AE
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Rift valley, Lions, Plains, Lakes, good night sleep, Nile Special, Good Food.
Mission Safari
One week from UK into the sunshine.
Party
David = 60 = Experienced
Chris = 30+ David Son = Second Safari to Uganda
Katie = First Trip to Africa = Safari
Moses = David’s regular guide & fixit +256774078821
Plan
Relax, not try to do too much, hobby is photos & generally seeing what comes.
Advice
Your guide is key, I have been with Moses many times, he is the fixer, arranger, driver, knows the people & hence can get the location from James the Ranger of where the cats are etc. Sit back.
Note that Uganda Tours are a bit like a spider web, everything comes to the centre ( Kampala )
Travel along the Radius, the spiral threads may be difficult
Lake Mburo & QE is good
Or ZIWA Rhino Reserve & Murchison Falls is good
Avoid Kampala traffic jams
Chris has been in both directions and chose the route.
Lake Mburo National Park has a family of Giraffe which is a big bonus, must make it the best park for location. We did hear a lion that is reputed to take up residence.
Queen Elizabeth National Park is a wonderful reliable park, Uganda is looking after wildlife well, the Elephants are tusked and in peak condition and on my last two visits have seen Lions close up and Leopard.
AIMS
None set – no time schedule – allow the good things to come
Equipment
Insect Repellent 50% DEET Pump Spray
Fuji XS1 Camera ( tried & trusted )
Fuji X PRO 1 & XC 50 to 230mm lens ( First Safari )
Fuji XA1 & XF 28mm Lens for Landscapes
Monopods
Medicine
Mefloquine weekly tablets
Transport
Emrates Newcastle, Dubai, Entebbe
Uganda ground transport Toyota HiAce Manual 4 Wheel Drive
Fuel : Moses took 800,000 shillings
Security
Met at Entebbe Airport by Moses & accompanied until back to EBB
Finance
50% Sent via Moses to various camps, car rental etc.
Rest cash on arrival & as spent.
Most fees are US dollars ( Hotel Nights / Uganda Wildlife Fees )
Uganda Shillings for Vehicle, Guide ( Daily Rate ) , Meals, Roadside Expenses, Beverages
Itinerary
Day 1 Newcastle Dubai
Day 2 Dubai Entebbe
Stay Entebbe Lakeside 2 Friends / Andrieta
Note $100 Visa on arrival may change to electronic internet fee
Day 3 Entebbe to Mabamba Wetlands 1 hour
Mabamba Wetlands Boat Trip 2½ hours
Guide Ismail = Despite the hard work of Ismail and the boat man poling the boat over beds infested by water lily roots we failed to see the elusive Shoebill Crane. Otherwise a good boating trip.
Mabamba Wetlands to Lake Mburo National Park via Equator 5½ hours
Lunch at Equator & Photos
Stay at Eagles Nest
Eagles Nest is tented accommodation at a hill top with a central restaurant serving good food & cold beverages.
Recently refurbished you get a good night sleep, it is now fitted with solar hot water and flushing toilets.
We had a dark night and stars, so dark, stars so bright, Venus almost cast a shadow before dawn.
Till you see a night like this you do not realise there is no space between the stars.
Note the track to the hill top requires a strong vehicle with 4 wheel as it is very steep, a well found two wheel may make it. Our Hiace would not entertain two wheel to get up.
Day 4 Lake Mburo Safari & Boat Ride
Bushback, Croc, Zebra, Hippo, Impala, Giraffe, Buffalo, Waterbuck
Stay at Eagles Nest
Day 5 Lake Mburo National Park to Queen Elizabeth National Park 5 hours max
Katunguru Community Boat Ride along banks of Kazinga Channel
( note no park fee ) as the community is outside park $15/person 2 hours
Guide very good = boat old but presently sound
Hippo = Crocs, Elephant, Cape Buffalo – Kingfishers, Gulls, Cormorants, Herons, Eagles, etc.
Buy Park Tickets for Two Following Days at Queen Elizabeth Pavilion
Note – important to get this right, a card system operates – communication link with Kampala can be a problem & one does not want to waste Safari Time on paperwork – we had time for a coffee whilst this was completed.
Stay at Engiri Game Lodge – Lion Roars in the night
Taking my younger family members to QE Park to see the Lions I set my Guide Moses Wabwire
( +256774078821 ) to find a more pocket friendly stay than Kingfisher at the top of the escarpment. He came up with this wood & nails camp where the accommodation is in self contained cottages ( a cabin on stilts ). Each cottage has 2 twin beds ( 4 persons would be tight but ideal for a young family ) we were in two which was comfortable. Service was out of this world, greeted with hot tiles every time we appeared, the almost set menu very well cooked. Power was Solar/Generator - Running Water was not heated - hot water delivered to the cabin in plastic jerry cans if you needed it, Jan Temps we had no need. Cold beers, sodas etc. available. Bedding clean, towels, little imperial leather soaps, Sure you get the idea, note the property is bush and those travelling with children take care with the nails! not a biggie - but better have the warning. The rating considers the full board price paid. Location, short drive to national park gates but outside regulated area. Liked the sound of elephants trumpeting at night. Its a wildlife area and the security escort you to the room after dinner. I think the hippo cuts the lawn as I heard him chomping in the night
Day 6
Safari
Brilliant Morning
Hyena – before we entered the park
Lions – cubs, laid down posing for photos. Male nearby.
On way back for lunch we turned about – late lunch – mobile call received and we are off to see a female leopard – the while is snow white against the cactus tree.
Lunch – Rest
Afternoon Game Drive
Elephants – lots and lots of elephants – we watched for over an hour as they cavorted, fed, and crossed the track.
Stay at Engiri Game Lodge – Elephants Trumpet
Day 7
Disaster!
Queens Pavilion onto the Crater Trail for sight seeing.
Trail was rough – as we climbed through the bush land the vehicle was set upon by Tsetse Fly. We cannot outrun them, popup is brought down, no-where to turn around. Hammer Horror swotting the flies that made it inside. Constant guard for the rest of the circuit.
Unable to get out to take photos
Results
Katie will shake off English Fly Attacks, The floor of the van was a tsetse graveyard. You know the hydraulic action machines at fairgrounds – now you can deem them tame. Life experience!
Proceed to Mweya Safari Lodge for cold coke, coffee & check email, internet connection.
Serious Advice
Do not follow Crater Trail until conditions have been assessed!
Lunch
Evening game drive
Endless plains! Monitor Lizard – Leopard Cub
Stay at Engiri Game Lodge – A quiet night
Day 8
Queen Elizabeth National Park to Entebbe
All Day Drive
Evening – Relax – Drinks
2 Friends / Andrieta
Day 9 Morning
Relax
Noon to Airport for EBB DXB
Day 10
DXB to EBB
Review about South Africa by Tjeerd de Wit
Many parks with Wildlife.
About 950 Bird species
Scenic beauty from seashores to mountains, deserts and great cities like Cape own.
CA
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Fantastic experience
We (family of 4 with 2 teenagers) recently did an 8-day safari with African Big Five Safaris, that combined all the main elements of the 7 Day Gorilla and Wilderness Safari and the 3 Day Murchison Falls tour. We also added on the 1 Day Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Tour in Kampala. We loved all parts of the trip and everything went extremely smoothly. Everyone we dealt with at African Big Five Safaris was very helpful, friendly and professional. Mary and Geoffrey were fantastic at organizing the trip exactly to our specifications and helping us decide on which lodges were best for us. They were also quick to respond to my many questions. We were on the move every day so stayed in many different lodges that they recommended (mostly mid-range) and all were very comfortable and enjoyable. The food was included everywhere and was very good and very plentiful (usually 3 courses for dinner and sometimes also for lunch). Our driver, David, was great and always very organized and on time. He was also very knowledgeable and friendly, and we were sad to say goodbye to him. At the end of the trip, Mary made a special trip to our hotel in Kampala just to meet us and thank us for our business, which was a very nice personal touch. I highly recommend booking any travel with this company; with such fantastic service and reasonable prices, you cannot do any better than this.
ES
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Wonderful experience
My husband and I did a 6D/5N camping safari to Lake Manyara, Serengueti and Ngorongoro last December. We booked it from home and Irene replied us answering all our questions.
I have no words to express how much we enjoyed. Our guide Abdul, great driver, worked in every moment to find all kinds of animals (we saw leopards, cheetahs, rhinos, hippos, a enormous python snake, lions,...) and he always managed to place our car in the best position to see them. Our cook, Vincent, was absolutely excellent, thoughtful and prepared us delicious meals, taking care of even the smallest details.
I highly recommend Sunny Safaris, Abdul and Vincent.
Asante sana!
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Surpassed my expectations
Thank you Iris and Jordan for a wonderful, custom safari that exceeded my expectations. We did the kilimanjaro climb and a wildlife safari for 5 days after the climb. The quality of the guides was fantastic on both segments of the trip. Our guides John and Frank got us to the top of Kili! And they were so incredibly nice and positive about our ability to get there. (it was HARD). Phil was are safari guide and he was so great at taking us to some of his favorite sites in the Crater and Serengeti conservation areas. The best thing we decided was to let him lead the way instead of giving a structured itinerary. This gave Phil the flexibility to show us areas that had few safari vehicles for a private, custom experience. We were happy with all accomodation and appreciate the work that went into setting up this wonderful adventure.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Jackson and his team are exceptional and their service has real attention to detail.
My wife and I had the most amazing wildlife safari adventure with MJ Safaris. We saw the big five, and so many other species and much more besides animals. Our trip was extremely well organised and Jackson went out of his way to ensure we had an unforgettable experience. We saw the Ngorongoro Crater, the Serengeti, and a number of other parks, including Amboseli on the Kenyan side which were all spellbinding. Our driver Frank was not only highly knowledgeable about everything we saw, but possessed the most remarkable eyesight, picking out well camouflaged animals from distance where my wife and I could see nothing yet! We have come away with lasting memories of such a wonderful time. Huge thanks to MJ Safaris. We recommend them highly.
CH
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
tracking mountain gorillas - lifetime experience
In July 2015 my kids (15 & 16) realized a dream of me: We visited Ruanda and tracked mountain gorillas. We were recommended hiking to Susa group. When the different groups were arranged at the visitor center, we were the only ones who visited Susa group on this day. After climbing Mount Karisimbi for about 2 hours we could enjoy this beautiful group of mountain gorillas with babies, silverback, twins - total of about 20 gorillas - for one hour. Everything was perfectly organized by Pinnacle Africa Safaris. Our driver was very helpful and friendly.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
It Started in Africa is a really customer friendly company.
It Started in Africa built a safari trip just to my specifications for a safari in Sept/Oct 2015. This company was a pleasure to work with from beginning to end. On an 8 day Safari I visited Tarangire NP, Lake Manyara NP, Ngorongoro Caldera, and the Serengeti, both the central area and the far north.
As I was travelling alone I had different needs from the normal but ISIA tailored the trip just for me and my needs.
From day one I sent many questions to ISIA by email and Joao Oliveira replied to all of them very promptly answering all my questions in a detailed and very clear way. ISIA provided very transparent information on how they price a safari. They gave a detailed breakdown on the cost of each individual component of the safari. This made it very easy to decide what to select in terms of accommodations, activities etc.
I had a vehicle and guide all to myself although there was room for 6 in the vehicle. The vehicle was a good Toyota Land cruiser with a pop up roof perfect for negotiating the tough terrain of the Serengeti. There were charging facilities in the vehicle for phones, cameras etc. Binoculars were provided.....although if you have your own ones that you really like then I would advise bring them also.
My guide and driver, Deogratis, was extremely pleasant to be with and very friendly. He was happy to take me wherever I wanted to go and stay at any particular viewing as long as I wished. He also helped with photography. And he was very knowledgeable about where to find good sightings. He started early and kept going all day or as long as I wished and was also very nice company at dinner times. I saw the full range of animals (all you could possibly wish for) over the course of the safari and we were also lucky enough to observe many of them engaging in a variety of behaviors such as eating, fighting, migrating, hunting, rearing young, family moments etc and even a couple of wildebeest river crossings.
I also experienced a really good range of accommodations. I chose to stay in public campsites for 6 nights at a really reasonable cost. I didn't care about the level of accommodation as a solo traveler. The public campsites were very satisfactory and the food provided by ISIA each day, both meals and packed lunches, were very good. Plenty of water was provided as well. It was a wonderful experience to sleep in a tent in unfenced campsites in the Serengeti.
To view the wildebeest crossings in the far north I had to stay two nights in the Ang'ata Migration Camp suggested by Joao. It was a luxurious tented camp set up specifically in a remote location near to potential crossings at that time of year. We saw two river crossings thanks to Deogratis finding them and the good luck that they happened while we were there. It was well worth it to travel to the far north to see this spectacle.
Aside from all of this ISIA met me at KJO airport and returned me to KJO airport after the safari. They also arranged a guesthouse for me near Arusha on the day before the safari started and the day the after the safari ended . My luggage was lost by the airline on the flight to Arusha. ISIA managed to take care of chasing down my missing bag and brought it to me the next day after we had already started the safari. What a wonderful service!
On the way to the Serengeti I spent 2 nights at Haven Nature Campsite. This campsite was very pleasant and significantly better than the public ones in the Serengeti while similar in price range. Staying there allowed me to visit both Tarangire National Park and Lake Manyara National Park. I would highly recommend both when visiting the Serengeti as they are very different experiences in terms of landscape and vegetation. On the way back I stayed at a campsite near Ngorongoro for visiting the Caldera the next morning.
I would strongly advise anyone visiting the Serengeti to break the trip from Arusha. It is an extremely long drive and there is lots to see both going and coming. All the parks I visited were great experiences but the Serengeti was my favorite. It easily lived up to its reputation.
Thank you to Deogratis, my guide. Also to Joao Oliveira for arranging a wonderful trip for me over the internet. And to all the other staff at ISIA who I communicated with and/or met.
I highly recommend ISIA to anyone planning a safari or any other trip in Tanaznia.
John Hopkins
BE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent service and reliability
- Service was excellent
- Guide was always on time, gave good advice and was good in spotting the animals
- Payment/reservation everything was done like it should be.
SE
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Wonderful experience
We are very pleased with the service during the safari, from the pick-up at the hotel through out the 4 days to the drop off at airport. The guide and rangers were very knowledgeable and competent and were very dedicated to giving us the best experience possible. Wildlife Safaris certainly lived up to our expectations during the tour. Apart from som slow response time while booking and getting confirmation the overall rating is excellent.