide. Lodge has wifi in common areas, no data or wifi in the room. Shower water a bit weak but not undoable. Note the walk up is qute a steep hill. Here explanation is provided on what to expect for the next day Gorilla checking. Alan checked in on how much i think i could trek, so the following day, he could speak to the trekking team to get the level of ease.
Here Alan also gives the option whereby after thr trek to head straight to the next location (as its a 5hr drive) or whether to go back to the ldge and then head. Note you will need to check out in the morning.
5. Gorilla trek day & drive to Enshama lodge - Was about 15 min drive to the trek location, which is great. You do your trek, all guides wait for their clients, once complete you can head off to Enshama lodge. During the drive there we stopped at a national park to have our packed lunch from Bweza gorilla lodge. Nice view.. We encountered a child who had asked for money, and Alan being the great guy he is offered his own lunch to the child.
6. Arrrival at Enshama lodge- again arrival is pretty late, you are asked what you want for dinner and when. NOTE, due to the location being with the wildlife, when it gets dark, you need to be escorted to and from your lodge to the main common area. Here Alan explained how the day will go
7. Chimpanzee trekking, Kazinga cruise & game drive - Note, you do the chimpanzee trekking at Kyambura Game reserve NOT Kibale National Park. After completion, you get a certifcate, i would recommend getting the walking stick, as there are some very steep climbs and downward hills. No porters are available, so pack lights, it's a very short trek. You then head back to the lodge for lunch and rest until the cruise.
Kazinga cruise, you get on a small ish boat, which is good because it means the boat can go faster to reach animals. compared to larger boats.
Game drive- this happens straight after the cruise - standard game drive.
8. Early morning game drive- pack up all your suitcases, as you'll be heading back to the city after the game drive. Alan has such as good eye for animals with the ability to spot things fro VERY far away.
9. Drive back to city- As mentioned its about a 10hr drive back to Kampala, you stop at the equator, and heading back. There will be a lunch stop. Please ensure to tip generously to your guide.
David Kato was our helpful and friendly tour guide who made our trip very enjoyable.
Trip Review: 3-Day Golden Monkey & Gorilla Trek (Rwanda & Uganda)
Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
Overview
Just completed an incredible 3-day adventure tracking golden monkeys and mountain gorillas across Rwanda and Uganda with Bush Craft Safaris.
Starting and ending in Kigali, this fast-paced tour hit every major highlight and delivered unforgettable wildlife encounters. A special shoutout to our guide, David Kato, who helped make the experience fantastic.
Itinerary Highlights
Day 1 (Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda): Traveled from Kigali to Volcanoes National Park for golden monkey tracking. Stayed overnight at The Garden Place Hotel—comfortable, convenient, and set us up well for the journey into Uganda.
Day 2 (Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Uganda): The main event! Trekking to see the mountain gorillas was a life-changing experience. We stayed at the Amajambere Iwacu Community Camp, which offered wonderful local hospitality and a great atmosphere, though the location turned out to be at a different park entrance than where our gorilla trek actually started.
Day 3 (Return to Kigali): Wrapped up the trip with a smooth transfer back across the border to Kigali.
Pros & Tips
Guide Service: David Keto was our friendly guide throughout the entire trip.
Unbeatable Wildlife: Seeing both golden monkeys and mountain gorillas in three days is a fantastic itinerary.
Note on Camp Location: While Amajambere Iwacu Community Camp is wonderful, double-check which gate your specific gorilla trek departs from to avoid extra travel time in the morning.
NL
Bush Craft Safari was incredibly reliable and organized, and provided an unforgettable experience!
We went on a 7-day safari with Bush Craft Safaris, with Mark as our main guide, and Joe as a guide in training and main driver. The safari itinerary included Rhino trekking, visits to Murchinson Falls National Park and Queen Elizabeth National Park with game drives and boat tours, Chimpanzee trekking, Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and a stay at Lake Bunyonyi, which we thought was an incredible value for the money we paid. The organization and communication before our trip with the operator through Innocent, and our guide Mark, was very reliable and helpful.
This being our first time in Uganda and East Africa, this trip has been unbelievably beautiful, so diverse and exciting, and truly an unforgettable experience, where we really felt like we got to know the great diversity and beauty of the country. Especially the nature and the game drives in Murchinson Falls National Park, where we saw the big 5 and so many additional animals in only two days, as well as the Gorilla trekking experience in Bwindi, where such special highlights of this trip.
Mark was incredibly knowledgeable about the culture and nature of Uganda, sharing countless facts and stories about the country, the different areas we visited, and the local people and traditions. We were also so lucky to have Joe joining this trip as part of his training to become a guide, and were grateful for his incredibly skillful driving through the oftentimes challenging terrain of the country. Being at the end of his training, Joe also had so much knowledge about the country and its nature to share with us. Mark and Joe were also incredible at spotting and tracking down animals during game drives, allowing us to see a number of lions and a leopard during our first two days, as well as countless other animals (Elephants, Giraffes, Buffalos, Hippos, various Antelopes, numerous bird species including the Ugandan Cranes, …).
Mark and Joe also organized various additional activities for us, including a visit to the Equator, tea picking, traditional crafts, and meetings with local communities, which allowed us to learn more about local traditions, customs, and histories. To us, this was a very important element of getting to know the country, especially the opportunity to learn about the history of Bwindi National Park, which included the eviction and displacement of the indigenous communities that originally inhabited the forest, which to this day puts the communities in very precarious circumstances. We really appreciated the possibility to visit these local communities and receive a tour with the Uganda Gifted Children Foundation after visiting Bwindi to learn more about this history and current situation, as well as ways to support them.
Mark was incredibly reliable and organized, always on time, and very friendly, helpful, and forthcoming, making sure we always had what we needed and accommodated for all of our interests and wishes along the journey. He created a great balance of time spent together and time we had alone during meals and activities. Joe was incredibly genuine, friendly, and so funny, and we shared countless great conversations and laughs with him. We are super excited for him to finish his training and become a guide, as he has all the skills and knowledge necessary and more!
We truly appreciate the week spent together and the chance to learn so much from Mark and Joe!
NL
Spectacular and diverse Safari covering Uganda's finest
To everyone doubting were to book a safari in Uganda, I would highly recommend Bush Craft Safaris. They helped us make the most of our 7-day trip through Uganda, which covered stunning natural sights, kind people along the way and diverse ways of discovering the country (i.a. by game drives, boat tours, and trekking). From the first moment onwards, Innocent took into account our preferences in planning the tour. The safari itself went smooth and according to plan, thanks to our great guides Mark and Joe. They displayed their vast knowledge about the areas we visited, were open to talk about their own experiences and complemented each other well. Mark excelled in planning activities in advance, spotting animals from far away and utilising his network to improve our experience. Joe is an incredibly steady driver, has a great sense of humour and is attentive in recognising what we needed in specific moments. Overall, this experience was unforgettable and we are grateful for having had this great team to guide us!
CN
An Unforgettable Safari Experience with Bush Craft Safaris
From the very first email to the final goodbye, Bush Craft Safaris exceeded every expectation. The communication was prompt, clear, and reassuring, making the booking process stress-free. Our guide Frank was incredibly patient, knowledgeable, and passionate about wildlife—he went out of his way to ensure we had the best sightings while respecting the animals and their habitat.
The itinerary was perfectly balanced, offering a mix of breathtaking landscapes and up-close wildlife encounters. At Murchison Falls National Park, we watched the sunrise over the Nile, witnessed elephants drinking by the water’s edge, spotted lions lounging in trees, and came within arm’s reach of graceful giraffes. A mother-and-baby olive baboon strolled right past our vehicle, a Nile crocodile slid into the river, and we even received a memorable “death stare” from a dominant hippo.
In Queen Elizabeth National Park, our lodge was magical—each evening we fell asleep to the calls of weaver birds, and every morning an elephant came to visit our veranda while hippos grazed on the shore. The Kazinga Channel boat cruise was a birder’s paradise, with countless species darting across the water.
The absolute highlight, however, was the mountain gorilla trekking. The moment we locked eyes with the silverback, my heart raced—I felt the raw power of our closest primate relative, and it was both humbling and electrifying. I joked that he could punch me all the way back to China!
The value for money was outstanding—every lodge, meal, and transfer was top-notch, and the reliability of the team meant we never worried about a single detail. This was not just a holiday; it was a life-changing adventure. I am already planning my return trip. Highly, highly recommended!
— A deeply grateful traveler
