AR
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Unique!
Words won’t be enough to describe all this unforgettable experience. It was so unique, tailored for us in every detail. They were extremely flexible and kind with many flight changes we had, always looking to give us the best experience. And they gave us the BEST GUIDE: Jeremiah!
We started in Tarangire to warm up and the came Serengeti-Ndutu in calving season. It was so lush, green and fresh, full of animals happy with all that food. Consider that it’s a park where drivers can go off road so you will have a wild true safari experience, please don’t miss it!!
Every camp was beautiful, great food, adapted to every restriction.
Nature will amaze you, but your guide can truly transform the experience. They help you see, listen and feel every detail, and that makes all the difference.
Our guide was Jeremiah, and if you want the best safari experience, ask for him. More than 20 years working in nature, his knowledge is impressive but what makes him exceptional is his passion. You can genuinely feel how much he loves what he does. Every sighting feels special to him, whether it’s a majestic elephant, a rare bird or a quiet moment having lunch under tree. His excitement is contagious. He also creates community with all the guides in the park, making jokes, connecting with people around.
He has an incredible eye for spotting animals from far away and an amazing ability to position the vehicle perfectly for photos, but always respecting the animals and the other guides. He shares fascinating information about wildlife, birds, plants, ecosystems, you are constantly learning without it ever feeling like a lecture.
Most importantly, he deeply respects nature. He never rushes the animals, never invades their space, and always prioritizes ethical wildlife viewing. Thanks to him, our safari wasn’t just beautiful, it was meaningful. We couldn’t recommend him more highly.
We finished in Amboseli, with the amazing view of Kilimanjaro. It’s a different experience after the wild Serengeti, much more controlled and calm, you have breaks during the day to go to your lodge. Good to rest and relax!
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Professional, efficient, caring
I just finished an 8-day Uganda safari with Bamboo Ecotours, and it was a great experience.
When planning this trip, I contacted several tour operators in Uganda. Communication with Bamboo was by far the most effective. Edison showed an excellent understanding of our constraints and preferences, and the itinerary he proposed was the most practical among all the responses we received. He clearly knows the activities very well and offered concrete suggestions that proved extremely helpful.
His responses were always prompt and to the point. For example, shortly after I paid the deposit, he sent copies of our chimpanzee and gorilla trekking permits, along with the list of hotels that had already been booked for us. He also provided a helpful packing guide for the various activities and explained the subtle differences in how Uganda and Rwanda handle the East Africa Tourist Visa. This level of organization is exactly what you would expect from a professional tour operator.
The finalized itinerary included the Mabamba shoebill tour, Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, a Nile boat tour in Murchison Falls National Park, the Bigodi swamp and community walk, chimpanzee trekking in Kibale, the Kasenyi game drive and Kazinga Channel boat tour in Queen Elizabeth National Park, gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, and the Kigali Genocide Memorial. Every one of these activities turned out to be a great experience.
Unfortunately, our trip began with a major disruption. Our flight to Entebbe was severely delayed due to an aviation workers’ strike in Nairobi. During this uncertain period, Edison and our driver and guide, John, stayed in close contact with us and provided practical advice on how to deal with the situation. Thankfully, after a 15-hour delay, we arrived in Entebbe just in time for our first major activity, the Mabamba shoebill tour. John remained available the entire time, which gave us great reassurance.
We had a wonderful time traveling with John throughout the trip. He knows the destinations and activities inside out and made sure everything on our itinerary was carried out smoothly and on time. During dinners, he told vivid—and sometimes suspenseful—stories about local people and culture. He is clearly proud of where he comes from and often pointed out interesting things along the way that were not listed on the itinerary, such as scenic viewpoints during our drives. On our final day, he also handled the border transfer at the Uganda/Rwanda crossing and our airport drop-off in Kigali as smoothly as possible.
We chose the budget lodging option, and the “budget” hotels all turned out to be quite decent. Their locations were reasonably close to the places of interest. Many had beautiful gardens with birds and occasionally calm warthogs wandering around. The rooms and bathrooms were clean, and the meals and service were very good. Some places even had live music.
That said, Edison had mentioned that “mid-range lodging offers more comfort,” and after experiencing the budget options, I understand what he meant. Some rooms were quite small—just barely enough space for a bed and our luggage. A few showers required some effort to keep the water at a comfortable temperature.
Our stay in Bwindi was unfortunately the least comfortable, despite the sincere efforts of the hotel staff. We experienced intermittent but heavy rain during our stay, and the air was very humid. As a result, our clothes constantly felt damp. The shower drainage was also clogged for about a day and drained very slowly. The only place available for drying clothes was a single fireplace in the reception/dining area. I’m not sure whether the mid-range lodging option in Bwindi would be significantly better, but it is definitely something worth discussing with Edison when choosing accommodations there.
One small regret from the trip is that I did not get to see any nocturnal primates, despite including a night walk in the itinerary. If seeing nocturnal primates is high on your list, it may be worth doing additional research or discussing this in more detail with Edison during the planning stage to improve your chances.
Overall, Bamboo Ecotours is a very professional tour operator. They are pleasant to work with and clearly care about their guests, the wildlife, and the local community. I highly recommend them.
JP
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Kilimanjaro
Climbimg Kilimanjaro was not easy for me, but their support made it less difficult.
So, I made it !
That's a wonderful experience and I'll never forget it.
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Mose’s and his team were competent, caring, and efficient going above & beyond to support our group
Climbing Kilimanjaro was an unforgettable experience, and a big part of that was thanks to Moses. He was competent, caring, and incredibly efficient throughout the hoe.
When one of our fellow climbers struggled with the altitude, he stepped in immediately—checking on them regularly, adjusting the pace, and offering steady encouragement that helped them keep going.
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Amazing
Did a 6 day Ndutu calving safari ! Our arrangements were made through Lion King Adventures. Staff of Elia Maira & Nickson Obedi Rafael helped with the reservations… very professional and helpful. There were 6 of us traveling in 2 vans. Our guides Yusuph & Gilbert was just so amazing !! I’ve been to 3-4 safaris before but this was by far the best regards game sightings … saw an abundance of all the big 5,& luckily leopard too. Had opted for luxury accommodations & modest of them were excellent.
Would definitely recommend this company for Serena safaris
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Kenya (Massai Mara) - Guide: James
We had James for our first stop of our 10 day journey for Kenya and Tanzania. I believe he was the BEST first guide we could have gotten. Immediately was so friendly and personable, cracking jokes the moment we met. He made our family have an incredible time. Was very knowledge of the animals and was hands down an ELITE driver! What felt like 3 days with him felt like 2 weeks in the best way! I miss him everyday and am excited for the all future travelers that get the chance to hang out with him :). You tend to spend a lot of time with the drivers and get to know them well. I am very glad we crossed paths with James and hope whoever reads this next gets the chance to as well!
BG
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Flexible, attentative, caring, easy communicatin
Organising the safari was easy thanks to the professionalism and flexibility of the company. The safari itself was lovely due to the experience and attention to details of our guide. They took really good care of us.
CA
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
It was absolutely worth the trip
Safari Without the “Hardship”
Before coming to Africa, I had mentally prepared myself for what people often say: “If you go to Africa, you should be ready to endure some hardship.”
As it turns out, my expectation of “roughing it” never really materialized.
Following tips from Xiaohongshu, we packed quite a lot before the trip. But looking back now, aside from my Crocs and a pair of binoculars—which turned out to be absolute essentials—almost everything else we brought was largely unnecessary.
Over the course of the trip, we stayed at four different camps. The rooms ranged from tents with soft ground floors, to ones with solid flooring, and eventually to elevated platforms with wooden decks. Shower facilities also evolved along the way—from 20-minute hot showers, to 24-hour hot water, and finally to the luxury of both indoor and outdoor showers available whenever we liked.
In just a few days, we experienced the unique styles and personalities of different camps. Each tented camp had its own special way of welcoming guests and sending them off. The locations of the camps might change, but two things remained constant everywhere: their beautiful singing and their genuinely warm smiles.
Life on safari felt almost like being on a cruise ship on land. In the safari vehicle, water, soft drinks, and beer were always available. Back at camp, we were greeted by buffet spreads that seemed to change every day. One meal would barely end before the next one was already on the horizon.
Every afternoon we had the option: return to camp for lunch or have a picnic out in the wild. Without hesitation, we chose the picnic every single time. Not only did it save the time of driving back and forth, but it also gave us the rare opportunity to enjoy a meal under the same vast sky as the wildlife around us.
Of course, spotting animals during a safari is partly about luck—but a great guide makes all the difference.
Our guide, Mr. Hamad, has been doing this for eight years. Not only is he incredibly experienced, he also seems to possess the eyes of an eagle. Time and again, he would spot animals hidden deep in the grass long before any of us noticed them.
To us, it might have looked like we were simply wandering across the savanna every day, driving without a clear destination. But in reality, Hamad was patiently trying to make sure we saw as much wildlife as possible. We’re deeply grateful for the way he took us out early every morning and brought us back safely each evening.
Even after a day of heavy rain—when the vehicle was covered in mud—he would still carefully clean both the inside and outside of the car at the end of the day. By the next morning, everything would be spotless again, ready for another safari.
The onboard fridge always held two bottles of the local Serengeti beer, though somehow we never managed to finish them. The red wine, white wine, and champagne that had been prepared in advance also remained quietly untouched in the car.
During the trip, Hamad taught us a couple of local phrases: “Jambo” (hello) and “Hakuna Matata” (no problem). Even now, whenever I meet a stranger, I feel the urge to greet them with a cheerful “Jambo!”
On the flight home, during a transfer, I even greeted an Emirates flight attendant with it. She was probably a little confused inside, but she maintained a perfectly professional smile.
In return, we introduced Hamad to the Chengdu dialect. By the last couple of days, he had already picked it up surprisingly well and could use it with impressive accuracy. Whenever we encountered something new, he would be the first to exclaim:
“Oyo~!”
And the funniest part was that his tone and delivery were absolutely perfect.
CA
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
An Excellent Safari Experience
I had a wonderful safari with Exaudy of Utukufu Travels and Adventures. Being my second safari, I was unsure if it could be better than the first, but it far exceeded.
Exaudy, and his drivers/guides, extensive knowledge of the African animals and countryside ensured that we had many fantastic sightings and up close views of the animals! Within the first couple of days we got to see the Big 5!
The unique cultural experiences Exaudy incuded only added to the enjoyment of the trip. He ensured that each and every one in the group got to experience a truly exciting trip.
The accommodations were comfortable, the food was good, and the drivers were amazing in their ability to navigate bad roads with care. I especially appreciated their immediate assistance to another tour group's breakdown we passed in the middle of no where.
After spending 8 days with Exaudy and his team we were all sad to be leaving our new found friends. They were very professional, but also kind and pleasant to travel with. We had so much fun together!
I highly recommend Utukufu Travels for a high-quality and rewarding safari experience! I hope to one day do another safari with Exaudy.
IT
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
fantastic!!!!
the safari was so great, our guide a were so nice with us givig us explenaition and information about what we were seeing. we were able to see so kant animals and also the hotel was so beautiful! I would definitely recommend
