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
Email Raymond | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
The Experience was great, but payment was an issue
The communications from the staff was excellent, the service was good and the trip lived up to our expectations. However, we expected to pay by credit card, but when we got to the lodge, they expected cash. They demanded that we use all our cash to pay for accommodation, so we did not have money left for tips and buying any mementos. The transport and permits were paid in advance, which was not an issue. We were not informed in advance that there won't be credit card facilities available.
CA
Email E and C | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
A Memorable Experience
We booked a private 2 week luxurious Gorilla Tour. With our prior extensive travel experiences, we would classify our tour with Gorilla Tours in Uganda, as less than luxurious.
Our communication with Virgo and the organized itinerary was great.
The accommodations were clean and the Nature Lodges were wonderful. The ambiance created with evening campfires and the ability to hear the sounds of the local wildlife close by, we enjoyed immensely. The convenience of having an ensuite shower(sometimes outdoors!) and bathroom facilities gave us the feeling of “glamping”. A four course meal was served every evening and we found the servings generous. We would have felt better to have the option of a smaller serving size, with an offer of more, if needed.
On the Gorilla Tours web site they advertise: Drive around in the best 4WD Toyota Land Cruisers......
The vehicle breakdowns and tire repairs totalling 6 events disappointed us. We would recommend the company develop a protocol prior to sending a vehicle out to ensure it is road worthy and has the necessary equipment to change a tire. A jack that is too small and nothing flat to put the jack on, when on a bumpy dirt road, requires creative interventions.
In our opinion, it is imperative to have protocols in place that allow drivers to function well, especially to stay awake while driving. When sending a mechanic to repair our broken vehicle it resulted in unsafe driving the following day, due to the driver being responsible for picking up the mechanic at 3am. We appreciate the efforts to not interfere with our itinerary, however a replacement driver would have been safer.
We’d recommend requesting the drivers mentioned in other people’s 5 star reviews, as we had challenges with communication with our driver and there appeared to be a lack of knowledge pertaining to what we saw. We appreciated his knowledge of birds.
Overall our amazing adventure of seeing the rare and awesome mountain gorillas and many other animals and birds in beautiful scenery, resulted in a memorable experience in Uganda that we would highly recommend to others.
DE
Email Ernst Jäger | 65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Experience in the heart of Afrika
1. The boat trip to the Murchison waterfalls could be combined with the hike. The guide with the vehicle would have to pick up the group at the top of the cases. The return trip was too long and too dull.
2. The boat trip into the delta should take place with a suitable boat and not with a fishing boat. For the duration of time, a suitable seat is mandatory.
3. An additional day could be scheduled in Murchison N.P.
4. The drive from Fort Murchison to the next accomodation, chimpazee guesthouse was too long. An extra night is absolutely necessary.
5. One day may be canceled in Queen Elizabeth N.
6. Crater Bay Cottages should no longer be approached. The cleanliness in the wet area of the rooms used by our group was catastrophic. Due to fungal attack and pollution the wet area was only conditionally usable. We were not showered. The more regrettable, because the accommodation with a few small things can be graded. Cleanliness in the accommodations is a must.
7. In only two overnight accommodation was possible with credit card.
8. It should therefore be possible to book half-board or full-board accommodation.
A very special thanks to Ronnie, who was very hard-working. Great compliment and very warm greetings. The attached pictures I ask to transfer to him.
Thank you for an extraordinary trip and cordial greetings to Uganda
BE
Email Guy | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A nice experience!
Nice experience, very professional.
PS: do not underestimate the wild aspect of the 'jungle': I wore simple sneakers, but on moment I stood in an ants nest and then I regretted not TTY have worn something more appropriate! ;-)
Amazing tour including good office support and great driver during the trip
We love Uganda and very much appreciated the flexibility by Gorilla Tours to pick us up from Mukono.
Ronald was a competent driver and very pleasant and knowledgeable company.
We will definitely keep coming back to Uganda
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.