SS
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Mar-Apr 13 day / 12 night Ugandan experience
My wife and I recently returned from a 13 day / 12 night Uganda safari covering Murchison Falls National Park, Lake Albert, Kibale Forest National Park, Southern Queen Elizabeth National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Lake Mburo National Park. The trip incorporated the chimpanzee, gorilla and lion trekking options as well as cruises on the Nile, the Kazinga Channel and Lake Mburo. We chose Grassrootz Adventures for their professionalism and responsiveness to our research and enquiries; being our first trip to Africa and on a constrained schedule because of work commitments, we wanted to make the most of our time in-country and Sander and his team did not disappoint.
We were impressed by Sander’s quick and detailed response to our enquiries, and his availability to take international phone calls to discuss final arrangements. We spent some time in e-mail correspondence and phone calls discussing and confirming options such as tour duration, alternative accommodation and optional activities. Sander was always receptive and was very attentive to responding to all enquiries and confirming information.
Our guide and driver, Bob Magezi, ensured that everything ran smoothly and was very knowledgeable about wildlife and back roads that took us off the beaten track, showing us village and rural areas that on other tours would have missed. His relationships with other tour guides, rangers, and accommodation staff were excellent and greatly facilitated our journey. He quickly sorted a discrepancy in our respective itineraries to facilitate our visit to Lake Mburo, which we’re sure he had to call in a couple of favours and arranged for our COVID tests for our return journey when we arrived back in Entebbe.
The accommodations we stayed at were generally very good and apart from some hot water issues and one venue that was obviously undergoing some improvement renovations, we were comfortable. The staff everywhere were excellent, and we can’t endorse their attentiveness and hospitality enough. The food was always deliciously exceptional, and a rolex makes a great packed lunch.
Overall, we very much enjoyed our unique visit to Uganda with its beautiful terrain, incredible wildlife and very friendly people.
ES
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Good
It was very good because the driver-guide knows Spanish and we could understand each other. We sow a lot of wildlife.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Our Guide Eric made our Tour Amazing
We did the Masai Mara & lake Nakuru tour, it was very nice. Our Guide manage to show us many animals in the parks and explain many things about them.
Food was good
The only negative points are the hotels witch are really budget ones, and not the one wrote on the tour explanation
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Friendly, safe, prepared, budget option for hiking mt kenya
Highlights: gorgeous hiking, great guide, excellent food, felt safe the entire time on the mountain, made it to the summit in time for sunrise!
Thing I wish were different: It would have been nice to get a packing list and an itinerary prior to departure. I would have preferred a different form of transport than matatu (and would have been willing to pay a little more for safer/more comfortable transportation)
I was picked up from my hotel exactly on time and driven to the office where I was able to store my extra luggage. A guide met me there and escorted me via matatu to Nanyuki. It would have been nice to know in advance that we would be traveling via matatu (I've seen far too many matatu crashes, and would have preferred a different mode of transportation), but the ride was uneventful. In Nanyuki I ate lunch while my guide got final provisions. I had my own sleeping bag, but was told that I could have rented one here if I needed. We met up with one more guide and a porter/cook then drove to the national park. While hiking, my guides were very informative about the nature around us and advised on all of the best photo ops. They were very professional, friendly and delightful to talk to. As a solo female traveler, I greatly appreciated the company and never felt unsafe or disrespected. Each day, tea was waiting when we arrived at the camp and my tent was ready for me. Dinner was delicious, filling and in large quantities. I did the sirimon/chigori route and the hike was probably one of the most beautiful treks I have ever done- beautiful views of the summit on the ascent and fields of protea and waterfalls on the descent. My guide (Jimmy) was very safety conscious and frequently checked in to see if I was having any symptoms of altitude sickness. He also kept our pace appropriately slow for acclimating. In contrast, I ran into travelers from other companies whose guides tried to convince them that altitude sickness was a mental block and that acetazolamide would only make them sick. Jimmy also did a great job of keeping an eye on the wildfires and making sure that our hiking route was safe. I did the trek in 5 days, but 4 probably would have been fine. The extra day was spent on the descent, so it didn't change anything with regards to acclimating to altitude. My guides went out of their way to try to show my animals, walking down to a watering hole in the evening and pointing out birds and chameleons as we hiked. Overall it was a great trip, very reasonably priced and they were very accommodating of a solo traveler.
AE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Very good service
Good, reliable company. Our safari driver was Albert, very knowledgeable and punctual driver. We stayed in Jambo Mara safari lodge. Rooms were clean with hot water. The only wifi that worked was in the restaurant, which only worked when it wasn't busy.
CH
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
*WE LOVE ZANZIBAR SAFARI BLUE* This year it was even better than before - it was perfect!
My first Safari Blue might have been back in 2008 and the day trip has been a priority every time I have been on Zanzibar after that.
This year we had the perfect day. Our captain Ally and his crew were at our service the whole day. With a soft drinks on the beautiful boat surrounded by the beautiful Indian ocean, my son looked so peaceful and content. We all snorkeled for a long while and there were so many beautiful fishes.
At the sand bank we played in the water and chilled in the sand. Just as my son told me he was getting bored (as all the grown-ups were reading books or sleeping) Ally announced it was time to follow the dolphins.
We had watermelon, pineapple, local peanut, sweets and coconuts on the boat. Seeing the dolphins was the frosting on the cake. The day was complete.
Then we went to the island for the best sea food lunch you can imagine, followed by a variety of fresh fruits. Beautiful surroundings, comfortable seating in the shade of a sail and this time even entertainment with African drums, singing and dancing.
The Safari Blue day trip is packed with amazing experiences in tranquil locations. The staff is always at your service. The food and drinks are delicious and the commodities clean and comfortable.
We were five people on this trip and we all agreed it had been the perfect day.
I'm already looking forward till next time.
AE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great Safari Experience with our guide Castro
The safari was very good, we saw many different animals and beautiful scenery. Our driver Castro was very knowledgeable of the animals and gave us plenty of time and opportunities for photographs.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Great East African holiday, Outstanding Adventure from an excellent operator
The Avens T.W team worked closely with us to customize what was a dream come true safari holiday in the East African destinations of Uganda and Tanzania. We had planned our travel to Uganda only before covid but had to postpone until this year it became quite safe to travel and since i and my wife had more time for holiday our travel planner Anatoli recommended we have extra 4 days in Tanzania.
From the initial to final communications with our travel planner it went all well to the adventures in the far south of the country where we went to see the gorilla apes in Bwindi through a slippery steep rain-forest, we moved over 3 hours with the ranger and guide all way where we found trackers who directed us where these great Apes were and it was emotional watching them with their youngones. The next day we went to the Queen Elizabeth park where we met various savanna wildlife on game viewing in safari car and boat along a water-steam of Kazinga.
After our safari in Uganda we left for Tanzania to Ngorongo Conservancy and Tarangire and these two destinations are otherworldly wildlife destinations. The crater drive in Ngorongoro C.A and its wildlife and the tree Lions of Tarangire were the highlights of our visit to this great country, our local guide in TZ Majaliwa was charming. Can't wait to explore more of Africa.
DK
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Good value for the money
We are two people who booked Kilimanjaro and safari with Gundua.
Overall we had a good experience.
Our Kilimanjaro climb was a great and very challenging experience and we are very proud we made it to the top. And a huge thanks to our team for this. Our guides were very knowledgeable, nice and experienced and the team as a unit was well functioning and helpful. And the food was good! We booked the 7 days Machame (whisky) route, but be aware that it is only 6 actual days on the mountain because the first day is just the arrival day in Arusha, which is a little misleading. We would not recommend doing Machame in only 6 days since the route is very tough and challenging - we would recommend 7 days on the actual mountain. We choose Gundua because of the pricing. This means, that with Gundua you get a tour with simple facilities, but you have what you need. But it is not a luxury tour so ex you don’t have a private toilet tent and you need to use the camp toilet which are not so clean. So you have to be fine with this (which we personally were satisfied with).
The safari we booked was not one of those that Gundua normally offers, so we were in a car with people who booked the Safari with other companies. The tour satisfied our expectations.
Only bad things we have to say is that we were not informed forehand, that card payment was not an option and also not informed on the tipping recommendations for Kilimanjaro which put us in a very awkward situation in the end of the climb after an otherwise very good experience which was quite a shame to finish up in this way.
BE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great
Unforgettable experience with friends. The French-speaking guide Manu was very friendly and welcoming, the driver Isaac was patient with us. The prices were attractive. I thank the whole team, the organization and I highly recommend doing a safari with this agency.
(automatic translation from French)