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
US
Email Jean | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Stellar service
We very recently did a 3-day safari trip with Grassrootz during our brief stop in Uganda on our East Africa tour. Our main objective was to see the gorillas at Bwindi, but since that's only a one day activity, we were also scheduled to go chimp tracking on our first full day, and on a game drive in Lake Mburo national park (NP) on our last day.
Planning with Grassrootz was quite easy. Sander, the owner, is very responsive and helpful in his suggestions without being pushy. I had actually contacted 8 different companies, all of whom offered fairly similar packages at fairly similar price points, so Sander's responsiveness was the main reason we went with this outfit. It only got better from there.
To be clear, Uganda is still pretty rough around the edges as far as tourism infrastructure. We saw a lot of development in the works, but as of October 2017, we can report that the roads are awful and the hotels low quality. Food was the worst of any East African country we visited. There's a lot of pollution and everything is very very spread out so you're spending hours upon hours bumping and rattling along those terrible roads getting what the locals jokingly refer to as "an African massage."
I say all this bc without David, our local guide, I think the 3 days in these conditions would've been somewhat miserable. But David is a gem of a person and really made our journey one I'll look back on fondly. And here's why. He's deeply knowledgeable - e.g. it was obvious to us that he was more knowledgeable about animals at Lake Mburo than the park ranger who did the game drive with us. He also gave us advice that served us well and left us feeling well prepared before the chimp tracking and gorilla tracking, which we did with the designated rangers at Kalinzu and Bwindi, respectively - e.g. he told us what to look out for with the chimps in terms of safety, how to "slope" (hike downhill) safely, how to ensure the rangers kept our pace etc. The rangers themselves covered none of these subjects.
He's deeply passionate about, and proud of, Uganda and committed to educating the rest of the world about it and East Africa (he also guides in Tanzania and Kenya etc). He's very friendly in a completely disarming and unassuming and tactful way.
And he's beyond resourceful. Uganda had heavy rains both before and during our visit, which made the roads 5x worse by enlarging potholes and causing rockslides. On multiple occasions, David figured out ways to navigate past seemingly impassable roads to keep us on track. Most critically, the morning of our gorilla trek, we found our way blocked by mud and logs. Another truck already stood empty and abandoned at that spot. As far as I understood, they only allow one set of persons to go track gorillas each day at 8 am, and the $600 permit you buy is good only for the specific day. In case of an act of God like the one we were experiencing, I suspect they would have given a partial refund or told us we could come back the next day, but even the latter would not have helped us as we were slated to fly out the next afternoon and still needed to drive all the way back to Entebbe, which was an all day drive again. Without hesitating, David got out of the car and rolled up his sleeves and somehow miraculously got us through by shifting one of the unbelievably heavy logs out of the way (with a little help from me), putting rocks under the tires to provide traction, and some very skillful driving. Had it not been for David's refusal to just throw his hands up and wait for help, and willingness to physically put himself out there to push us through when at least one other driver had given up and just left his truck behind in the middle of the road, we would certainly have missed our opportunity to see the gorillas.
Later that same day, we came across a similar situation where another tour company jeep was waiting by a much larger rockslide, unable to pass. David got out and went to examine the situation on foot, and then came back and said he was going to give it a go. Again, with his skill behind the wheel, he got us through on the first go, which encouraged the other guide to follow. I don't know how long those other tourists were sitting there until we came along, but it was clear their guide was not willing to even try without first seeing David succeed.
Also among David's resources are the relationships he's cultivated with people at the various stops we made, which seemed to be to our advantage as his clients insofar as getting small advantages like assignments to the best gorilla tracking group (our ranger appeared very knowledgeable, spoke excellent English, and we saw gorillas within an hour of setting out).
In short, if you want to see Uganda with a guide who is going to go above and beyond to get you safely everywhere you need to go, then you should book with Grassrootz and ask for David specifically.
BE
Email Leen Mostmans | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
You want to experience th real Uganda? Choose for Grassrootz.
Our journey to Uganda was an excellent mix of wildlive, landscapes, beautiful hikes, meeting the local people. Grassrootz took care of everything. Because we stayed at basic residences we had some beuatiful meetings with the ugandans.
Thanks to our giude/ driver, we just had to enjoy the majic of Uganda.
CA
Email Sarah | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Grassrootz was amazing! Our guide was super friendly, an expert and knew what he was doing!
Grassrootz communication 5/5
Service 6/5
Living up to expectations 5/5
Safari tour 5/5 - you can't control animals but appreciate how nature is all around, even still we got to see lions :D
Excitement 5/5
Good times 5/5
Friendship 5/5
NL
Email Toin and Nel | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
A perfect and tailormade trip around Uganda!
We asked Sander from Grassrootz to plan a trip that would show us the best of Uganda, and give us the opportunity to get an idea of how the Ugandans live. He succeeded perfectly!
What a fantastic way to visit this beautiful country and its people. We stayed in different kinds of hotels and guesthouses, many of which are part of community projects that support schools or help villages in other ways. That way we got a little closer to the people and also had a great stay at every stop we made.
We had a very professional driver / guide (Paul), who knew everything there was to know about the country and about the national parks, and who made us feel relaxed and at home all the time. We saw beautiful villages, landscapes and people, and in the parks we saw elephants, zebras, antilopes, lions, a leopard, giraffs, crocs, hippos, vultures having a meal ... You name it, we saw it. Thanks to Paul's keen and expereanced eye. The trip was well balanced, flexible and relaxed.
We recommend Grassrootz very warmly!
Email Saskia | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great trip, great places, great people!
The service is great and very fast, you can easily arrange a tour and the communication was very clear. The guide/driver was very relieable and fun to be with. He adjusted the program to our expectations and wishes. Couldn't be a better trip!
NL
Email Anita Blijdorp | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Grassrootz listened carefully to all our wishes and organized a wonderful trip to Western Uganda
Your trip to Uganda already starts with a good laughter when meeting director Sander van Zanten! He listens carefully and asks the right questions with a good sense of humor. As we wanted to start our trip in Rwanda, Sander offered several ideas what to do and where. We could add additional activities to the suggested programme easily. All you need to know about visa requirements, health certificates, you can ask him and you get the answer in due time.
We had a perfect match with our guide and chauffeur David Otto. Being a family travelling with three young adults (age between 18 and 21), David understands perfectly what the trip makes interesting and a pleasant journey for them. We enjoyed the splendid wildlife in Western Uganda thanks to Davids knowledge and enthousiasm for mother natures beautifull creations. Be prepared to raise early (5.30 am), you are rewarded with a unique experience. A big plus: we had good conversations about serious things in life as well. David is a perfect driver, small problems with our car were solved practically. Combining nature, adventure and a good grasp of culture is what you get! With Grassrootz you stay at community accommodations which we appreciated so much. We wanted to experience how ordinary Ugandans live in their villages and grow their crops in the fields. This expectation was 100 percent fulfilled.
Enjoying Kampala, music and city life was a good completion of our three week trip. Enjoy your day, every day! Grassrootz Uganda helps you make it possible.
NL
Email Wil and Angie Laarakker with groupie. | 65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Driver frently, carring, allways on time and did show and told us everything. Well doen. Thanks.
More thans complete. Seen the BIG four.
Many thanks to the driver.
NL
Email Tjerk bij de Leij | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Safe and confident
All was done according to the agreed schedule. Good and safe driver! Food and accomodation during the safari was also good. A+++!!
AE
Email Arthi | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Well organized tour
I had a very good tour through Grassrootz, they were well organized, very responsive & quite helpful.
BE
Email Annemie & Rita | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Excellent trip: well organized and the best guide
We had a great time on our holiday organized by Grassrootz Adventures in Uganda and Rwanda. All communication prior to departure was done through Sander who was very flexible in adjusting our travel plan to our liking. Also, we want to recommend our driver, David, was very caring and knowledgeable - we often knew more than the guides during our local visits. We highly recommend this Grassrootz Adventures if you want to have a fun and well organized trip for a good price.