Gorilla Tracking & Wildlife Safaris Uganda Rwanda
Kisoro Tours Uganda
- Located In:
- Size:
- 5-10 employees (Founded in 2008)
- Member Of:
- AUTO, UTB & MTWA
- Tour Types:
- Custom budget & mid-range tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $80 to $1,100 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
Email Nandini | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Amazing trip- planned efficiently, with timely and friendly communication and passion for Uganda.
Kisoro tours helped us plan a wonderful 8 day trip with gorilla treks, chimpanzee trek, a drive through Queen Elizabeth NP and a 3 day trek of Rwenzori. Plans had to be changed in the last minute due to troubles in Congo which was also part of our itinerary. Dan was efficient and quick with his emails, adjusting to our needs and the last minute changes were smooth and went without a hitch. Definitely recommend them.
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Email Liliana | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
3N Bwindi and Queen Elizabeth
Flew to Entebbe the night before the Gorilla trek. Accommodation at the outdoor tent (budget trip) was very nice! We stayed in that place for 2 nights. Following morning we began the trek early morning, suggestions for clothing, long pants to avoid the ants from crawling in, good camera, decent walking shoes, (sneakers with a good sole are okay). The overall experience of the trekking was amazing, a bit rigorous if you're out of shape, but very beautiful scenery. Dan was overall a great leader, very attentive to satisfying our needs. The third night we stayed at a different location. For a budget trip, the place was okay, it's a small lodge and the fan wasn't that strong for the room, the bathroom situation was also a little odd, but it's understandable for budget. The fish we had for dinner that night at the small lodge was very good though. From there we drove to Queen Elizabeth National Park and we were able to see a lion. There was a lot of driving involved which we were aware of, so for those who'd rather cut out that time, I would suggest flying into Kigali if visiting Bwindi. Otherwise, we really enjoyed the gorilla trek the most, and the packed lunches for out trip from the tent/lodge were very good. Dan is also easily accessible when you reach out to him with questions which is a plus.
Spectacular sunrises over Rwenzori Mountains
I identified Kisoro tours and Dan through TripAdvisor and contacted him via email. I told him what I wanted to do and we set up a 4 day tour that fit into my limited schedule. Dan picked me up at my hotel in Kampala and we headed out for a 4 day road trip to Queen Elizabeth Park. The journey through the cities, villages and country side was fascinating and colorful. The weather was lovely and I enjoyed seeing Ankole cattle along the way and a lot of dairy cattle and goats grazing along the road. The sunrises over the Rwenzori mountains were so amazing. I took some of the most dramatic photographs of the candelabra trees outlined by the rising sun. Dan was a skilled drive and a well informed tour guide. I would use Kisoro tours again when I next return to Uganda.
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Email Rick | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Very nice tour!
In March of 2019 we did a 7 day gorilla/chimp tour with our guide Dan. We made quite some changes to the original initiatory to suit our travel needs, and we always got a fast reaction to all of our mails.
We were picked up from Entebbe airport and first had 3 days for our self in Kampala. then we did our safari. The lodges were beautiful (much better then we expected). And our guide was really kind.
We had the option to be dropped of in Kigali (Rwanda) after the safari had ended so we would have some days there as well.
In the end we're really happy we choose Kisoro!
Email Maria | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
7-day gorilla, chimp and wildlife safari
Dan from Kisoro Tours arranged a first-rate 7-day trip for me to achieve my dream of seeing the mountain gorillas. He replied promptly to emails and arranged absolutely everything, from arranging permits to see the gorillas and chimpanzees to booking accommodation and meeting me at the airport. Dan is a well-informed guide and excellent driver who is able to tailor any itinerary to suit individual needs. Plus he seems to know absolutely everyone and takes really good care of you so you always feel safe, secure and informed.
My trip started with an overnight stay at the Africa Gorilla Guest House in Entebbe, before heading to the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park to see the gorillas. The Broadbill Forest Camp, where I spent 2 nights, is staffed by really friendly people and the food and accommodation is great. Seeing the gorillas was one of the higlights of my trip. It was hard work reaching them through the steep and densely forested lanscape, but it was totally worth it. Wear long sleeves and trousers as you will get scratched to death by spiky ferns and tree stumps if not. Proper walking boots are also advisable. Depending on how long it takes to find them, you may or may not be exhausted by the time you've finished, but I defy anyone to spend an hour with these magnificent creatures and not be in awe. They were totally relaxed around us, but gave a grunt of warning when one of the small party of 8 tourists approached too closely.
Next stop was Queen Elizabeth National Park for two days of wildlife spotting on safari. Bush Lodge is right on the Kazinga Channel, which is populated by hippos galore. You can get up close and personal with them on a 2-hour boat cruise. The knowledgeable guide pointed out a variety of animals, including hippos, crocs, buffalo, weaver birds, pied kingfishers, malachite kingfishers, African sea eagles, egrets, herons, marabou storks, cormorants and pelicans. After the boat cruise, Dan took me on a game drive and we found Ugandan kob, water bucks, buffalo, hippos, monitor lizards, wart hogs, elephants and lions.
The next day, it was up early for another game drive. We found more lions, hippos in a mud bath, kob, water buck, bush buck, buffalo and wart hogs galore. There are lots of spectacular birds as well, including the hamerkop, which builds a huge scruffy nest and has a head that is shaped like a hammer.
Next stop was Rwenzori View Guest House, which has a fantastic garden to laze in whilst watching the colourful sunbirds and a wonderful chef who makes hearty, delicious meals. Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale Forest National Park, which is just a short drive away, is much easier going than gorilla tracking as the terrain is far less steep. That said, long sleeves and trousers you can tuck into your socks are essential as there are safari ants.
There are more people allowed to visit the chimps than the gorillas, so it's a less intimate experience, but well worth it nevertheless. I had the pleasure of viewing the alpha male gorge himself on honey from a hive before inviting other members of the community to join him. My small group of 4 also had the pleasure of an extremely knowledgeable guide in Africano, who told us about lots of the trees, plants and animals in the forest and also found us a male and female chimp to follow once the other tourists had gone.
After seeing the chimps, you can spend a few interesting hours on a Bigodi swamp walk with an informative guide from the local community who can point out different species of monkeys, lizards, hornbills and numerous other birds that frequent the wetland.
At the end of the trip, Dan will make sure that you get to the airport in plenty of time to catch your flight home. I can't recommend his friendly, tailored service enough. Uganda is a beautiful country to visit and you couldn't wish for a better guide than Dan.
Email Paul | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Efficient and dependable
I used Kisoro tours for a gorilla trek, starting in Rwanda for a tour in Uganda. Dan was very helpful in arranging transport for me from Kigali to Bwini to see the gorillas. The trek itself was wonderful and the gorillas were magnificent. The tour was value for money (much cheaper than Rwanda) and the accommodation was surprisingly good, even on a relative budget. It’s helpful that Dan uses WhatsApp as well as email to keep in contact and I wouldn’t hesitate in recommending.
FR
Email Radana | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
6 days Mt. Elgon hiking
We inteded to hike Mt. Elgon and Kisoro Tours Uganda has offered us a complete package incl. transfer, organizing a team for hiking and all necessary arrangements incl. park fees. Comparring with Kili or Mt. Kenya, climbing Mt. Elgon is not so demanding (the maximal altitute is 4,321 masl), so you can simply enjoy the fast virgin nature out of civilization. Visit of Sipi falls is an obligation, we have been charmed by their beauty.
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Email Emily | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Responsive, considerate, personable and professional!
After having spent a lot of time in East Africa for work, I decided to extend a work trip by a week and see some of the sights I had always wanted to see. After reading through reviews of dozens of different tour companies online, I reached out to a few. Dan at Kisoro Tours was by far the most responsive. My time and budget were limited, and I didn't have the time or bandwidth to sort out all of the permits, transportation and entry fees that would be needed if I were to plan a trip on my own. Dan helped to develop an itinerary adapted to my interests at a price I could afford - a 6-day budget trip to see the gorillas in Bwindi, hike Mt. Sabinyo and go on safari at Queen Elizabeth National Park. Throughout the planning process, Dan always responded quickly and thoroughly.
COVID has done a number on tourism in Uganda, which is a real shame for the country, though things are slowly starting to pick up. It was to my advantage, though, since I essentially had the gorillas to myself during my tour. Bwindi is a really exceptional rainforest, and I enjoyed learning about the fascinating flora and fauna around me almost as much as I enjoyed hanging out with a gorilla family for an hour. All of the Ugandan Wildlife Authority guides were really excellent throughout and struck me as knowledgeable and genuinely committed to and passionate about the animals and places they are working to protect.
I was doubly lucky on my hike to the base of Mt Sabinyo in Mgahinga National Park the following day, when we ran into a huge lone silverback gorilla right in the middle of the trail, arms crossed and unfazed. After checking him out for a while, we continued up the mountain, crossing several vegetation zones, all distinct and all spectacular in their own way. The third summit of the peak, which you access via a series of precipitous ladders and staircases and which is where the borders of DRC, Rwanda and Uganda meet, is well worth the exertion.
After the adventurous start to my tour, the trip to Queen Elizabeth NP felt relatively easy and luxurious. The drive was long but memorable - we encountered many creatures, large and small, on the road, including a large herd of elephants. Bush Lodge is technically the budget accommodation option there but felt like glamping, with an amazing outdoor shower, three course meals and hippos singing you to sleep at night. The boat tour of the Kazinga Channel (leaving directly from the lodge) was incredible - such an abundance of species within the span of a couple of hours - and the safari drive through QENP was also great, with sightings of a lion, hippos, warthogs, numerous antelope, buffalo and various types of monkeys and baboons.
Thanks to Dan, the tour was everything I could have hoped for. From the moment he picked me up on day 1 of the tour, Dan was reliable, professional, personable and considerate. He knew just how to put together the itinerary and did all of the legwork, before and during the trip, so I could just enjoy the experience. He clearly loves his country, especially his home region of Kisoro, and is committed to making sure you have the best possible experience during your visit. I can't recommend Kisoro tours highly enough.
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Email Jo Ann D. | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Beyond Expectations-10 day personalized tour of Rwanda and Uganda!!
Kisoro Tours Uganda provided a wonderful, personalized tour of Rwanda and Uganda. Dan selected accommodations that were locally owned and operated which was important to me. Kisoro was the only adventure tour company to advertise the ability to cross borders and tour in both Rwanda and Uganda. This made efficient travel possible given our limited vacation time. My cousin and I started in Kigali, Rwanda, and traveled to Volcanoes National Park, then entered Uganda, visiting Bwindi NP, Queen Elizabeth National Park, and Kibale Forest National Park, and flying out through Entebbe, Uganda. There was no time spent backtracking and driving back to Kigali, which left more time for viewing wildlife and other activities. Dan has contacts and friends throughout both countries, and we took full advantage of this. Some highlights for me was to stay in Muhabara Hotel, Room 12, which was Dian Fossey’s “Home away from home” and hiking to her grave site with local college students, majoring in tourism. They were so energetic, polite, and fun even while we all struggled through the mud! Our porters, Dany and Jean Claude, and our guide, Odela, were invaluable! We were lucky to see a gorilla along this hike which is not common!
We then went onto Uganda and did 2 days of gorilla habituation in Bwindi National Park. We stayed a Rushaga Gorilla Lodge in a beautiful location. Our rangers, Patrick and Eleisha, were knowledgeable and professional along with our porters Gloria, Abel, Innocent and Ronald. The gorillas were amazing and even visited a cave where they had not been seen to utilize before! We then hiked from Nkuringo to Buhoma through Bwindi National Park. Our guide, Mandela, was also knowledgeable. On this hike, in addition to the black and white colobus, red colobus, L’Hoest, and vervet monkeys, we saw a chimpanzee, which Mandela said was the 1st time one had been seen. They usually run from humans! We stayed at the beautiful Haven Lodge in Buhoma, which is community owned!
From here we traveled to Queen Elizabeth National Park where, in addition to the common sightings of cob, waterbuck, topi, warthog, hippo and elephant, we saw 2 milky eagle owls, 2 hyenas lounging in a watering hole, a lioness hunting cob and a leopard, who posed just for us! We stayed at the Buffalo Safari Lodge. When we walked into our room, we said “WOW”! We also went on the boat tour in the channel between Lake Edward and Lake George. Bambili, was our guide and has a degree in wildlife and natural resources. He did a phenomenal job! We saw many, many hippos, crocodiles and elephants as well as several bird species.
From there we traveled to Kibale Forest National Park and stayed at the Rwenzori View Guest House. This place had “family-style” meals which offered us a chance to get to know other travelers. We did the chimpanzee habituation experience and enjoyed that very much. Our guide was, Edison, who had worked for the National Park Service for 22 years! Dan then arranged for a tour of Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, which is a local, conservation area spearheaded, developed and managed by the community. This won an award from UNESCO Wetlands Sustainable Tourism Project as the best community sustainable tourism project! Katie was our guide and was wonderful. The monkeys in the area are somewhat habituated, so we saw red colobus, black and white colobus, red-tailed, and vervet monkeys. We also saw many bird species.
On our last day, we toured the Amabere Ga Nyina Mwiru Caves near Fort Portal. Ignatious “Iggi” was our knowledgeable guide with over 7 years of experience. We also hike to the 3 Explosion Crater Lakes where we climbed to the highest peak and had a 360 degree view of the area. Absolutely beautiful! From there, we drove the last few hours to Entebbe, where we enjoyed Burundi drummers on the beach of Lake Victoria, before flying out.
Dan, Kisoro Tours Uganda, can be trusted with providing you with a personalized tour, is professional and has a contagious smile! I would highly recommend Kisoro Tours Uganda! Dan is the Man!
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Email Karen | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Organized, efficient, knowledgeable and enjoyable to be around.
Dan did an amazing job of developing a specialized itinerary for us. We had very specific places and activities that we wanted to see and do in Rwanda & Uganda. That wasn't a problem for Kisoro Tours. Dan coordinated everything so smoothly and effortlessly. Everyday we were able to relax and enjoy without feeling any stress about our trip.
Dan has such a welcoming and fun personality. It was easy to see that he is well-liked and respected by others within the tourist industry. When we arrived at our accommations and the national parks, others went out of their way to greet Dan and talk with him. Definitely made me more confident and comfortable that we choose Kisoro Tours.
It can be a little uncomfortable to send money using a bank transfer when you don't know the other person/company. However, this seems to be a normal practice in some places. The transfer was easy and there weren't any problems using this process for payment.
Would love to take another trip with Dan & Kisoro Tours Uganda Ltd!
