US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Extremely well organized, knowledgeable and careful
The most difficult part of this tour was getting a COVID test BEFORE we got to Tanzania. On the safari, it was a breeze! Walter set up the testing appointments at the airstrip and handed us our hard copy results before we got on the return flight. It couldn’t have been easier. NOW is the time to go! There are hardly any tourists and we saw loads of animals close up and personal, even the elusive cheetahs and leopards. Many lions; many baby animals. Take the balloon ride for extra $$$- it is worth it, and the company even let my brother make up a day he missed due to illness. Our tour guide, Lawrence, has eagle eyes and incredible knowledge of the habits of animals and birds. I felt entirely safe in his hands; he is an excellent driver on rutted roads. Be sure to look for birds- remarkable plumage and colors! The accommodations were top notch with great to excellent food, including gluten free. I have an odd personalized anti- inflammatory diet and never went hungry. The lodges are sublimely soothing- we took a few afternoons just to hang around watching the herds pass by. I even did yoga with an elephant. How about a personalized swimming pool on your porch? No kidding! At Kuria Hills Lodge! We did the luxury tour and it was worth it. These memories will sustain you for years. Go and rejoice in Nature’s wonders!
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Highly recommended. Sandy is the best guide ,knowledgeable, cheerful and responsible. Best guide to
We visited Lake Manyara,Tarangire and the Serengeti. An unforgettable experience with close encounters with Africa,s amazing wildlife. All care was taken for our comfort and safety. Sandy was a wonderful guide. Highly recommended. We will be back.
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing service. Very responsive.
Had the pleasure of working with compass odyssey for my wife’s 50th present trip. The trip was amazing. Darren took the time to have a zoom chat with us to learn about our interests. Then customized a trip just for us.
When SA informed some stricter covid rules that precluded us staying in Jo’burg Darren was able to quickly rearrange our travel plans we end up staying longer in the Okavango delta longer.
I would absolutely use them again and strongly recommend Compass odyssey.
RU
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Wonderful trip! Big 5 in 3 days!
It was a fantastic trip! Thanks very much for Source Africa Discoverie and for Antony(our guide). They helped us to choose best places to stay and to visit. Safari organization was very good! Our guide was the best man in the world! And finally we saw big 5 in three days! I strongly recommend to have a trip with Source Africa Discoverie
under20 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent Safari
Mercy she’s so professional at doing her work. Booking safari with her makes everything so easy. My friend and I went on a 3 days Masai Mara safari with Jadi safaris and it was excellent. We will definitely be back for another adventure.
EG
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing tour operator
I did a 4-day mount Meru hike and simply it was perfect, i booked everything with Emanuel and it was all smooth, he is very reliable, replies quickly, very helpful and you can trust him and he really cares about you having a good time first and foremost, he even helped me take a tour at the market and helped to buy things i missed to bring with me from home...the hike was amazing all the itinerary was done exactly and even more, it was pretty well organized and safe, they did all they can to help me complete the hike successfully which wasn't an easy hike at all...the food and the service was really great i felt dealing with professionals and at the same time felt like family...if i'll ever go back again i'll go with crater explorers which i highly recommend.
EC
Fantastic experience. Great value for money!
This was not our first safari experience, yet it was a fantastic trip and we enjoyed every minute of it. The whole team always tried their best to make sure we had a great time! Our special thanks to Bryson-our kind and helpful guide and driver, and Prosper-our incredible and accommodating super chef! They always had a positive attitude and made us feel safe and enjoy our time.
The car was spacious and comfortable with an open roof, and it had electricity to charge our devices. The routes and parks chosen were fantastic, and the game drives super fun- we saw many many beautiful animals and landscapes.
The accommodation was better than expected (as we thought we would be camping in ground tents every night), but we stayed in nice and comfortable rooms in 2 out of 3 nights, still giving us the chance to also experience camping with zebras around Ngorongor crater for 1 night.
Great value for money, and we totally recommend it.
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Truly Breathtaking 7-Day Trip!
Absolutely every element of my 7-day trip was incredibly amazing! I've been to some fantastic locations before, but this tops the list and Kajie Tours was the key piece in making it so successful. From the beginning when I was considering the safari to taking off at the end of the trip, they were always ready to fully answer my many questions, make suggestions for the best possible outcome, and ensure everything went smoothly (a particularly difficult goal during pandemic times).
Ronald, my guide, was perfect! He was a wealth of knowledge about everything in Uganda, including the history, current trends, wildlife, destinations, and more. I was solo on this trip, so having a great guide is even more important - truly a total professional and a pleasure to spend time with. He was always ready to be companionable during the trip and at destinations, but also let me have space to explore alone (or take a nap) when needed. Anytime I mentioned being interested in something, he made it came true - from finding a chameleon to trying a number of particular local foods/drinks. I couldn't have wished for a better guide.
Regarding the trip itself, we did chimp trekking in Kibale, gorilla trekking in Bwindi, and game drives/boat rides in Queen Elizabeth & Lake Mburo. Highly recommend trying to fit as many game drives in as possible, especially in the early morning and late evening. All the accommodations were wonderful (in the thick of nature) and the food was always great (and fresh!). It's worth it to get some freshly picked/roasted/brewed coffee and to try the fresh banana gin.
Wholeheartedly recommend the trip with Kajie Safaris to anyone thinking about visiting Uganda!!!
GR
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Bamboo Ecotours: The Pearl of Tour Companies!
What an incredible trip!
Uganda: land of rare primates – our closest relatives. Land of stunning landscapes you’ll dream about, of a rich biodiversity you can rarely find elsewhere, of the waters power at its strongest form, of that mythical temperature always. Land of a fertile red soil full of delicious fruits, vegetables and flowers! The food is clean and honest even for sensitive intestines, many accommodations are surprisingly elegant, minimal and often ecofriendly, and many roads are doing for free a lot of African massage! :-) This is Uganda, safe, hospitable, gentle, open and vulnerable, almost clean and ready to hug you with sincerity love and huge African smiles!
For sure, if you’d like to see in a minute thousands of wild animals, you have to choose a different country in the area. The relatively small Uganda, in my opinion, can offer a more complex and unique life experience, if you are not there “only” for the undoubtedly amazing gorillas!
An experience that will be never complete without meeting as much Ugandans as you can. The Ugandans I think were by far the 'highlight' of my trip. Lovable, polite, peaceful, sociable, optimistic. The Batwas and other Communities are a ‘must stop’ to explore the local life and traditions and to help local institutions as much as your soul and your wallet can afford. It’s always better to ask for a receipt or to register your donation in their books. I’ll never forget the sweet Karamojong people in the North East and all the shocking, deeply human lessons I had from them in such a short time. My most impressive pictures are with their clear faces that I have to respect, as my very personal emotions.
Rich country – cause of soil and subsoil – with poor people. Things have to change, anachronistic laws have to be modernized here, like almost everywhere in Africa, but are the locals to find the …uneasy way for it. Uganda has lasting peace. That’s for sure important!
I was too lucky to find on my own way to Uganda two prominent Ugandans: Edison, my tour operator and Herbert, my driver & guide. Both working for the serious and reputable tour company “Bamboo Ecotours” that I’d like to highly recommend.
No other person in my life reply to so many emails and phone messages – also during the deep night – as Edison did, very kindly and without any nervous breakdown :-) I bought the gorilla permit on January 2020, then I had to cancel the whole trip and rescheduled it for July 2021. Since then, only Edison knows how many questions I had. What he do not know yet is what a polite company he was for me during the lockdown :-)
The plan made by Edison and me was of an excellent result. Although it was the most expensive trip I ever did, I think it was worth every cent. All his information, ideas and suggestions were precious. Some words that characterize him are: willingness, seriousness, efficiency, honesty, professionalism, flexibility, kindness, knowledge, experience, logic… What else do you need from a tour operator? :-) It’s really a pity I never met him.
The other crucial person, Herbert, is absolutely a great driver for those difficult roads, good guide with enough English knowledge, professional, too serious sometimes, too honest always, particularly attentive on covid issues as many Ugandans, precise, open minded, loyal… It's hard to find anything negative about him. Maybe a bit stubborn sometimes… :-))) For sure a good friend!
Some recommendations:
Stay in meticulously functional “Isunga Lodge” with great views, beautiful gardens and ‘haute cuisine’ close to Kibale. Try to visit the spectacular Kidepo Valley and Karamoja. Go to Mabamba Wetlands to maybe spot a shoebill bird. Don’t miss Kazinga Channel boat trip. Eat tilapia fish fillets grilled or cooked with tomato sauce, and mashed potatoes. Try the local gin “Uganda Waragi”. Maybe Banange Beer? you will hate it or love it :-) In the cities, great choice and wonderful value for money in Entebbe the “2 Bedroom Cozy Cottage” from Airbnb and in Kampala the hotel “Explorers Hub” from booking.com in a posh central and quiet place.
Visit the Pearl of Africa using the Perl of Tour Companies: "Bamboo Ecotours"! :-)
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Experience of a Lifetime!
I am a world traveler and this experience has made my top three of a lifetime experiences. I went on a three day safari to Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater, and I only wish I had gone on a four or five day tour to include more locations. The safari was organized, comfortable, and above all I was well taken care. My guide was Rocky and when I go back to Tanzania, he will be my guide again! I highly recommend this tour company, I know all the guides are amazing, but you wont regret your tour guide if you ask for Rocky. He was so knowledgeable about everything from the wildlife, to the parks, to all of Tanzania. He was fun, engaging, and there was never a dull moment. Rocky did everything possible to ensure we saw everything we wanted to see (and I mean we saw every African animal you expect to see on a safari!). The camping experience was amazing and stress free as they included all the gear we needed (tent, sleeping bags, pillows). The chef prepared the most amazing meals for us (probably the best food I ate in Tanzania), and the meals included breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and beverages all day. The tour company (and tour guide) was so accommodating as they picked my sister and I up at a location that was convenient for us, and then dropped us off at our hostel at the end of the three day adventure. The tour was well worth it's dollar and I will be doing more with this company in my future. Five stars for Rocky! Five stars for Suricata!
