East African Jungle Safaris
- Located In:
- Size:
- 10-20 employees (Founded in 2013)
- Member Of:
- AUTO, TUGATA & UTB
- Tour Types:
- Custom budget & mid-range tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $50 to $400 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
Email Shannon | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
EAJS was responsive, well-organized, and safe.
If you are in Uganda, you MUST go gorilla trekking!! This is such a unique opportunity specific to this region and you cannot see mountain gorillas in captivity. It was an absolutely amazing and humbling experience! It feels so surreal to see the gorillas and you get SO CLOSE to them. I sat 6 ft from the silverback. It does not feel scary, they are used to humans and truly majestic, gentle beings. I felt very fortunate to visit them in their habitat. My guide, Eddie, was a great companion who made me feel safe as a solo female traveler. I was picked up from my hotel in Kampala and dropped off there as well. Eddie was happy to stop wherever I wanted along the drive to Bwindi. We stopped for lunch at Flamingoz Restaurant and Bar right across the street from the Equator Monument. We did our Equator visit on the way home on Sunday. The last 1.5 hours of the drive are absolutely stunning from a cliffside road overlooking the valleys and lush green mountains. Eddie was happy to stop and allow me to get out of the van to take pictures along the way. I stayed at Gorilla Mist Lodge (mid-tier option) with a standalone room that had a porch overlooking the jungle. There was no light pollution and the stars were beautiful. The lodge will provide you with a packed lunch for the trek. The WiFi was pretty reliable and I also got service there with my international phone plan. I got lucky and there were no other tourists who happened to be on my trekking day so I felt like I got the VIP treatment from my trekking team. Highly recommend hiring a porter to carry your bag and help you along the hike, it supports local workers and costs $15-20. They will give you this option after the morning welcome performance by a local dance group (my group was the Bugarama Cultural Dancers Group). I recommend wearing gaiters and good hiking boots or waterproof boots with a good grip. Parts of the hike are through jungle bush without a path at all. You could wear gardening gloves but I honestly only wore these for a brief part of the hike. They will give you a walking stick. After my trek, we headed to Lake Bunyonyi which is a unique aspect of this tour company and part of why I chose it! I stayed at Keije Resort and I went for a 2-hour kayak ride on the lake which did not cost extra. Keije is directly on the lake with a beautiful common space. I did not get service or WiFi there. Be sure to bring multiple types of small bills for tipping the various people involved in making your trip great! There are typically two rangers/trackers who go ahead of your trekking group to locate the gorillas, two gunman (front and back of group to scare off jungle elephants if needed), a head ranger guide, porter, and sometimes a student ranger. There is also typically at least two staffers at each lodge that you will interact with (someone who carries your bags into your room and the host). Regarding payment, you will pay 50% up front (they will walk you through the options and steps, it was painless) and 50% the morning you are picked up. If you plan to pay by card the morning of pick-up, I would contact them two weeks in advance to confirm this. This was the only hiccup I had with the company but was quickly resolved and they created a link for me to pay securely online. They were very responsive to emails and made a WhatsApp group for communication the night before my trek. Would definitely recommend EAJS! I also went to Murchison falls with the same guide, Eddie, the following weekend for a 2-day safari that included a trip to Ziwa Rhino sanctuary which was a unique addition from other tour companies.
Murchison Falls Tour review
I also had a great experience with EAJS for my two-day Murchison falls tour! I chose this company because they included the hike to the top of the falls, the Nile boat cruise, a brief sunset game drive on the way to our accommodations, and an early morning game drive, and a visit to Ziwa Rhino sanctuary. I feel like other similar itineraries did not also include the trip to the sanctuary which I really enjoyed! I had the same driver, Eddie, for both weekends which was comforting. He was always happy to tell me more information about Uganda, Luganda phrases, and the animals I was seeing. I chose the budget option and stayed at Parkside Safari Lodge which is just outside the park and had some of my favorite food of the trip so far! I had a standalone room and I was able to get good service with my international plan. The first activity was visiting the top of the falls which is about a 1 hour easy-level hike. You will get very wet close to the falls! I wore quick dry clothes and was completely dry by the time I got back to the car. We immediately went from the falls to the Nile boat cruise (we were slightly behind so did not grab lunch, though this is part of the itinerary, per my choice as I had snacks with me and we stopped for a brief coffee/snack on the way to Murchison). I think the timing of the boat cruise around 2 pm is ideal for seeing more wildlife as this is the ideal window for when they seek out water. I saw hippos, crocodiles, waterbucks, giraffes, elephants, warthogs, and many different types of birds! After the ~3 hour cruise, we went on a sunset game drive through the park to reach Parkside lodge and saw baboons, hartebeests, Uganda kobs, oribi, elephants, and other animals along the way. On the early morning game drive I saw many giraffes, vultures, Cape buffalo, monkeys, etc. I did not catch any predators like lions or leopards unfortunately but friends I met on the tour did see a leopard! We then had lunch a Ziwa rhino sanctuary and I completed an easy trek on flat terrain to the rhinos. I was fortunate to see five zebras along the way as well! I saw seven rhinos and I was within about 10 ft of a grazing rhino at one point! It was an awesome experience and my guide Martine was a great storyteller who provided interesting backstory about the rhinos and the sanctuary’s history. I would absolutely recommend spending time in Murchison Falls and EAJS. Don’t forget to bring money to tip the boat tour guides, the rhino sanctuary guide, your host at your accommodations, etc. I would recommend trying to add a night time game drive to your trip, if possible, to increase your chances of seeing lions and leopards!
Email Taylor | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Professional and very friendly
I was traveling to Uganda for work and was excited to have an opportunity to extend my time for a 3-day experience to see mountain gorillas (a bucket list wish!) and more of the country outside of Kampala. I chose this tour because it was locally owned, ethical and conservation-focused, very well priced, offered a short option (3-day) that fit my timeline, and had strong reviews on multiple platforms. The experience exceeded my expectations! My driver Eddie was professional and very friendly the entire trip. He kept us on schedule to the minute throughout the experience from pick up to drop off and made sure I was comfortable the entire time.
The booking process was easy and communication was consistent throughout. I appreciate that EAJS offers options for every part of the trip. For lodging, I chose the mid-range package and was blown away by the beautiful accommodations and views in Bwindi and on Lake Bunyonyi. The lodges were very comfortable and every plate of food was delicious. Every aspect of this package is curated with the guest experience in mind and to ensure you truly see and enjoy Uganda. Each person I met along the way was so friendly and welcoming.
Seeing the gorillas was a life changing experience! The rangers and park experience made it clear that the gorillas' safety and boundaries were most important, and we were still able to get within meters of the Happy family -- 3 silverbacks! Just incredible.
I cannot recommend this trip enough; you have to experience it! Don't hesitate, book with EAJS!
TH
Email Suksiri | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
We felt very safe and everything perfectly organized, memorable journey.
We had a wonderful 3 day in Uganda and very exciting journey with East African Jungle Safaris, honestly they were really a great tour organizer as a Ugandan local tour operator. When we arrived at Bwindi Impenetrable Forest we were really surprised just amazing. Our gorilla trekking day in Bwindi started with mist covering the forest canopy, which made the entire environment feel mysterious. Our guide Eddy split us into small groups and introduced the trackers who had already gone ahead to locate the gorilla families and he also explained how each gorilla has a role in the family and how the silverback protects them. The experience with the gorillas was unique and exceptional. It was the best adventure experience with my best friend. We will remember forever.
Email Amanda | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
This was a smooth Adventure!
Our driver/guide Ronnie was great. He was always on time and was a careful and skilled driver. He provided a lot of commentary and knew a great deal about what we were seeing and what was knee to us. Everything worked out. Our tours and permits were fine. Everything on the ground went great.
AT
Email Daniel | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Terrific day trip from Kampala
All the arrangements went very smoothly.
The guide was knowledgeable, pleasant company, and a good driver.
The drive to the national park takes you through the heart of Uganda. Once there, you’ll easily find an amazing variety of mammals and birds (including the Grey Crowned Crane, Uganda's national bird). I visited only during the day, when the ‘prey’ animals are about and relatively unconcerned by a few tour vehicles.
Because I went in the off season, I was by myself, which probably raised the cost, but it was still worth it. The off season has advantages: the temperature was very pleasant, and the countryside was green.
I’d like to come again and spend a night or two, to experience the fauna and landscape at other hours. and not have so much driving on one day.
NZ
Email Jess | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Seamless, amazing experience. Best tour we’ve ever done
We chose this tour because we knew it was locally owned, ethical and very well priced compared to others. The tour exceeded expectations and Ronnie our driver was amazing. He was incredibly knowledgeable throughout the drive pointing out plants and crops and giving us additional information about Rwanda and Uganda. The communication from the tour was great. We were a little nervous because the website wasn’t flashy but everything was perfect.
The gorillas was a pretty life changing experience, they walked right around and past us and everyone was in awe. The groups are very small too to not upset the gorillas. Highly highly recommend. 10/10 experience
AE
Email Tyler | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Amazing experience in Uganda!
My girlfriend and I decided to go with East African Jungle Safaris based on the glowing reviews and some online recommendations, and we were not disappointed. This was an extraordinary trip, with the gorillas and chimpanzee experiences as highlights. Fred, the owner was great, and very responsive. Our guide, Eddie, was professional, friendly, and very accommodating of all of our questions and requests. The lodges we stayed at were great and the itinerary overall was a good mix of doing a lot while also getting some time to relax at the end of long days. I would highly recommend going with East African Jungle Safaris!
IT
Email Alberto | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Perfect
excellent tour highly recommended, friendly and knowledgeable guides.
MX
Email Guillermo Carrillo | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Caring and attentive
I went for a 3-day Gorilla Hiking experience and it was a once in a lifetime experience. The whole process was very straightforward, Ruth was there the whole time to present me the quotes and answer my questions promptly. I was picked up on time in Kigali by Ronnie, the driver who helped a lot in answering all the questions I had along the way.
They respected the quote 100%, so you really pay for what are being offered. Everything is so well organized, beginning with the crossing from Rwanda to Uganda, to the Batwa experience, to the Golden Monkey trekking and of course to the Gorilla trekking. I could not be any happier for having made my journey around Rwanda and Uganda with them.
I recommend East Africa Jungle Safari 100%. Don’t have a negative comment or even a suggestion to make. They sticked to their word and I really appreciate it. So thank you very much to all the EAJS team members, you allowed me to have a once in a lifetime experience I will never forget.
ES
Email Maria | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
A super complete tour of Uganda
Our trip to Uganda was marked by the great professionalism, humility, friendliness, and excellent knowledge of our guide, Andrew. From the very beginning, the manager of this company treated us very kindly, offering quite reasonable prices and giving us great confidence to go ahead with our tour.
It was a comprehensive journey across Uganda, where we were able to visit the best national parks, see chimpanzees, and, as the highlight, the gorillas in the Bwindi impenetrable forest. I also recommend taking the time to enjoy a cultural experience; in our case, we visited the Batwa community.
Andrew was an exceptional guide, always attentive to our needs and doing everything possible to make our experience wonderful. For him, the client comes first, and he goes above and beyond in every way. I would definitely recommend this company, and especially Andrew!
