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 Jon | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Gorillas were an amazing experience! Would do it all again!
TRIP PLANNING & BOOKING
Our coordinator was great to work with and very responsive to our needs. We had a short fixed window to work within and wanted to do a lot, in which they were very accommodating. We received a highly customized experience, even accommodating last minute changes we introduced. In the end, we received a detailed itinerary was a plan for an exciting adventure.
TRIP DETAILS
It was 3 days in Uganda - river, chimps, tribe, and gorillas.
- Chimp Trekking Forest: Kalinzu Forest
- Gorilla Trekking Forest: Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
- Boat Ride: Kazinga channel
- Hotel 1: Buffalo Safari Lodge
- Hotel 2: Mutanda Lake Resort
- Tribe: Pygmies (Echuya Batwa)
Both hotels were great, but fell in love with Mutanda!
THE RIVER EXCURSION
We started with a boat ride, touring herds of hippos, buffalo, crocodiles, lizards, and birds among other river dwelling creatures. The guide was knowledgeable and friendly. While not the highlight of the entire experience, it was fun seeing giant reptiles and albino buffalo, as well as learning about ‘loser’ buffalo, removed from the herd.
CHIMP TRACKING
The hike through the forest may have been more exciting than the chimps themselves. We went during the winter when the chimps stay at the top of the trees for warmth, so we weren’t able to get close to the chimps, rather watch them walk along the tree traps and sleep. Highly recommend going during the summer when they come down to the ground for the cooler temperatures and you get better viewings.
GORILLA TRACKING
By far the highlight of the whole trip. We were able to see the gorilla family after 1.5 hours of walking, which is considered quick. We got up close to the gorillas and took lots of pictures. It felt shockingly safe, despite their huge size. Watching the baby gorilla play with grass and spin around was another little highlight.
THE GUIDE
Our guide was super friendly and very helpful. He was a source of information, and helped with things like exchanging money and covering when out of cash. A very joyful individual to be around. More than helpful and very flexible with our random requests. Thank you, Amanya!
TIPS FOR TRAVELERS
- Bring lots of cash and small bills for tips
- Bug spray
- High socks for ants that like to bite
- Prepare for rain, mud, and slippery ground
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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!
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.
ES
Email Bérénice | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Our guide Joseph, was really very nice
We went with them on the coffee tour and the village tour, and I can recommend both and for end the day we when up to the view point , Joseph did really every thing he could to show us and learn us things about his country
Email Laura | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Couldn’t recommend enough
Bamboo ecotours is definitely the tour company to use to explore Uganda. We had the wonderful Herbert who really made the whole experience for us. The communication from the company and the information they provided was brilliant, super helpful and very quick with responses (always under 24h). The service we received was 100%, I literally couldn’t fault anything- we had the tour to ourselves with Herbert and this seems to be common for Bamboo Ecotours, they like to ensure you are receiving the best service and are comfortable at all times. The accommodation was lovely, we paid for basic and they even managed to book a few midrange places for us which was a great surprise! Herbert could not have been more accommodating and brilliant the whole tour, always explaining the schedule and making sure we were safe and happy as well as showing us all the fabulous animals. We were super lucky in seeing all the animals that Uganda had to offer (rhinos, leopards, lions, giraffes, zebra, python, hyena, gorilla, chimpanzee, monkeys, baboons, buffalo, elephant, hippos, crocodile)- I would highly recommend doing the 10 day tour so that you can see the Rhinos and get a chance in all of the parks. Uganda is absolutely amazing and Bamboo Ecotours show you all the best of it, they use tour guides from local villages so that you get someone who really knows the local areas and cares about the environment. Literally can’t recommend enough!
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Email Rye | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Edison as top notch in planning and Chance was a fantastic guide in the field.
I had a brilliant Safari. Starting with the guidance and planning provided by Edison. I can not imaging anyone being more accommodating, professional, and just plain helpful with all of adjustments and changes.
Chance, my guide, was knowledgeable and informative in all aspects from the places to the wildlife to his local knowledge. He was a pleasure to be with.
My trip was incredible, the accommodations were perfect, the transportation was on time, and I felt taken care of from the first moment getting picked up to the last moment jumping aboard the plane from the grass airstrip!
I never lacked for information and my questions (planning & traveling) were always answered and valued as a solo traveler.
I can not give a more heart felt and enthusiastic recommendation!
CA
Email Lani | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Great tour, professional company and guide
My friend and I did a 4 day gorilla and lake tour of southern Uganda from Kigali. I would highly recommend both the tour, the company, and our guide Fred. Communication with the company was easy, they were very responsive, payment was easy, the hotels we stayed at were great, and our guide Fred was very professional and had a lot of information to share with us. He was a great driver and also seemed knowledgeable about our questions on local history and culture.
I had hoped to see gorillas interacting with one another, but unfortunately for us our gorilla family were found in a very dense part of the forest so this wasn't possible, and we couldn't see them very well. We did, however, get to see the silverback very clearly. Fortunately were were just 4 tourists in our group so we were able to easily maneuver around each other in the dense vegetation to get a good look at him.
I would also highly recommend doing the 4 day tour and going to the lake. The hotel there was wonderful and the setting gorgeous, with many volcanoes in the background. The lake is swimmable (no bilharzia) and you can rent paddleboards or a canoe, or take a boat across to an island and hike. Lots of options of things to do there. Plus the food was delicious.
I don't normally give 5/5 reviews, but all in all this experience was great!
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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!
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.
