African Jungles Safaris Review

by Karen Giesbrecht
(Canada)

Habinyanja Gorillas

Habinyanja Gorillas

The gorilla trek was the main reason for my tour and also the wildlife highlight! Other highlights were the visit to the pygmy village, my great guide and Kampala market.

Safari Operator Performance

I researched different tour companies of Uganda via the internet, and decided on African Jungles Safaris Ltd.

I was on a private tour. I would have preferred to join on with an existing tour (for less cost) but due to specific dates that I had to travel after, I had to do a private tour – so only myself and my guide, Musa.

Company performance: very good.

Guide performance: excellent! Very knowledgeable, friendly and conscious of environment and tour safety.

I would definitely recommend this tour and the tour company.

Accommodation and Food

1) Bwindi Park accommodations: (Lake Kitandara) was not luxury tenting as described on website through the company that I booked with. I would grade that specific place as budget - moderate tenting. (I have stayed in Botswana with luxury camping safaris and this did not compare to it at all.) For two nights it was acceptable.

Also, upon our arrival there, they did not have our reservation. Food was only adequate.

My overall impression of that specific accommodation was below average – average; it was more of a budget type of accommodation and should be described as that.

2) Mweya Safari Lodge – Excellent.

3) Primate Lodge – Excellent food and this luxury tenting was what I would expect, when described as luxury tenting. They were still doing final renovations to the whole lodge when I was there (Nov 2008).

Only one improvement I suggested to the Manager was they needed more light on the path back to the tents. Friendly people & great food.

All the food was all very good. I tried some typical traditional food – Matooke. Fish in Uganda is excellent!

Wildlife

The highlight was definitely the gorillas!

Also saw elephants, hippos, zebras, giraffes, cape buffalo, rhinos, warthogs, antelope, monkeys, mongoose, lions and many bird varieties.

Elephants in Queen Elizabeth

Typical Day

Early wake up calls, breakfast, safari in the AM – lunch either back at lodge or packed lunch.

Safari in the afternoon. Back to lodge, rest/relax time. Dinner, visit with other guests then off to bed.

Other Activities

After the mountain gorilla trek, I joined a small group to do a short tour to a pygmy village - it was excellent! (same day as Gorilla trek).

Also upon my arrival in Kampala the Tour Company Proprietor (Maria) took me to Kampala's largest market – this was a great experience; to feel the local tradition. Also Maria took me to my company's site in Kampala. This was great.

Best 4 wildlife parks in Uganda »

Tips and Advice

Make sure you have proper foot wear (for the for the Gorilla trek) and adequate clothing as it can be cool at night.

The most useful items I took along were my Nike runners/hikers and my small alarm light clock (it was my mini flashlight in a very dark tent).



Karen's Safari Details:

Rating: 8/10

Safari company used: African Jungles Safaris Ltd. (make an enquiry)

Parks visited: Kampala to Bwindi Impenetrable forest, Queen Elizabeth and Kibale forest, Uganda

Date of safari: Nov 9-15 (7 days/6 nights)

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  • Comments for African Jungles Safaris Review

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    Jun 16, 2010
    Friendliness and comfort
    by: Ellie Duly, N Ireland

    I went to Murchison with African Jungles Safaris for 3 days from 26 March 2010. I found them on the internet and also got a recommendation from a UK agent.

    Our guide was courteous, knowledgeable and helpful. We stayed at Para Lodge which was excellent, as was the food. We?d have an early breakfast, go on a trip to lunch, come back, swim, lunch and out again.

    We saw elephant, lions? the chimp trekking in the forest was the best. More animals would be good.

    My advice to others is to go for it (and remember DEET spray). I rate my trip 8/10.

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