JE
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
A trip of a life time
From beginning to end, this safari was perfect. Incredibly knowledgable guide who went over and beyond for us. The big five all in 1 morning, wow!! You will not find a more organised and helpful safari team, who offer real value for money coupled with luxury and wildlife drama. We would book again in a shot. Don't live your life without the majesty of a wild life safari, life is far to short. A heartfelt thank you to all of the safari team, especially to our fantastic guide 'Hoppy". We will be back!!
IN
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Splendid experience of seeing wild life in action
Overall excellent experience and I wish I had many more days. Need to have better food facilities and safe staying arrangements especially for night.
I will be visiting many more times
CA
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
I was mostly interested in the Kidepo Valley landscape - not the wildlife - and enjoyed every moment
I had been wanting - but that’s another story - to visit Kidepo Valley National Park for decades but the PLO Entebbe airport hijacking in 1976 put paid to a first visit. While I did visit Uganda in the early 1990’s our trans-Africa itinerary over six months between Tangiers and Capetown did not permit travel to the far north. Finally, in 2019, it WAS possible. I looked into various group tours but could find nothing that suited - most tours were more interested in gorilla tracking - wonderful I’m sure - and Uganda’s south west. I had ‘done’ my gorilla tracking years earlier in Rwanda and Zaire, and had seen ‘all’ the wildlife elsewhere during various visits. I was interested in the Kidepo landscape and walking through it. Finally I looked at several companies offering a ‘driver and me’ type of travel. After a number of widely varying quotes I settled on Grassrootz, a Ugandan/Dutch company and I could not have been happier with my choice. Quite expensive as far as my bank account was concerned but Apoka Lodge, where I spent four nights, was never going to be inexpensive, even during the low season I was there for. ‘My’ driver Bob Asiimwe picked me up at the Guinea Fowl, a very comfortable guest house near Entebbe airport (Guinea Fowl did not complain when I reached them just before sunrise due to my flight from Ethiopia being briefly diverted to Kigali due to bad weather) and we, well HE, drove through the day to Apoka. We were expected and Apoka immediately made me feel at home. Kidepo Valley National Park, and Apoka, were wonderful. A morning drive by an Apoka driver, generally a very professional James, with other guests before breakfast and a late afternoon walk for just myself and a Kidepo Ranger Andrew, driven to and from a drop-off point by James - who even signalled all his turns when going from one dirt track to another. Andrew and he were both very, very good about spotting things I was completely missing. They seemed to have a good rapport and while not from the Kidepo area, were from the same other part of the country. I could not have had better company, so kudos to whoever is responsible for them being there. Since a first visit to Africa in 1971, my rural accommodation has almost always been in a two person tent or under the stars so, for me, Apoka was very comfortable and if they were missing something - don’t know if they have ‘wellness’ facilities, but those would represent no value at all to me - I don’t know what it could have been.
Lots of elephant and buffalo, usually at a distance, but Apoka knew I was not there for the wildlife. The walks were wonderful. Meals were all very enjoyable.
My return to Entebbe involved two nights at Sipi River Lodge, on the side of Mount Elgin. A wonderful drive down from Kidepo. Before and after Kidepo the road was not always the smoothest - though nothing like Zaire and other countries to the west - and Bob would weave back and forth to avoid bumps and pot holes. Having spent a year or two on similar roads / tracks elsewhere in Africa, and Asia, I tried second guessing for awhile where Bob would go - right, left, straight ahead. Gave it up. Bob was far, far ahead of me.
My cottage at Sipi River Lodge was within sight and hearing of the falls. A very enjoyable stay. During the day I went for walks with Bob, and local guide Chebet Juma, and learned about the production of coffee, from planting it to grinding. I made the mistake of pitching in when it came to the grinding bit, with mortar and pestle. Wrist has not recovered four months later - apparently I didn’t do it properly, though ‘my’ coffee tasted just fine, to me.
All in all, my Grassrootz experience, both in Uganda and with Zander in their Holland office can’t be faulted. My memories of 1993 Uganda and 2019 Uganda are quite different, not surprising after a quarter century away.
Were I to return to Uganda for a similar journey, would be the first people I would contact. Would I stay at Apoka again? If I wanted that level of comfort THERE, I’m sure I would. The landscape alone would make another visit worthwhile, as would being in the company of people such as James and Andrew.
IT
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Spirit of Africa
If you want to experience the african spirit and you do not have lot of time, this tour is simply perfect. I took part in a shared tour and, even if it was not possible to follow the scheduled plan, the staff was able to manage the inconvience and fins a solution: to be honest spending two nights in Serengeti instead of only one was worth it!!
For my part everything (communication, service, food, etc) was really good and I will strongly recommend.
Special mention to the driver/guide mr Salehe, who was really nice and helpful not only with our group. He managed to let us see all animals, specially the big Five including Rhinos...
If you are travelling with mr Alid Tashidi, ask him to prepare his famous soups, very tasty!!!
After this tour I really felt in love with Africa more than before!
65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Knowlegible Professional caring Company
We were introduced to Namibia Nature Travel through a friend, best days work we ever did. From the moment we stepped off the plane in Windhoek until we returned 16 days later after a round trip that made a holiday for us that we will never forget . Our tour package was handed to us at the airport which contained everything we needed, our itinerary , phone numbers of every lodge, contact numbers , maps etc. which were all invaluable.
Namibia is a stunning country, the scenery people, hospitality, lodges, tour guides all second to none, can't wait to go back.
AR
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
attention to every detail!
We did a 4 day tour (Nyiragongo volcano and Gorilla trekking)
We had just finished tow tours before this one, so we were expecting average, but we were wrong.
Cate had every detail sorted out and even a present for us.
Godfrey picked us up, awesome driver and great companion, our trip to Rwanda border was super nice and the food included was 10/10
specially at Kibumba camp.
they volcano and the gorillas are spectacular, so if you are looking to go there Prime is an awesome company, we did a midrange tour and it felt luxury to be honest.
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Review about Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve by Brian Nelson
amazing!
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Incredible experience from start to finish
We booked a 3 day safari at Black Rhino Lodge through Traipsing Africa and had the most amazing time. The lodge itself is beautiful, the rooms are huge! And so nicely decorated. We are far too much food while we were there but it was all so good it was hard to refuse! The restaurant has a deck overlooking a waterhole so we were able to watch the wildlife as we ate. The game drives were wonderful, our guide was very knowledgeable and had this amazing ability to spot wildlife from miles off! We loved every minute of it, would recommend to anyone.
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An unforgettable experience!
Loved every second of it! You definitely get a lot of value out of the trip!