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
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.
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.
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.
NL
Email Dick | 65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
We are happy with the trip and bookings, and very positive about our guide and driver, he was top!
A little misunderstanding at the start, but a very accurate and good communication during the trip
NL
Email Theresia Poel | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
An unforgettable journey!
Personal contact, really listening to requirements, honoust advice, swift replies, clear communication, love for this beautiful country and its peopele and a wonderfull host at Jjaja Bbanga. That’s my experience with Sander and Grassrootz.
A 21day safari, by myself and with guide, covering Lake Mburo, Bwindi, Queen Elizabeth, Kibale, Murchisons, Kidepo (IK & Nakapelimoru), Sipi and as much as possible community based accomodation was the result based upon my requirements. The trip exceeded my expectations.
I was a bit worried about travelling for 21 days with a person never met before. On the first day this worry was taken away immediately. Paul is a real host. Driving safely, punctual, caring, know’s his way (and lots of people), loves to tell about the country, people and animals. Every evening during dinner the plan for the next day so well prepared. A very smooth trip.
All accomodations had its own charm or challenge but that’s what I wanted and liked. Some of them exceeded. Broadbill I really loved for its environment, good food and wonderfull care. Boomu’s womens group: Ednah is really an inspiring woman, a lady with a view and a clear missiom. Home of Friends, a beautiful new place with really great hosts and creating feeling of home by having dinner together and play games.
Gorilla and chimp trekking were extraordinary. To meet these animals face to face in their own habitat is so beautiful and special.
Kidepo in one word amazing and a must visit region. Guides Emma (to the IK) and Joseph (to the Nakapilemoru) made these visits extra special. Especially Joseph, sitting on sliding rock, overseeing the region and him telling the stories about the cattle raiding with the biggest smile I have ever seen. Felt like being part of the story.
I will reccomend Grassrootz warmly to everyone who want’s to experience the country and above all its beautiful people.
Thanks Sander & Paul for creating this wonderfull and unforgettable trip.
NL
Email Bram | under20 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Interesting, educational, eventful however there is always room for improvement.
The Safari itself was very nice, having spotted several different types of animals (including a leopard). This left with us seeing much of Uganda's natural environment, particularly also spending our time in an amazing campsite where animals would literally walk around our tent. However, we were there to help the rangers with keeping the park clean which was not organised or taken seriously, which was obviously a disappointment. However, everything else was planned nicely and I am overall very happy with our trip.
NL
Email Pippa | under20 years of age | Experience level: first safari
very educational and structured throughout the whole tour.
Overall, I really liked the whole experience. The instructors were very clear in their explanations and so made the tour very educational and interesting. Also the places we stayed at during the safari were very well chosen and made the trip even nicer than it already was.
NL
Email Anonymous | under20 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Enthusiastic guide and journey
Coming to Uganda for the first time, I had no idea what to expect, especially with a large group. From the moment we met our guide, he was very informative about the different areas we traveled through and eager to answer any questions we had. On the safari tour there were many opportunities to see different animals which I had never seen before. Our guide in the bus was also very educated about the lives of the animals, and we took many pictures along the way. This trip definitely lived up to my expectations, and I feel like I had a really authentic Uganda experience.
NL
Email oli | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Useful and educational safari tour
The safari tour was good however I would have preffered to see more wildlife specifically big cats.
Email Daniel | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Great communication, organisation and excellent driver.
We did a short tour to the north of Uganda. Grassrootz tailored the trip to our needs. We managed to fit in both a trip to Kidepo and Sips falls both of which were great. The communication, tour description, price and the trip it self were all great. Highly recommended.