The Grassrootz Adventures Dream Team 2023
Grassrootz Adventures
- Located In:
-
Netherlands
- Size:
- 1-5 employees (Founded in 2012)
- Member Of:
- UTB, UCF & UCOTA
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $75 to $500 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
OM
Email Kathrin Zanchi | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
No need to look further to find the right tour operator
After I contacted 7 tour operators it was very easy to decide for Grassrootz. Sanders promptness in response, his professionalism and tour layouts spoke for themselves. I am a professional tour guide myself and made my expectations quite clear. We did our 21 day tour with BOB MAGEZI. We couldn't have had a better guide. Bob is an excellent driver and guide with a profound knowledge of Uganda and a deep love for all its parks and wildlife. He doesn't hesitate to go the extra mile and if there are special sightings (like leopards or lions) in a park, he will know it. We started as clients and departed as friends and this trip will always have a very special place in our heart. This tour outmatched all our expectations. I strongly recommend to opt for a longer tour option. It is worth the money and will make the trip unforgettable. Sometimes transfers are long and activities are demanding. Having at times the possibility of a half day rest, allows you to recover, appreciate the beautiful settings of the lodges and let the impressions sink in. Like this you don't finish your tour tired and you can enjoy it to the fullest. In 21 days we visited 7 parks; Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary(Rhino safari walk), Kidepo (wonderful game drives), Murchison Falls (wonderful game drives, boat cruises and hiking to the falls), Kibale Forest (crater lake hike, community walk, chimpanzee habituation experience), Queen Elisabeth (including the channel boat cruise, tour with the lion tracking team and Ishasha with its amazing tree climbing lions and leopards!) Bwindi Impenetrable forest (of course with the fantastic Gorilla tracking experience, but also the beautiful Golden Monkey trekking) and we ended the trip at Lake Mburu. We've met some tourists who did the primate tours in Uganda and were then heading off for safaris in Tanzania or Kenia. There is no need to do that. Uganda has blown us away with its beautiful National Parks, full of diversity and overwhelming amount of wildlife. This country has it all. Thank you again Grassrootz (Sander) and Bob!!
BG
Email Ilian Shopov | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Fabulous safari experience in Uganda - Kidepo Valley NP, Murchison Falls NP, Mabamba Swamp!
I and my travel companion just came back from 12 days safari in Uganda with Grassrootz Adventures Safaris. I have not felt sorry even for a moment that I have chosen their offer out of eight quotes from various safari outfitters based in Uganda. In most cases we have to sacrifice the least expensive offer in favor of the best experience or vice versa, but with this safari the owner of Grassrootz Adventures - Sander van Zanten just nailed it from the very first email that I have received from him. I am quite experienced with African safaris person and a keen wildlife photographer and by no means I would consider myself an easy to satisfy customer. Sander did provide for every possible request of mine, including the type of vehicle that we used - safari Land Cruiser with two rows of seats behind the guide and side windows that we could open on both rows (except the pop-up roof, of course). Every other detail and aspect of the safari were discussed in details in a very professional manner.
Excellent communication with rapid response to every email that I have sent. I do plan my safaris very carefully, but Sander managed to further improve the overall experience by optimizing the schedule and offering a better accommodation for a lower price in Kidepo Valley National Park than the one that I had originally selected.
The guide Moses did his best to satisfy our needs and even added some extra activities. He can be flexible, when possible, just talk to him when you get new ideas during the trip.
We had one day and overnight in Entebbe, full day (just one day) transfer to Kidepo Valley NP, which was a long, but very interesting drive, followed by four nights at Savannah Lodge (it is actually an excellent tented camp), located on top of a hill some 50 meters from the "gate" of the park. There isn't a real gate, at least up to this moment, neither it is manned, so no need to wait in line or do any kind of paperwork before entering the park. Very comfortable large Meru style tents with a private flushing toilet and a real shower (hot water at any time). Batteries can be recharged at any time inside the tent or at the dining area. Stunning 360 degree views to the savannah and the surrounding mountains. Great food (four course dinner) and inexpensive drinks (cold Nile Special beer is less than 2 US dollars). The park itself is nothing short of spectacular. Although the number of visitors is increasing, it is still a very wild place with stunning scenery. We did hire park rangers for most of the game drives in Kidepo Valley, some drives we did with our guide only. We also did an optional night game drive with our vehicle (plus a park ranger) and a spot light rented from Savannah Lodge. Great luck with that - young adult male and female lions, lot of buffalo, porcupine, white tailed mongoose, grey duiker and other animals. During the day game drives we saw the largest buffalo herds that I have ever seen - perhaps over 2,000 heads, leopard in a tree, lioness with a kill (young buffalo), server cat, tons of oribis and defassa waterbuk, Rotchild's giraffes, Jackson's hartebeest. Quite a lot of birds, including a martial eagle.
The other park we visited was Murchison Falls NP. Fort Murchison was an excellent option just outside the park, about 10 minutes drive to Tangi Gate. Victoria Nile upstream (to the falls) and downstream (to the delta) boat safaris were included in the price. We did see the very rare Shoe billed stork and many other birds and animals from the boat (the Shoebill on the trip to the delta). The wildlife density in Murchison Falls NP is higher than in Kidepo Valley NP and although not as wild as Kidepo, there weren't as many visitors there as in Masai Mara or Serengeti. Sometimes we would drive for two-three hours without seeing any other vehicle.
I forgot to mention, that we did the Mabamba Swamp day tour while in Entebbe where we saw the Shoebill from a short distance. The swamp itself is a very beautiful place and there are many other water birds present. Do not forget to ask Sander to include this trip to your itinerary.
My personal advice to any prospective Uganda visitor would be not waste time, just contact Grassrootz Adventures and Sander will custom- build the best itinerary according to your requirements.
