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
NL
Email Hans | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Unforgettable Uganda adventure with the family!
We were looking for a professional, reliable and affordable party who could help us to organize a family private tour of Uganda. After some research on the internet I came in contact with Sander van Zanten from Grassrootz. He turned out to be the perfect partner and Uganda expert for us! We could easily make our wishes and demands known and in no time Sander proposed a wonderful 8-day Uganda adventure. Exactly what we were looking for and in line with our budget. It was arranged quickly and top.
From July 27 to August 3, 2019, we discovered Uganda as a family. And all this under the guidance of the fantastic driver and guide Bob. How nice it was for us to have such an experienced, calm and professional guide. From the start we felt like five of us at home with Bob in the 4WD Toyota Van and he definitely contributed a lot to our travel pleasure. So always ask for Bob when you book a Uganda trip through Grassrootz!
We especially wanted to gain the 'jungle experience' in Uganda, knowing that we would then go to the savannas of Tanzania. The adventure tour therefore went from Kibale Forest, to Southern Queen Elizabeth Park, via Bwindi Impenetrable Forest to Lake Mburo National Park. Unbelievable, the richness of flora and fauna that we have seen, indescribable actually. We wanted to stay in comfortable budget lodges, surrounded by nature. This was also a big hit, with Dave the Cave Ecolodge (Queen Elizabeth) and Broadbill Forest Camp (Bwindi) as top accommodations.
What I found particularly cool about Uganda is that the country has almost everything in terms of flora and fauna, a lot is still untouched and the people are so open, pure and optimistic. Tanzania may be (more) famous for, among other things, the Serengeti and the large amount of wildlife, but because of the growing tourism you will notice that you are seen more as a 'walking wallet' and in Uganda this is definitely not the case. Also in Uganda we have seen a lot of wildlife up close, without a crowd of jeeps around you. We also did a Chimp trek in peace, sailed through the swamp and spotted birds in the jungle and you rarely saw other tourists around you. Unique experiences! Due to the young age of the children we did not do a Gorilla trekking but I can tell from experience that Uganda (and Grassrootz) has much more to offer than this famous attraction.
All in all, thanks to Sander and Bob, Grassrootz has given us, as a family, an unforgettable Uganda adventure. I would like to recommend Sander and Grassrootz to tailor your Uganda trip and ask for Bob as a guide/driver. Success guaranteed!
And ..... if you have any doubts between the well-known Tanzania / Kenya or the relatively unknown Uganda ?: GO UGANDA! The Green Pearl of Africa!
SG
Email Mimi Nguyen | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Very professional and friendly staff for a wonderful experience in Uganda
Sander did a great job organising our tour, it was a bit last minute and we asked for a lot of changes; he's always been very responsive and available to answer any question.
During the trip, our local driver and guide Bob Magezi was also great, we felt safe at any time, he is easy going and never late. Bob is knowledgeable about his country (history, geography, culture, etc) and about wildlife (habits & habitat, spotting animals, etc).
Wildlife is amazing, we went to most of the natural reserves and were never disappointed. Mountain gorillas trekking is definitely an experience to live! We were so happy to spot a leopard and climbing lions in a tree, thanks to hawkeye-Bob.
Accommodations were good (we chose contained tents or rooms), food was good. Our fav was Mihingo Lodge, such a lovely place with a lovely staff!
We absolutely loved our time in Uganda and recommend Grassrootz for their professionalism.
US
Email Travis | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Everything went very smoothly. Sander was very responsive and helpful during out trip.
The tour was great. Even when there were issues with the experience Sander was always available to help. Overall everything went very well! The driver was fantastic and always helpful, the accommodations were exactly what we had asked for, and the animals were out and having fun!
NL
Email Joost | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Professional operator, friendly, helpful, experienced, good communication
Our experience with Grassrootz is very good. The owner is very friendly and helpful. After the first contact, we already had a possible travel plan within a few days, only a few details had to be adjusted to have a perfect plan.
Our driver David was a very good guide and very nice person. Knowledgeable and friendly. We had nice conversations and were able to share many experiences. Even if we wanted something extra or different, he gave us his thoughts about the possibilities.
The booked accommodations met our expectations. Clean, good food, friendly staff.
In short, we had a great trip. We were able to fully enjoy the trip and did not have to worry about anything ourselves. We would therefore heartily recommend Grassrootz.
NL
Email Ramona en Remy | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Very good tour operator and a great guide John.
Very good.
All thanks to Sander and our guide John
NL
Email Elisabeth and Edward | 65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Perfect suggestions from the tour operator, a perfect driver, a beautiful game-drive. Thank Hoi!!
We got very good suggestions from the tour operator, his driver was Perfect, the game-drive was VERY special, the guesthouses and hotel were very good so our visits in the north of Uganda are very special memories now. Thank you Grassrootz!! We will meet again!
DE
Email Laura | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Perfect round Trip through Uganda!!!
We have travelled 11 days with Grassrootz in Uganda und enjoyed the low budget tour so much!
Sander, the founder, answered every question and request for changes very fast and patiently. So he planned the perfect route for us und booked the accomodation as we wished (low budget).
Our driver Moses was really experienced as a tourguide and so he drove really safely. He knowed every road - even in the Nationalparks and gave us lots of information about the wildlife.
He was always on time and e.g. knowed when to leave the accomodation to be just in time for the ferry.
What I really enjoyed was that he tried to ecxel our expactations and provided some highlights (e.g. a lunchtime with overview over the nil and bathing elephants).
In the van we had lots of space for us four and could enjoy the view through the open roof when beeing on game drive. During the tour we had only one puncture - the van seemed to be in a really good condition.
So there is nothing what could have been better!
DE
Email Isabelle | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Amazing 11 day safari- well organized and uncomplicated
Grassrootz offers taylor made tours in Uganda. After considering different options that Sander planned for us (all of them were very detailed and well visualized), we decided for a 11 day safari incl. gorilla trekking. Before the trip we got a very well plan of our trip and useful information.
Thanks to grassrootz, we had 11 amazing days in Uganda. We did not need to worry about anything. Everything was well organized and the accommodations were well chosen. All this was crowed by our very skilled personal guide/ driver David. Thanks a lot!
RU
Email Ekaterina | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
1 hour with gorillas
Got a 3 days gorillas tracking tour. Upon arrival, were met. Our driver David was pleasant in communication. He was always ready to stop so that we take photographs or for relaxation. Helped in money exchange matters. The transfer from Entebbe airport to the forest itself is quite lengthy (9 hours). Almost the entire road is asphalt, off-road is only the last 40 minutes of the journey. The road lies through the villages, which is quite interesting.
I recommend Mid-range accommodation, we stayed at a budget campsite, it was hard for me to share a bathroom / toilet with other people, despite the fact that the bathroom / toilet was outside. Water is hot only during the day, electricity is only a few hours a day.
Although initially I wanted to get just this experience of living.
On the second day, the tracking itself to the gorillas themselves. I recommend comfortable hiking shoes, pants, a long-sleeved shirt and a raincoat just in case. The climb to the gorillas itself did not take us much time, in fact, half an hour after we entered the forest, the gorillas were waiting for us (all the preparation and instruction took longer). The gorillas themselves are very interesting. We approached them quite close, actually at arm's length. We saw silver back, mom, cub. Somewhere in the bushes was another male. And another female was able to see. In total, they were near the gorillas for about 40 minutes. Then all the gorillas left.
The event, of course, is not cheap, but it's worth it. The only thing I regret is that I learned about the opportunity to spend with the gorillas not 1 hour, but 4 hours, following them through the forest, after we had to fly away. Of course, at a cost it is much more expensive, but there will be 4 times more emotions)) So, most likely, we will return to Uganda again for a longer period, at the same time we will order other excursions.
The third day is the road in the opposite direction. We also managed on the way to make several stops for beautiful photos.
DE
Email Sina | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Unforgettable Adventure in the North of Uganda!
Sander created a customized 8-day tour for our family (12 people). We can really recommend Grassrootz for their fast response and considering our wishes. Compared to other service providers the price and service was excellent. Thanks to the detailed itineray we were able to imagine our trip. We headed from Kapmpala to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary and to Budongo Forrest for Chimpanzee Trekking. After visiting the Karuma Falls and a Game Drive in Murchison Falls we had a stopover in Gulu. The next days we stayed in Kidepo National Park were we made some Game Drives and a Walking Safari. We also visited the Karamojong who are still living in a traditional way. After a stopover in Moroto we went to Sipi where we joined a coffee tour which included the whole process from growing to drinking. We hiked to the different Sipi Falls and enjoyed the Sundowner Walk with a great view. Our last night we spent in Jinja. Some of us did a wild water rafting tour and the others took a boat cruise to the source of the nile. As you can see we had a very varied tour.
Our drivers "King" David and Peter made our trip memorable and joyful. They were very competent as we could see in their way of driving without navigation and on muddy roads, knowledge about the national parks, animals and history, spotting animals - none of them were able to hide, motivating our lazy family members and always being in time unlike us. We had experienced a lot of adventures with you by repairing a broken bridge, getting stuck in the mud, driving close to the rocks to see a lion and the break down of one of our vans a few kilometers before the airport. Especially the men enjoyed this parts of the tour!
Thank you and Weebale nyo!
In case we are planning to do another Safari we definitely would choose Grassrootz again!
