4-daagse Gorilla en Wildlife Safari in Oeganda

Where do I begin?! What am amazing experience and absolute pleasure working with this company. I began my research well in advance, pricing out itineraries and different options, etc. I communicated with this particular company for about a month before committing. All communication was very clear, and quite informative and helpful. My point person in all communication was named Merab, and he was fantastic. He presented me with several package ideas, and worked with me to create a custom trip. He was very patient, answering each and every question I had. I am so pleased I chose Gorilla Explorers! We could not have been happier! Our adventure began on a Monday morning when we were picked up in Kampala, at 7:30am just as scheduled. They were very accommodating, as we were staying in an orphanage located in a tough area to reach and not a hotel in the main city. Our guides were friendly, funny and very well informed. Both were English speaking, and happy to answer any and all questions we had about the areas we drove through, the animals, the crops and geography! Bottled water was included in the Jeep. We chose “mid range” lodge accommodations, which were spectacular. We had views of the entire Bwindi Impenetrable Forest at the first, and of Queen Elizabeth National Park at the last! We could not have asked for more! I was most pleased with the last lodge we stayed at before returning to Kampala, called the Enganzi Lodge, which overlooked Queen Elizabeth AND had a pool! In my opinion, each of the lodges we stayed was better than anticipated for being titled “mid-range.” All provided full board and meals (dinner with a packed lunch for the following day), hot water showers and private en suite bathrooms. All of the beds were protected with mosquito netting. Wi-Fi in all was restricted to the lobby/reception areas, and spotty at times.. But with the beautiful nature surrounding us, this was in no way a deal breaker! I was provided an itinerary before we left the US, and had a printed copy with me to follow along as we traveled. We stayed true to the itinerary, and almost always on schedule. Each stop, including the equator line and our lunch destination in Mbarara on day one, in addition to a quick restroom stop at a beautiful scenic overlook, were great! The gorilla trekking experience and the game drive in Queen Elizabeth Park were two of the greatest and most amazing experiences of my life, to date! While searching for gorillas, porters can be hired for the day (to help carry your backpack or just to help climb and hike). You are also provided with a walking stick, and given a certificate at the end of the day complete with the name of the family of gorillas you saw! We had a private boat tour of the Kazinga channel (between Lake Edward and Lake George) during which we encountered elephants, hippos and an amazing assortment of the most interesting and beautiful birds. Those guides too were very well informed! On our last day, we stopped at Lake Mburo National Park on the way back to Kampala to see the zebras! The only animals we didn't get to see were giraffes, which are located in another national park that was not feasible with our itinerary. Next trip! Overall, this was an amazing experience, and much of that can be attributed to this company and our guides. It may take some saving, as the cost is not cheap, but certainly it is worth every penny! This is a trust worthy company, and I would recommend without hesitation to any US tourist wanting to experience the beautiful Pearl of Africa! Recommended items to bring on your adventure include: binoculars, camera, hand wipes for the dusty jeep ride, sunglasses, light weight rain jacket (in case), comfortable hiking boots with ankle support, permethrin treated hiking clothing and your malaria pills! Ugandan shillings are also helpful to have on hand for tipping purposes (example: hotel/lodge staff, tour and boat guides and for stops along the way if you'd like to try the greatest Ugandan beer, the Nile Special)!