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
CA
Email Dr A | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Best company you could possibly choose!
Absolutely phenomenal from start to finish. Edison was so fast to respond to all of our (many many) questions and send in depth information well in advance, including what to expect, what to pack, what we would need to cross the boarder from Rwanda to Uganda and back (vaccines, visas etc), and contact information for our guide, Jackson. Jackson made our trip the absolute best experience possible. He was extremely friendly and knowledgable, answering all of our questions along the way.
We booked the 3 day gorilla trek and golden monkey hike with coffee tour:
Notes: bring small American cash if you can as it is accepted/expected everywhere.
We landed in Kigali at 7am with a very quick walk through customs.
We had a quick stop for breakfast at Bourbon Coffee at the airport and grabbed a sandwich for the road.
Jackson picked us up right after our breakfast (he knows the area well and can make great recommendations for breakfast and lunch stops).
We made a stop at the Genocide Memorial which should not be missed. It was extremely emotional walking through the museum and learning more about the cold history of the Rwandan genocide and we really appreciated having time to take it all in.
We continued our drive through to our coffee tour in Uganda where we saw first hand the process of coffee making from field to cup. The family even let us try our hand at processing and making our own coffee from freshly picked beans through to roasting. The coffee was fantastic and we bought a few bags ourselves.
We then headed to Rushaga Gorilla Lodge which was hands down one of the most beautiful accommodations we have had the privilege of staying at.
We had an early morning start (7am) to head to the Gorilla trekking. The Batwa people started us off with a cultural dance to get everyone in the mood and then we were off following our guides with directions from our trackers. We hiked for just under 6 hours. These hikes are not "hard" but there is some marsh, some steep inclines and it is very wise to bring proper high ankle hiking boots and gaters to protect against mud, water, ants and other jungle funs. The gorillas were unbelievable, a true once in a lifetime experience. The guides answered all of our questions and helped us make the most of our hour with the family of 12 including several babies.
We took a quick lunch break hillside after exiting the jungle, taking in the stunning views. After getting back we thanked our guides and headed back to the lodge, taking time to pickup some souvenirs from the locals.
We had a relaxing afternoon poolside and enjoyed some afternoon relaxing on the deck of our jungle cabin.
The dinners are the lodge were fantastic and lunch and breakfast were also provided. (They over feed you for sure so no worries about food on this trip!)
Our next morning we started at 5am to drive through to Mgahinga Gorilla National park (a part of the Virunga mountain range) to hike to see the golden monkeys. The hike again took us through jaw dropping scenery. You can also view gorillas here or climb to the top of the mountain even. The hike took roughly 5 hours and again we had one hour with the monkeys as they jumped through the trees and came down to check out what we were doing.
We took a lunch break in the town with Jackson on the way back enjoying some rolex and vegetable curry which were fantastic. We picked up some more local coffee here too before starting our 4 hour drive back to Kigali.
All in all this was hands down the BEST tour company we could have chosen for sure and we will most definitely be back again!
DE
Email Andreas | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
5 day tour all well managed
Hello, all was well managed, good hotels, good driving and an attentive and knowledgeable guide (Herbert). We recommend Bamboo tours
US
Email Weicheng | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent and very smooth experience
I thoroughly enjoyed the trip with Bamboo ecotours. Edison was super helpful and patient to answer all my questions from the start. This was my first time in Africa so I probably had more questions than most people who had been here before.
The actual trip was very smooth and amazing. Fred was my driver and guide. He did a great job making sure everything went as planned and my needs were met. Apart from the gorilla trekking, I also really enjoyed the time with the local community. Interacting with the local people just adds a whole other dimension to my experience. Highly recommend Bamboo ecotours and Fred!
ES
Email joaquim | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
amazing experience
has been amazing service. all set up in advance and excellent guide
US
Email Spencer | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent Gorilla Trek Experience
We flew into Kigali and Bamboo picked us up from the hotel and handled transport and paperwork to the Ugandan highlands and Bwindi. We loved our experience. The hike itself is gorgeous and the terrain is very different from anything in the US. The experience with the gorillas was totally unique and something I'll remember for the rest of my life. Our driver Herbert was very knowledgeable about the area and a lot of fun to talk to. He took great care of us and even returned to the hotel after dripping us off because we forgot something important in the car. I highly recommend him.
DE
Email Johannes | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Reliable, professional, accessible, flexible.
We can only recommend Bamboo Ecotours as travel agency. Initial contact was very fast and easy. During the booking process we felt well guided by Edison who assured our trust in the payment procedure. The basic rate is still comfortable with own toilet/bathroom in every accommodation. They provided good and mostly organic food. We enjoyed, that we could adjust the travel route to our preferences (e.g. Pick-up in Kigali, drop-off in Kampala). We will never forget the Gorilla trekking and Chimp trekking! You should not miss an overnight stay at lake Bunyonyi.
A special recommendation goes to our driver, Jackson, on whom we could not only rely 100 % but who was also the source of cultural and historical insights on Uganda and who - through his clever and intelligent personality - made longer car trips a very pleasant experience. If you can, pick him!
ES
Email Esther | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Amazing
The trip with Bamboo Ecotours was fantastic, I enjoyed every single part of it. It was super well organized. Edison answered quickly to each of my emails and explained every single thing to the max. Thank you!. The accommodation selected at each place was a spot on, clean, magical views and plenty of space. The food provided was tasty and well cooked too. I was never hungry! The landscapes were amazing as well as the people. I saw Gorillas, Chimps and Leopards, so good! The vehicle was also very comfortable. I was a solo traveler and felt comfortable the whole time.
My tour guide Godfrey was lovely and kind. He is such a good driver and has lots of knowledge about the area and the fauna of the place.
Thank you both for an amazing trip!
FR
Email Laetitia | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Reliable
Great service and very responsive. The trip was organised exactly as I imagined and I had a great time. Saw gorillas up close, chimps, hippos, elephants and so much more.. My driver/guide was available, knowledgeable, responsive and on time. I would say that Bamboo Ecotours is a safe pair of hands. You can trust them to ensure your trip is seamless! Also good value for money. I was a solo traveler and felt safe and comfortable during my whole trip in Rwanda and Uganda.
US
Email Julia | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Friendly and reliable.
Had a FANTASTIC tour with Bamboo Ecotours. As a woman traveling alone I felt safe the whole time. Had excellent food & my guide knew a ton about the locations we visited. They were able to secure me a gorilla trekking permit last minute.
I loved my tour and wish I could have stayed longer.
DK
Email Klavs | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Perfect trip with Amanya and Bamboo Ecotours
Going with guide/driver Amanya from Bamboo Ecotours on the 2-day-tour from Kigali to Bwindi National Park seeing mountain gorillas.
Nice person, good at telling about Rwanda and Uganda, the trek and so on - and a safe driver.
Would definitely recommend others to go!