Gorillas and Beyond Team
Gorillas and Beyond Safaris
- Located In:
- Size:
- 1-5 employees (Founded in 2017)
- Member Of:
- UTB & FIGNET
- Tour Types:
- Custom budget & mid-range tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $100 to $700 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
NL
Email Rutger | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent service by just one individual!
We did the 5 day tour to the chimps, queen Elizabeth national park, and the gorillas in April 2019.
Before the tour communication was fast and spotless. We used to communicate via WhatsApp and that works very well. It was very reassuring that our guide Wyclef was so easy to contact and fast to reply, especially after we transferred the money for the tour.
The safari tour was great! Gorrila's and beyond really took us beyond just gorillas with a lot of time spent in the Queen Elizabeth national park for 2 game drives and a river cruise. We wanted a change to our schedule so that we could see the tree climbing lions. This was not a problem, and as a bonus we got to see some hyena and leopard!
We chose to stay at the "budget" accomodations, but the lodges were incredibly luxurious (I don't think real budget hotels exist around these parks), and provided great 3-4 course meals.
Wyclef as a guide was very helpful, and he knew a lot to tell about the country in general. He was also very good at spotting animals during the game drives, which we did in his land cruiser where we could view game through the roof in order to see as much as possible.
We highly recommend exploring Uganda with gorillas and beyond!
Email Ian | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Just what I wanted - a three night safari for wildlife photography
Gorillas and Beyond were recommended to me when I was looking into the possibility of undertaking a short taylor-made safari after attending a conference in the Rwenzori area. At first I was thinking only of the primates in Kibale Forest National Park, but Wyclef at Gorillas and Beyond suggested adding a day at Queen Elizabeth National Park. His three night programme met my aims as a wildlife photographer perfectly and the accommodation he arranged was excellent. He also arranged perfectly-timed transport for me back to Entebbe to have lunch at the airport before my flight home.
The seven hour chimpanzee trek in Kibale was a great experience - more strenuous than I expected, but as a keen hill walker in Britain that wasn't a problem for me - but the highlight as far as my photography was concerned was the boat trip in Queen Elizabeth National Park. My images can be seen in the gallery 'Africa/Uganda' of my website, www.ianimages.co.uk.
IT
Email Simona Verde | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Tanzania 2019 spectacular!
A wonderful journey that captivates your heart; colors, scents, silences and truly unique sensations. A variety and amount of animals absolutely unexpected, observed from a few meters away or even less. Careful, attentive and immensely pleasant guides. Comfortable everything and great food. An endless thank you to those who made all this possible: our amazing Wyclif and Amani guides. I recommend to everyone this experience is a recharge for the soul and for the body. Thank you very much.
US
Email Stacey | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Absolutely top notch in every way
In June/July 2019 we spent a week in Uganda following 2 weeks in Kenya. We had a strong idea of what we wanted to do from guidebooks and online research: flying from Nairobi to Entebbe Uganda and from there to Kasese for chimp trekking in Kibale Nat’l Park and community and swamp walks in nearby Bigodi, a drive down through Queen Elizabeth Nat’l Park with a boat trip and stay on the Kazinga Channel, then further south through the Ishasha Sector to see tree climbing lions and to Buhoma for a gorilla trek in Bwindi Impenetrable Nat’l Park, then a flight from Kihihi back to Entebbe and home.
I emailed our wish list to half a dozen companies for feedback and estimates. Most of them responded with their stock 5 or 6 day itineraries that had little to do with our interests and research. No thanks!
Wyclef of Gorillas and Beyond was responsive and had the best price so we went with him and we could not have made a better choice - we had an absolutely gobsmacking visit. Everything went smoothly and we loved it all: the flights, lodging, guides, tours, and road trips with Wyclef.
We found Wyclef to be creative, knowledgeable, organized, compassionate, passionate about his country, and really great company. I don't have sufficient words to recommend him highly enough - he's that great. Happy trails!
US
Email Gary | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Everything we expected and more!
Wycliffe saved our safari despite another guides deceit and deception. We ran into an unscrupulous tour guide who had taken us for thousands and Wycliffe saved the trip and our gorilla permits. I have strongly recommended him to several friends for a great safari experience!
Gary Buffone
US
Email Norma | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Exceptional service, reliability and just taking care of our group!
We used Gorillas and Beyond for our safari during our stay in Kenya. If it wasn't for Wycliff, our guide, we would not have had the wonderful experience we had seeking the Gorillas. We had contracted with a company that scammed us out of thousands of dollars. We were lucky enough to meet Wycliff of Gorillas and Beyond who took amazing care of us, making sure we had the opportunity to trek the Gorillas through his knowledge and help of getting us permits, after we had been scammed out of our original permits. Wycliff is a kind and trustworthy person. We would highly recommend him if your thinking of a Kenya adventure and Gorilla trekking!
Best holiday ever!
My partner and I decided to book our holiday with Wyclef of Gorillas and Beyond as he was recommended to us and we genuinely had the best holiday ever. From the start, Wyclefs communication was great and he was keen to get the itinerary just right for us. He drew up a draft which looked great but let us know about additional things we could add in if we wanted to - which of course we did! Upon arrival Wyclef picked us up from the airport and continued to look after us for the following 2 weeks. He was an excellent guide and we saw the big 5 on our first day! Wyclef was informative, had an excellent manner and booked us so amazing lodges to stay in. We couldn't ask for a better holiday or guide and we'll be recommending him to everyone! Thank you Wyclef and Gorillas & Beyond!
Email Jacqueline Blythe | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Gorillas and Beyond...... our wildest expectations!
Gorillas and Beyond … our wildest expectations!
Myself and 2 friends, have just finished an amazing 14-day trip to Uganda with Gorillas and Beyond Safaris accompanied by the wonderful owner, driver and guide Wyclef Rushaju.
From start to finish it was a first class experience. Choosing and customising the trip with Wyclef was easy and painless. He even arranged to facetime us before we travelled so that we could ask any additional questions and get to know each other face to face before we travelled.
I’d never travelled on a private tour before but found the experience and personal touchs very enjoyable. The initial reason for our trip was to visit the mountain gorillas #bucketlist, but this trip included so much more with fantastic game drives, seeing the big 5 along with lots of other savannah wildlife, hundreds of species of birdlife, boat trips, the beauty of the landscape Murchison falls, where the mighty Nile forces itself through a narrow chasm, Lake Mburu and especially the people.
The tailored tour we chose covered a wide area and so we had some long travel days on red dirt roads littered with potholes. At times it was like a fairground ride but expertly navigated by Wyclef who managed to keep one eye on the potholes and the other on the wildlife. The plus side of travelling by road was seeing the beautiful countryside, driving through remote areas and seeing the real Uganda and its people. We found the Ugandan people, always friendly and smiling with shouts of ‘How are you from the children’. When you go take a selection of sweets and pens which were received both eagerly and graciously by the children.
Our accommodation was in very picturesque settings and very comfortable with staff who were always friendly and welcoming.
The gorilla trek was fantastic, and I would definitely recommend hiring a porter which supports the local community and to help you up and down what can be very steep muddy slippery mountainsides. I was worried initially about how arduous the trek may be but I am only moderately fit and managed so I am sure most people would cope. We trekked for 2 hours until we saw our Bweza group of gorillas. Coming eye to eye with these wonderful animals was amazing and I was lucky to watch an impressive silver back walk just a few feet past me. Certainly, a once in a lifetime experience. Although if I did again, I would be tempted to do 2 gorilla treks as I could have stayed forever watching these beautiful creatures.
Our guide Wyclef from the outset made us feel very safe and comfortable. He is extremely professional, knowledgeable and focused on ensuring that we all had the best possible experience (e.g. arranging last minute for a local dance group to perform for us to make our new year celebration extra special). He has a fabulous sense of humour and even joined in with our impromptu car kareoke which helped time fly on our longer travelling days. He enthusiastically answered our endless questions helping us build our understanding of Uganda its cultures and wildlife.
It was only when I was planning my Uganda trip that I read that Winston Churchill described Uganda as the ‘Pearl of Africa’. If you are thinking of visiting Africa definitely consider Uganda and I would highly recommend travelling with someone who started as our guide and ended as our friend, the ‘Pearl of Uganda’ Wyclef Rushaju from Gorillas and Beyond safaris.
DE
Email JÖRG | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Perfect and impressive 15 days - safari and primate trekking
Together with my wife I spent 15 days with "Gorillas and Beyond" and the owner named Wyclef in Uganda. We visited different national parks, went on safaris - watched the Big 5 (lion and leopard!), Went gorilla and chimpanzee trekking, saw beautiful lakes and got to know local villages.
It was an absolutely great experience - thanks to our guide Wyclef
After spending 15 days with him, it felt like leaving a friend. In addition to his great knowledge of Ugandan culture, its customs and Uganda's history, he can answer almost any question about Ugandan wildlife and even their birds.
He knows where to find the best restaurants and lodges - and he has a lot of contacts in almost every place in Uganda. There won't be a problem that he can't solve.
The main reason I would recommend Wyclef is because of his character - he's totally trustworthy, has a good sense of humor, and you are just comfortable around him.
Also, its prices are better than similar operators and far better than major international operators.
If you plan to return, Wyclef would always be my first choice.
Thank you for this great experience!
Jörg
(automatic translation from German)
CH
Email Lucie | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Exceeded our expectations!
Wyclef took excellent care of us (my boyfriend and me) from the beginning until the end of our trip. We felt in good hands the whole time. He always made sure we were comfortable. Everywhere we went he would brief the rangers or the staff to ensure we had the best experience.
Uganda is a beautiful country, with lots of variety in terms of landscapes, animals, birds, plants... And visiting it with Wyclef was definitely a big plus. We loved our conversations with him as he is very knowledgeable about wildlife and his country in general. In addition to that, we had a great time exchanging about our respecting lives and cracking jokes all the time.
We have definitely come to consider Wyclef a friend and miss him already!
All in all, we would recommend Gorillas and Beyond Safaris Ltd without second thoughts. Whatever your needs and wants for your trip, Wyclef is flexible and will surely make it happen.
