Gorilla Tours Staff
Gorilla Tours
- Located In:
- Size:
- 50-100 employees (Founded in 2001)
- Member Of:
- AUTO & http://www.visituganda.com/
- Tour Types:
- Custom budget & mid-range tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $150 to $500 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
AT
Email Magali | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Our expectations were exceeded!
An excellent company. 18 days full surprises. We had a lot of fun with Donah our driver. How can anything else be with the queen of road? We recommend this company 100%!!!
DE
Email Veronika | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Excellent tour operator - Amazing trip
We booked our trip in Uganda for eight days as a group of friends with Gorilla Tours. I contacted them approximately six months before the planned travel dates. I already had an itinerary in mind. Gorilla Tours organized a driver/guide, booked accommodation on a full board basis in comfortable and luxury lodges and booked activities in the national parks.
We were assigned a driver/guide named Moses. He picked us up in Entebbe and drove us through the country.
Our first stop was a rhino-tracking experience in Ziwa Sanctuary. Then, we continued to Murchison Falls NP, where we spent three nights in Fort Murchison. We had a morning game drive and a boat tour to Murchison Falls on day one. On day two, we had a beautiful early morning river safari with the sighting of the rare shoebill up to the Nile delta on Lake Albert. Then we drove to the Top of the Falls, where we had a short walk with a ranger. The next day, we continued to Kibale Forest NP, where we spent two nights in Kibale Forest Camp. We had a chimp tracking in the rainforest and a community tour afterwards. We finished with Bwindi Impenetrable Forest NP and stayed for two nights in Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge on an all-inclusive basis. The drive to the Rushaga Park entrance took 1 hour. From there, we tracked a gorilla group through the rainforest. We opted for a flight from Kisoro airstrip for the journey back to Entebbe. Our accommodation the night after and before the international flight was Airport Guesthouse in Entebbe. Airport pick-up and drop-off were included.
Our driver/guide, Moses, stayed with us during the trip, took care of the paperwork at the entrance gates and shared his knowledge. He was very attentive and took good care of us. We felt very safe with him.
The activities were fabulous. The highlights was, of course, the primate tracking.
The accommodation facilities were unique and had attentive staff. The highlight here was the Nkuringo Lodge in Bwindi.
The booking went smoothly. I contacted the company approximately six months before the planned travel dates. Our tour consultant was Annette. A deposit (price for the gorilla and chimp permits) was needed immediately after booking to confirm the booking. We transferred the sum in USD using an international transfer. We transferred the rest of the payment about a week before the trip. Annette constantly updated us that she received the payment and sent us updated payment confirmations.
We had a fantastic trip and definitely recommend Uganda as a destination and Gorilla Tours as a tour provider. Thanks, Annette, Moses and the team, for the excellent experience.
US
Email José Angel | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fantastic experience! Value, safety, knowledge, kindness, experience, organization, all tops!
My wife and I booked a 13-day tour (offered by GT's sister agency Habari), and worked mainly with Annette in the Kampala office. Annette was very helpful, professional, providing complete and very informative answers to our questions (what to expect, what to bring, money, health, visas, etc). (This was our first trip to Africa - no clue. We have had many trips to SE Asia, Latin America, Eastern Europe, Middle East.)
We joined a group, made up of 3 single women, and two other family women members. The group dynamics do influence the trip and we had a fun group!
In our trip, we visited 5 national parks - our favorite was Murchison Falls, though all have a special flavor. Murchison had savannah, Nile River, lots of animals (elephants, buffalo, hippos, birds, lions, giraffe, etc) it does take a full day to get there from Entebbe, but you do have a stop over to see rhinos at reserve - amazing! Chimp tracking was a blast, they're so personable! The shoebill bird in Lake Mburo, a treat.
Our driver/guide was Isma, someone who we all grew to admire and really appreciate - conservationist, teacher, guide, all around great human being. He kept us informed, on schedule, safe, fed, and bio-braked. What's more, he inspired us.
We went at start of rainy season, which means fewer people but more risk of rainy days. It did not get in our way except for one day. There's no such thing as bad weather, just inappropriate clothing....
Lodges were our style - well located, comfortable, clean, very welcoming staff, with a bar, and not overbearingly luxurious or stuffy, great value. We reminisce about hearing the hippos in the evening, colobus monkeys just outside our door, the sunsets.
I would love to bring my adult kids and my parents. The 13 days does require some stamina for long vehicle drives, but what you see along the way is all new, sometimes funny, exciting. It always felt safe, was always full of wonder, excellent value, worthy of repeating and expanding. Gorilla Tours has my vote for a great tour company with excellent staff!
Email Mrs Otim. | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Caring, Generous, very hospitable with affordable rates and easy communication.
On booking they give you a clear breakdown of what to expect, all costs right from the cost of food, drinks & any in betweens. They're expertise in handling client bookings is exceptional!
They are very customer centered.
Their rates are unbeatable & unbelievable for the kind of service they offer. The food is well thought out, the staff are quick to serve you. The tents are very clean, towels beds are comfortable. Environment is very good. We had a wonderful time as a family of 6. I highly recommend them.
NL
Email Renno | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Well done
We did a tailor made trip in Uganda. All requests were done, and we had a great trip. Good lodges and best value for money.
JP
Email Kana | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Highly recommended!!!
Gorilla tours helped us to take an amazing tours as our request. The driver guide, Ali was so kind and always tried to meet our difficult requests. Thanks to Ali, our trip become awesome one. I would like to ask him to drive me again the next time I come to Uganda for sightseeing!
BJ
Email LEAD | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Well informed, helpful our guide worked to make our tour an amazing adventure
The tour company helped take an existing tour and adapt it to our needs. They were helpful, responded quickly to our questions and worked to make our tour worry free. The guide was knowledgeable and helped us have a great trip.
DE
Email Clemens | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Life time experience
On our 12 days Uganda Utimate Safari we discovered the Pearl of Africa at its best. Ali Ssenkungu as a driver guide made this trip to a unique personalized experienced. Being a group of five Travellers he tried to meet all the interests of the various group members and did it in an exceptional way. Besides our highly qualified driver guide, we stayed in really nice accommodations (I can recommend the Comfortable Tour accommodations). Last but not least coming to Uganda itself.
The nickname Pearl of Africa is absolutely justified as it has such a diversity of nature and is blessed by water and thereby much green!
HR
Email Hrvoje August | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing journey, amazing people amazing country!!!
Everything from the start when Grace (our guide and driver) picked us up on the Entebbe airport, during our 10 days safari trip until the end when girls from Gorilla tours office, Rose and Anette together with Grace said farewell...was amazing, beautiful ...words are not enough!
We came to Uganda on 29 th June, Grace picked us up and took us to the Airport guest house for dinner and sleep over. Beautiful garden, apartment, delicious dinner...super beer (NILE lager)...Grace informed us about our safari plan, when we start next day,what shall we wear, how much money should we change in local currency....
30 th, after the breakfast we started our unforgettable journey ....cross the country with several stops (to buy fresh and excellent fruits) we arrived in Ziwo Rhino sanctuary. Rangers over there were so eager to find rhinos and to show us this magnificent animals...after that we continued our trip towards Murchison National Park....
Accommodation in Murchison was super although we haven't seen much because we were all days in the National park...
Next day 1 st of July our company of three got a new member, young ranger Sam from Murchison NP...
Sam was great, together with Grace all day they were showing us beautiful animals in the Park and for the great final Sam found lioness!!!
On 2 nd , we departed for Kibale,cross the country, watching beautiful landscapes, people, animals....
We arrived late afternoon, our accommodation was superb, nothing what we expected but much more...sounds of the rain forest were amazing
3 th We went for Chimp walk, with some American family...our ranger Benson was so great, he found whole family of chimps, together with small baby...again, thanks to Grace we didn't took to much clothes!!! Thanks...
Afternoon we took with local guy Peter - Bigodi community walk (warmly recommend) to experience how people produce Banana beer, gin, how they make coffee, how they use papyrus for different household products....
4 th We departed in direction of most famous (by name) savanna park in Uganda - Queen Elizabeth NP....
Grace took us in the park for the afternoon drive and then we went to Kazinga channel Bush camp - best accommodation in total...
Animals were walking during the night around our apartment, buffaloes and elephants....crazy and exciting....dinner was delicious...
5 th We started our ride in the Queen Elizabeth NP. We were accompanied by ranger Petra...she tried to show us as much as possible but nobody could prepare us for the naked truth that because of 12 villages - communities that live in and around the park,
pouching is very common and the worst poisoning of lions....we were devastated, furious, crazy mad, sad...so much mixed emotions and nothing that we could do....Grace as always was the saviour of the day...after that devastating ride in the park, she took us to the Kazinga channel boat ride (which was beautiful and we saw many animals so spirit went high). But, while we were on the boat, Grace was in constant mobile connection with other guides in the park, so when we came from the boat she took us again to the QE NP - to show us lioness with the cub, and another female lion....it was something that no words can describe our feelings...we got evidence - the lions still roam in the park!!!
6 th after breakfast we started our journey in the direction of Kisoro, and African Switzerland...for our last but not least National park - Bwindi impenetrable...Road took us through beautiful landscapes, so colourful...we stopped for buying fresh mango....and arrived late afternoon...accommodation was not only Travellers Rest Hotel...it is actual place where all efforts for saving Mountain gorillas started and where Dian Fossey took hear first steps in hear magnificent journey!!!
7th Gorilla trekking - highlight of all 10 days safari...something that we dreamt for so long time....
We departed from the hotel at 6 in the morning (we took lunch package)...Grace drove us to the assembly point where we got instructions from the rangers of the park...after that Grace arranged for us with extrodinary young ranger Mandela to take us to the family of the gorillas called Mucunguzi (something like that), with one 6 months baby, two baby's around 1 year old, and so peaceful silver-back ...Our trekking lasted only 1 hour when we came in front of this magnificent animals - our relatives!
One hour with them passed as a second, emotions run from smiling to crying...Lifetime experience!!!
After that we were so emotionally fulfilled and exhausted ...dinner and the beer as usual :)
8 th we went to meet real Pigmy or Batwa people...nothing like in fairy tales....more like American natives expelled in 19 th century and vanished...but now is 21 st century - so sad...anyway we tried to understand them and help them with some food and soap
9 th after breakfast we left Kisoro and drove to Entebbe....again Grace found herds of Zebras and antelopes close to the road for us to see them...in Entebbe again we had dinner in Airport guest house
10 th after sad goodbye with our hosts, Grace, Rose and Anette we left Uganda and we promised to ourselves that we will come again...
Thank you All for everything, stay healthy, stay safe and keep your country beautiful
Hrvoje and Mirna
SE
Email Daniela | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Very good service, kindness, flexibility and fast coordination even for custom-made trip
We had a custom-made trip starting in Rwanda, going over to the Ugandan side, and then back again to Rwanda. Gorilla Tours took care of this from start to finish (all in all 3 days). We were very happy with the exciting Gorilla trekk (and the fact that we got to see so many gorillas with guides who were extermely skilled and new a lot). We also really liked the entertaining Batwa trail and all the beautiful nature and landscapes around. So amazing and so colorful!