The Grassrootz Adventures Dream Team 2023
Grassrootz Adventures
- Located In:
-
Netherlands
- Size:
- 1-5 employees (Founded in 2012)
- Member Of:
- UTB, UCF & UCOTA
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $75 to $500 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
BG
Email Ilian Shopov | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Fabulous safari experience in Uganda - Kidepo Valley NP, Murchison Falls NP, Mabamba Swamp!
I and my travel companion just came back from 12 days safari in Uganda with Grassrootz Adventures Safaris. I have not felt sorry even for a moment that I have chosen their offer out of eight quotes from various safari outfitters based in Uganda. In most cases we have to sacrifice the least expensive offer in favor of the best experience or vice versa, but with this safari the owner of Grassrootz Adventures - Sander van Zanten just nailed it from the very first email that I have received from him. I am quite experienced with African safaris person and a keen wildlife photographer and by no means I would consider myself an easy to satisfy customer. Sander did provide for every possible request of mine, including the type of vehicle that we used - safari Land Cruiser with two rows of seats behind the guide and side windows that we could open on both rows (except the pop-up roof, of course). Every other detail and aspect of the safari were discussed in details in a very professional manner.
Excellent communication with rapid response to every email that I have sent. I do plan my safaris very carefully, but Sander managed to further improve the overall experience by optimizing the schedule and offering a better accommodation for a lower price in Kidepo Valley National Park than the one that I had originally selected.
The guide Moses did his best to satisfy our needs and even added some extra activities. He can be flexible, when possible, just talk to him when you get new ideas during the trip.
We had one day and overnight in Entebbe, full day (just one day) transfer to Kidepo Valley NP, which was a long, but very interesting drive, followed by four nights at Savannah Lodge (it is actually an excellent tented camp), located on top of a hill some 50 meters from the "gate" of the park. There isn't a real gate, at least up to this moment, neither it is manned, so no need to wait in line or do any kind of paperwork before entering the park. Very comfortable large Meru style tents with a private flushing toilet and a real shower (hot water at any time). Batteries can be recharged at any time inside the tent or at the dining area. Stunning 360 degree views to the savannah and the surrounding mountains. Great food (four course dinner) and inexpensive drinks (cold Nile Special beer is less than 2 US dollars). The park itself is nothing short of spectacular. Although the number of visitors is increasing, it is still a very wild place with stunning scenery. We did hire park rangers for most of the game drives in Kidepo Valley, some drives we did with our guide only. We also did an optional night game drive with our vehicle (plus a park ranger) and a spot light rented from Savannah Lodge. Great luck with that - young adult male and female lions, lot of buffalo, porcupine, white tailed mongoose, grey duiker and other animals. During the day game drives we saw the largest buffalo herds that I have ever seen - perhaps over 2,000 heads, leopard in a tree, lioness with a kill (young buffalo), server cat, tons of oribis and defassa waterbuk, Rotchild's giraffes, Jackson's hartebeest. Quite a lot of birds, including a martial eagle.
The other park we visited was Murchison Falls NP. Fort Murchison was an excellent option just outside the park, about 10 minutes drive to Tangi Gate. Victoria Nile upstream (to the falls) and downstream (to the delta) boat safaris were included in the price. We did see the very rare Shoe billed stork and many other birds and animals from the boat (the Shoebill on the trip to the delta). The wildlife density in Murchison Falls NP is higher than in Kidepo Valley NP and although not as wild as Kidepo, there weren't as many visitors there as in Masai Mara or Serengeti. Sometimes we would drive for two-three hours without seeing any other vehicle.
I forgot to mention, that we did the Mabamba Swamp day tour while in Entebbe where we saw the Shoebill from a short distance. The swamp itself is a very beautiful place and there are many other water birds present. Do not forget to ask Sander to include this trip to your itinerary.
My personal advice to any prospective Uganda visitor would be not waste time, just contact Grassrootz Adventures and Sander will custom- build the best itinerary according to your requirements.
Perfect organisation with excellent drivers gives a beatifull experience
Easy and flexible organisation with a high level of service. We saw a lot of Uganda and the beatifull nature in a country with still not a crowd of tourists. Real Africa. Feeling very save and confortable with the excellent drivers.
PA
Email Jordi Alegre | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Best experience ever!
They provided us the best trip we ever had! We spent 3 weeks in amazing Uganda and the experience was incredible. The driver they provided us was very professional and we were very happy with him. The tour operator company also did a great job in arrengements and bookings, we didin't have a single problem in all the trip. I would totally repeat the experience and I recomend 100% this tour operator, totally worth it.
BG
Email Rossitsa | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
They made me very happy :)
I (a girl) went by myself on my first safari in Africa. Expectedly, I was very worried in terms of safety. Thanks to Grassrootz and my tour guide David, I felt very safe the whole time. Uganda's people are very nice - always smiling and welcoming.
The communication and organization of the trip was easy and quick (we did all in 2 weeks). The whole trip went very smooth and David was punctual the whole time (European punctual). He is a safe driver and I felt very calm and comfortable in the car. He was spotting animals quite well while driving even out of the parks.
All of the lodges were great (I went for mid-range, mostly tented eco camps). Please, note they are in the middle of nowhere so there is only solar power for charging batteries and water is scarce. But this way you feel and appreciate where you are even more. Food was provided by the lodges and it was plenty (not the most delicious but okay and they were trying their best).
During the 7 day trip in Queen Elizabeth, Bwindi and Lake Mburo, we saw:
*Mountain Gorillas (my main purpose of the safari)
*Baboons
*Colobus monkeys
*Blue monkeys
*Chimpanzees
*Grey-cheeked Mangabey
*Red-tailed monkeys
*Vervet monkeys
*Lions (twice - once on a cactus and once on trees)
*Elephants
*Uganda Kobs
*Warthogs (Pumbaa) - they are so funny
*Giant Hogs
*Red-river Hogs
*Waterbucks
*Bushbucks in two parks
*Eland antelopes
*Impalas
*Topis
*Buffalos
*Giraffes
*Zebras
*Nile Crocodiles
*Three-horned chameleon
*Mangoose
*Hippopotamus
*lots of pretty and ugly birds of all sizes
Probably I am forgetting something...
We didn't find hyenas and leopards but nature is not a zoo so it is due to luck sometimes (David tried really hard to find leopards for me). Actually none of the tourist I met have seen leopard, and just one saw hyenas on the road.
I highly recommend Grassrootz. Just be very clear what you want and expect and they will make it happen. I'm glad David was my tour guide and now I would say my friend.
DE
Email Niklas | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Well organized tour!
I really enjoyed my Trip to Uganda.
Sander from Grassrootz Adventures planned my trip very well and there were no problems at all. I got a quick response on my Emails from the first offer until the end of my trip.
I had close contact with the local people and the staff were helpful and kind. Especially my driver Paul tell and show me a lot of Uganda.
Full recommendation!
Email Mira | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Keys in hand.
Once the travel plan is step, the whole trip goes smoothly even in unexpected case.
Very flexible also.
NL
Email Edward | 65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
They do what they promise, a very good driver and good places to visit!!
We had a very good, helpfull and friendly driver who always says: safety first!!
The places we visited were fine (Jinja, Kampala, Karenga, Gulu, Packwach), the 2 nature parks (Kidepo and Murchinson) were special, only we had to much rain. The guesthouses they organised were good with friendly and helpfull people who knows a lot about that region.
NL
Email Joris | under20 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
It was an amazing trip
It was amazing, everything was well communicated, the places where we stayed where good
NL
Email Demi | under20 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Vert good
Everything was perfect, Nice people and enough information
NL
Email Roos | under20 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Exhausting but really special and once in a lifetime.
It was all what I expected and even more. It was one of the most beautiful experience of my life. Although, we had to hurry a bit at the last part. Maybe that was a little annoying.