20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
A Great Guide Makes All the Difference
This will be a practical review about the tour's logisitic. I will not speak about the experience because we all know that animals are amazing.
Tour Guide Review – Alan
Alan is a real asset to the company and, in my experience, was a key part of what made the tour so enjoyable and memorable.
While many tour operators offer similar itineraries, it is the guide who can truly make the difference. Fortunately, Alan is an exceptionally competent and personable guide. He manages expectations extremely well, keeping you informed about what to expect each day so that you are never left feeling unsure.
Alan consistently went above and beyond to check in with me and make sure everything was okay. He genuinely cared about whether I was enjoying myself and did everything he could to ensure I had the best possible experience.
What particularly stood out was that Alan understands the bigger picture. He isn't simply taking tourists from one activity to another; he understands the importance of showcasing Uganda in a way that creates a lasting and positive impression. His knowledge, professionalism and genuine care make a significant difference.
My experience with Alan was so positive that I am now seriously considering booking the Rwanda tour offered by the operator — as long as Alan is my guide!
I would highly recommend Alan and believe he is a tremendous asset to the company.
The Tour review:
1. Communication prior to tour- email communication has generally been quick, and questions were answered in a timely manner.
2. Hotel pick up- hotel pick up was at 7am, Alan had arived at 6:40am, and waited for me to finish breakfast, somehow i took too long and he patientaly waited an hour for nearly me (30 mins after the scheduled time), for me to finish eating and packing
3. Drive from Kampala to Bwindi
I would like to give my 100% appreciation and thanks to Alan for how he handled the journey from Kampala to Bwindi.
Our drive happened to coincide with Uganda’s National Cleaning Day, which takes place on the last Saturday of the month between 7:00am and 10:00am. During this period, vehicles are generally not permitted on the roads, with certain exemptions, including tourists. As this was a relatively new rule for local residents, there were numerous checkpoints along the route, and Alan had to repeatedly explain to the authorities that we were exempt because we were tourists.
We encountered two particularly challenging checkpoints, where we were held on the road for approximately an hour. Throughout this situation, Alan remained calm, professional and determined to resolve the issue. He made phone calls to the relevant governing bodies to clarify the exemption and did everything within his power to get us safely on our way. When the authorities asked him to help with the road cleaning, he even got involved and helped them.
What impressed me most was that, throughout the entire hour, Alan remained conscious of my wellbeing and made sure I was safe and comfortable. Although I personally never felt that my safety was at risk, I can appreciate that a situation like this could be extremely concerning or nerve-wracking for another tourist, particularly if they were unfamiliar with the country or the local regulations.
Alan handled the situation exceptionally well. His ability to remain composed under pressure, communicate effectively with the authorities, and continue to look after his passenger demonstrated a level of professionalism and care that I greatly appreciated.
As the drive is about 10 hours, Alan ensured i was comfortable , you can tell he was very attentive, as i didn't want to recline the seat backwards..but he wanted to make sure my neck wouldn't be jolted too much on the drive, and kept checking in as i was dozing offf.
4. Arrive at Bweza Gorrilla lodge- on arrival its pretty late, and you order your dinner and eating time. You will be eating with your guide. Lodge has wifi in common areas, no data or wifi in the room. Shower water a bit weak but not undoable. Note the walk up is qute a steep hill. Here explanation is provided on what to expect for the next day Gorilla checking. Alan checked in on how much i think i could trek, so the following day, he could speak to the trekking team to get the level of ease.
Here Alan also gives the option whereby after thr trek to head straight to the next location (as its a 5hr drive) or whether to go back to the ldge and then head. Note you will need to check out in the morning.
5. Gorilla trek day & drive to Enshama lodge - Was about 15 min drive to the trek location, which is great. You do your trek, all guides wait for their clients, once complete you can head off to Enshama lodge. During the drive there we stopped at a national park to have our packed lunch from Bweza gorilla lodge. Nice view.. We encountered a child who had asked for money, and Alan being the great guy he is offered his own lunch to the child.
6. Arrrival at Enshama lodge- again arrival is pretty late, you are asked what you want for dinner and when. NOTE, due to the location being with the wildlife, when it gets dark, you need to be escorted to and from your lodge to the main common area. Here Alan explained how the day will go
7. Chimpanzee trekking, Kazinga cruise & game drive - Note, you do the chimpanzee trekking at Kyambura Game reserve NOT Kibale National Park. After completion, you get a certifcate, i would recommend getting the walking stick, as there are some very steep climbs and downward hills. No porters are available, so pack lights, it's a very short trek. You then head back to the lodge for lunch and rest until the cruise.
Kazinga cruise, you get on a small ish boat, which is good because it means the boat can go faster to reach animals. compared to larger boats.
Game drive- this happens straight after the cruise - standard game drive.
8. Early morning game drive- pack up all your suitcases, as you'll be heading back to the city after the game drive. Alan has such as good eye for animals with the ability to spot things fro VERY far away.
9. Drive back to city- As mentioned its about a 10hr drive back to Kampala, you stop at the equator, and heading back. There will be a lunch stop. Please ensure to tip generously to your guide.
CH
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Fantastic week-long great migration experience
I recently returned from a week-long safari as a solo traveler and photographer, and it exceeded my expectations in every way.
From the very beginning, the office was fantastic to work with. They responded quickly to every message and were incredibly helpful in accommodating all my customization requests. The lodges they arranged were consistently good quality throughout the trip.
The vehicle itself was like-new and in excellent condition. It came equipped with cold refreshments, snacks, and even internet access — but as a photographer, what I appreciated most were the bean bags!
A huge part of what made this trip special was my guide, Makundi. He was punctual every single day and flexible whenever I wanted to adjust plans or chase a particular shot. Beyond that, he's simply an excellent driver and clearly very experienced in the field — his knowledge of both animals and plants was impressive, and I loved the facts and fun facts he shared along the way. He knows the parks inside and out, and it was obvious he's well-liked and respected among the other guides too. Some of my favorite moments were the storytelling during dinners, the bush lunch and coffee breaks, giving the days a nice rhythm.
What really stood out, though, was how much Makundi cared — not just about me as a client, but about the vehicle too. When one of the windows malfunctioned, he addressed it right away and got it fixed. He also cleaned the car every single day, which spoke to his overall attention to detail and pride in his work.
Overall, this was an outstanding safari experience, and I'd highly recommend both the company and Makundi as a guide to anyone planning a trip — especially photographers who'll appreciate the thoughtful touches like the bean bags or internet in the car.
IT
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Super safari
Everything was perfect; Peter the driver and Erick the translator were incredibly kind and paid great attention to every detail... we managed to see the Big Five and so many other animals. Highly recommended.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Best family vacation with fantastic guide
My group of 7 had the most amazing time in the Masai Mara with Richard and Axis Africa Safaris. The quality of your guide makes or breaks the experience, so it's essential to choose somebody reliable and who you would genuinely enjoy spending hours with each day in the car. Richard is very knowledgeable, patiently answered all of our questions, and went the extra mile (literally!) to show us some of the rarest animals.
The accommodations were all very comfortable, the food was tasty, and overall this was certainly the most special vacation for everybody in our group of 7. It was our first safari and we're already talking about how we want to return!
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Incredible wildlife sightings and perfect holiday with Richard, a fantastic Masai guide!
Our group had a wonderful time on our Masai Mara Safari with Axis Africa. We want to specifically thank our guide Richard and organizer Lucy for making the experience so memorable. We went during peak season and were pleasantly surprised that the crowds were fine and there were plenty of animals to see, especially large herds of wildebeest/zebras for the Great Migration.
It makes a big difference to have a local guide, specifically a member of the Masai community. Richard went above and beyond since it was clear that he personally cared about having great wildlife sightings. We are grateful to have seen all of the "Big 5" animals including the rare leopard and black rhino. Nothing was rushed and we had a comfortable experience throughout.
We also appreciate that Axis Africa was able to curate the itinerary to fit our precise needs as a group. We absolutely recommend them to others looking to go on safari.
PL
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing adventure
Since the moment of reservation, contact with Fiona was excellent. Answers for my questions came without delays.
I've chosen 10-days Safari in Kenya and Tanzania. Safari was really well organised, our drivers-guides were very helpful and competent (especially Musa in Kenya).
It happened that some accomodation had been changed, but always for the same or even better standard.
Overall, I can strongly recommend this trip.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A trip for lifetime
We had an amazing safari experience and are extremely happy with the whole trip.
Our trip coordinator, Morris, was excellent from start to finish. He was very good at planning the itinerary and communication was always clear and prompt, both before the trip and throughout our journey. Everything was well organised, which made the whole experience very smooth and stress-free.
Our guide, Joseph, was also fantastic. He was extremely good at spotting animals and very knowledgeable about the wildlife and the parks. He was always punctual, drove safely even on some very difficult roads, and worked hard to make sure we had the best possible safari experience.
We were incredibly lucky with our wildlife sightings. We saw four of the Big Five, with rhinos being the only ones we missed. One of the biggest highlights was seeing wildebeest crossing while lions and crocodiles were hunting — both on land and in the water. It was such an incredible and unforgettable experience. We also had several very close lion sightings, including a few occasions where it was just our car there, which made those moments even more special.
Overall, we had a fantastic trip and couldn’t be happier with the experience. A huge thank you to Morris and Joseph for making our safari so memorable. We would definitely recommend them!
IT
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Easy Booking and Excellent Organization, Even from Afar
We had an amazing trip through Victoria Falls, Botswana and Namibia, perfectly organized from start to finish.
Booking was easy, even from abroad, and the communication was always clear and efficient. All the accommodations were high quality, comfortable and beautifully selected, with delicious food throughout our journey.
The experiences and activities included in the itinerary were always premium and well organized, making the whole trip truly special and totally stress-free!
An excellent tour operator that we would highly recommend for an unforgettable African adventure!
CN
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An unforgettable safari made special by excellent organization, patience, and an amazing guide.
We had such a wonderful safari with Emanuel Silayo. He was calm, patient and very attentive throughout the whole trip. He always took his time to make sure we had the best possible experience, and his patience paid off when we were able to witness the incredible wildebeest river crossing. It was truly one of the highlights of our trip. Everything was well arranged and we felt very well taken care of. Thank you, Emanuel, for making our safari so memorable!
SG
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
“They make sure every moment of the trip counts.
Our tour guide Willy was amazing! He was knowledgeable, spoke good English, and was also a very patient and reliable driver. Even with our long flight delay, he waited for us and welcomed us with a warm “Hakuna Matata,” which made us feel so much more at ease after the long journey.
He really went all out to make sure we got the most out of our trip. He made sure we saw all the animals we wanted to see, and even contacted other guides in his community to find the best spots for us to get good photos. And with the rough roads, we always felt safe with him driving.
Really grateful to have had him as our guide — he made the whole experience so much more enjoyable! 🦁❤️
