Ecotourism in action
Bamboo Ecotours
- Office In:
- Size:
- 5-10 employees (Founded in 2012)
- Member Of:
- Association of Uganda Tour Operators
- Tour Types:
- Customizable private tours and fixed group tours
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $110 to $600 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
for a custom tour
Your request will be sent directly to the operator
If preferred, you can contact the operator directly
Reviews
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Email Tom | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing 10 day western Uganda wildlife safari (including chimps and gorillas)
Just returned from an amazing trip, and all I can say is how amazing Bamboo Ecotours was. We chose to do the 10 day Western Uganda wildlife tour as we had 3 weeks total to spend in East Africa, and wanted to do more than just primates in Uganda, since clearly it has so much more to offer. And I am so glad that we did this, it was an amazing experience.
From the time we first inquired about the trip, Edison was nothing amazing and professional! Our tour guide Joseph and driver Herbert did such a great job - any time there was even a small issue they all went out of their way to help correct things (and these were problems that were beyond their control - if you don't own the hotel you can't make the staff care - but you can confront them about the issues and help your clients which they certainly did). Not that any issues impacted our enjoyment, because it was a great trip. All the lodging was mid-range either lodges or permanent tents/bandas - I think we actually liked the tents/bandas best - stayed cooler and felt closer to nature. Honestly liked all the places we stayed quite a bit. Also have to commend the transportation - 4 wheel drive mini bus type of thing (with pop up roof). The roads in Uganda (especially in the areas in/around/between the parks) are mostly dirt and many were actively under construction - and the vehicle never had any issues and had lots of room for us. Most companies seem to just have a single driver/guide - I really liked that for this type of longer tour we had a driver and a guide. The driving was very difficult and it was nice that we could ask questions without disturbing our driver, but they also worked as a great team. Really liked that setup.
Some specifics about places we went to:
-Ziwa Rhino sanctuary was amazing, was able to get so close on foot with a ranger (and unfortunately didn't see any other rhinos during our total 3 week trip so this was great to have included)
-Murchison Falls national park was absolutely gorgeous and had so much more wildlife than I could have imagined - the boat tour on the Nile was fantastic and relaxing, and lead to a hike to the top of the falls - also amazing
-Kazinga channel (essentially adjacent to QENP) was great. It was the end of the dry season and very hot, so pretty much all the animals were at the water's edge. We did a boat trip here as well - but small boat with only 2 other people plus guide and driver so we were able to get very close (which was different than the big double decker boat on the Nile)
-Kibale for the chimps and Bwindi for the gorillas were just amazing, once in a lifetime kind of experiences. In both cases the animals ended up just a few feet away and we got such good pictures
-Before the chimp trek at Kibale we did a swamp walk in Bigodi swamp including a community walk and stop at someone's home to see how banana beer and gin were made - optional activity but highly, highly recommended
-Last stop was Lake Mutanda - wish we had more time here, was gorgeous! Did more cultural activities here - visited with the Batwa people and then went to a coffee plantation (small, family owned) - which was so incredible. Had options of activities for this day - I think we chose well and I really like that these were community activities where money we paid went directly to individuals in the community and not to some other company.
Overall I really just can't say enough good things about Bamboo Ecotours. They will of course do a great job if you just have a few days and want to see primates - but I really would recommend seeing more of the country with them. We spent a week in Tanzania after this and it was different - so I don't feel at all like we duplicated things. Thanks to Edison, Joseph and Herbert for making this incredible experience possible!
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Email Kristen Nowling | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
adventure of a lifetime
My boyfriend and I recently went on the 10 day Uganda tour ending in Rwanda with Joseph and Herbert and cannot begin to describe how amazing the tour was.
We both had the best time and cannot thank them enough for all the amazing memories we went home with. The lodges were great, gorilla trekking/chimp trekking were more amazing than we could have ever thought. We got up and closet to the animals. Most importantly we felt so safe and comfortable with Joseph and Herbert. They were in contact with the manager Edison the whole tour to update him on how things were going and we really loved that. We recommend this tour to all of our friends and family and would love to come back and do another. We appreciate ever little thing they have done for us to make sure the trip was awesome. We cannot thank them and the whole company enough.
QA
Email Anne | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Brilliant gorilla & chimp experience
I chose this tour company as I like to go with local companies. From my first email to Edison who answered all my questions promptly to my eventual drop off back in Kigali after my tour ended I found Bamboo Ecotours to be highly efficient, professional & caring. I was traveling solo & I felt safe & comfortable the whole time.
Joseph (guide) & Herbert (driver) were fantastic & friendly, couldn't have asked for better companions. They were both very knowledgeable & able to answer any questions be it about Rwanda or Uganda. As they are both from the local area it was interesting to see & hear about life from their perspective. As I suffer from asthma, Edison & Joseph both endeavored to see if I could trek a gorilla family that was closest to the headquarters which I was extremely appreciative of. Seeing the gorillas & chimps was an amazing experience & the rest of the tour was very good too.
The transport, meals & accommodation were all of a high standard. Everything met or went above my expectations.
I have no hesitation at all in highly recommending this company!
DE
Email Gilbert | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Trust-worthy and reliable company with excellent client-focused service
Edison , owner , is trust-worthy and very reliable person. He responded quickly to all my emails and queries regarding transportation to Bwindi Park (Gorilla Treks) . Fred, tour guide , and Joseph , the driver, were very helpful and client focused. Without any hesitation, I highly recommend Bamboo Ecotours for all their offered tours or customized activities. Excellent value for money !!!
Email Aaron Mills | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Fantastic service. Great communication, flexibility, bespoke itinary and community partner
Xxx Review - Eco Bamboo Tours
My wife and I have just finished a 5 day tour with Eco Bamboo tour and are still reeling from the great time we had.
Our choice of operator came via a friends recommendation who said the company were great value and importantly, worked hard to ensure that local communities benefit from tourism. They were spot on!
We decided to start from Kigali (Rwanda) so that the transfer to Bwindi NP was shorter (then that from Entebbe/Kampala). Godfrey picked us promptly on the 1st day and we set off for the Ugandan border which we crossed with ease.
Not long after, we were in the town of Kisoro, staying at Golden Monkey our base for the next 2 nights as we tackled the Gorilla trek. This was a truly amazing experience!
On the 3rd day we checked out and headed for Amajambere Iwacu Community Campground by Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, where Mt Sabinyo resides. After consecutive days of heart pumping exercise, for the most amazing reward of wildlife and scenery, we then headed South to rest up at Lake Bunyoni. Our original itinerary had us staying one night, but mid way through the trip we felt we might want an additional night to rest before the long drive back to Kampala/Entebbe, and EcoBamboo tours were very accomodating in making this possible.
Our final day saw the longest drive, broken up by a lunch stop just outside Mbarara and picture opportunity at the Equator before we were dropped at Entebbe.
We cannot thank Edison and all the Godfrey’s enough for their help, patience (with all our questions) and fantastic company in making this tour one we will never forget.
There is still so much for us to see in Uganda, so we will be back, and when we do, we will look to EcoBamboo tours.
Email Stef and Rob | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Wonderful communication and very down to earth and insightful guide.
We had such a wonderful experience on the Gorilla Trek.
Our guide, Godfrey was amazing. He was so insightful and made sure that we were comfortable and happy on every step of the trip. I honestly cannot fault him. He even found us a great local restaurant to eat lunch at on the way to Bwindi
The Gorilla Trek was wonderful too, it was definitely an experience we won’t soon forget and we're very glad we chose to go with Bamboo Ecotours.
Perfect one week experience
I found Bamboo Ecotours online and talked to Edison via email to give him some ideas about what I was generally looking for and see what he suggested. He quickly created an itinerary for me that was perfect and gave me a fair price. I talked to several other tour companies but picked Bamboo Ecotours because I felt they were honest, fair, patient, helpful, and knowledgable. Coming from another country I didn't want to take a risk with a company that might not be trustworthy. On the tour, my guide Joseph was the best I could have asked for. He is friendly, caring, fun, respectful, and was always making sure I was taken care of. From start to finish, he went above and beyond to show me a great time, including taking me to additional interesting places along the way that he didn't need to. I had so many incredible experiences on this trip and I'm so thankful.
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Email Emily | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
wonderful experience with an awesome guide (Joseph)
I went on a Big Yellow Truck tour with Absolute Africa this past September and while in Uganda, we partnered with Joseph, who gave us such an incredible experience while visiting. The gorilla experience was out of this world amazing. It will truly be a top travel highlight when I look back on my life years from now. While there, a few in my group also visited a local family who owned a coffee plantation. I've been on coffee plantation tours in other countries before, but what made this one special was the interaction with Joseph and all the extras he added in terms of interaction with the local children. So endearing. And the family from the coffee farm was just so sweet, too. Thank you, Joseph, for going above and beyond our expectations. You are a true gem...a wonderful soul. Hope to meet again in life one day! Best of luck to you in all you set out to accomplish! (Sorry for how long it took me to write this review!!)
i travelled with bamboo ecotours - amazing trip
I arranged my trip with bambooecotours after viewing as peoples reviews,i traveveked with bamboo eco tours for five days safari,the tour was amazing ranging from gorrilla treking to glodrn monkey treking.joseph tourguide was amazing
Email Diane Priestley | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A Fascinating, Unique Experience
I was absolutely delighted with the impeccable service provided by Joseph and his dedicated team at Bamboo Ecotours.
The drivers and tour guides are extremely knowledgable about the spectacular natural environment of Kisoro and the fascinating cultures of the people and they share their knowledge generously with curious visitors.
Joseph was flexible and willing to customise any tour for members of my group; from transporting us to the national park for gorilla treks, tours of coffee farms, kayaking on the beautiful lake or visiting the Batwa tribe who live in a remote corner of the surrounding hills.
Joseph and Godfrey took my friend from Mexico and I on a visit to the Batwa tribe, which tourists rarely encounter. We were deeply touched by their plight and the challenges they face and also overwhelmed by their gift of friendship in singing and dancing for us.
Bamboo Ecotours is an extremely professional, conscientious service dedicated to excellence in tourism and devoted to protecting and caring for the beautiful region of southern Uganda.
I feel very privileged to have visited this idyllic part of East Africa and very grateful to Joseph and his team for making my stay so amazing.