A fraction of our Team.
Big Apes Africa
- Located In:
- Size:
- 1-5 employees (Founded in 2019)
- Member Of:
- USAGA, UTB & UWA
- Tour Types:
- Custom budget & mid-range tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $80 to $1,020 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
US
Email Rosanne | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Peter is down-to-earth, authentic, smart and thoughtful, and just overall a wonderful tour guide.
Peter got in touch minutes after I searched on safaribookings.com for a Uganda gorilla trekking experience. Our situation is a bit unique as we will have to leave from and come back to Kigali, Rwanda. We wanted to do gorilla trekking in Uganda because it's cheaper, but eventually we'd want to return to Rwanda. After knowing our special requirements, Peter offered a 5-day tour package that included gorilla trekking and safaris, with reasonable travel distances across two countries. He's also very responsive to my questions and requests for changes. It started out to be just two of us, but after I told some of my colleagues that had a similar travel schedule, it quickly expanded to be a 8-person group because everyone liked the package immediately.
A week before our trip, our return flight was canceled that we had to return one day sooner. I communicated this change to Peter and he was able to quickly adjust our itinerary to meet out new needs. In the end, we had amazing 5 days together with a group of 8 friends. We saw many gorillas, numerous elephants, giraffes, buffalos, rhinos, hippos, antelopes, and all kinds of African animals. Peter drove us around tirelessly and was always on time and quick to act when there's a problem or request.
We had great conversations too while on the road. He's very open to talk, and learn about his guests, although he can also be quiet and let his passengers have a meditative time when needed. He's very open to feedback and eager to improve his service, which to us had already been impeccable.
In sum, I had a wonderful time going on this African trip with Peter and big Apes. I would recommend them to anyone going to Uganda and Rwanda, wishing to have an authentic and memorable true African experience.
CO
Email Ana Cristina | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
A Magical Experience
A couple of weeks ago I had the pleasure of traveling with Big Apes Africa and Peter, the owner, to Volcanoes National Park to see mountain gorillas. From start to finish I had a magical experience. It's no secret the gorilla hike is an unforgettable experience as most reviews claim. However, the help and attention provided by Peter truly made this experience outstanding. Since the start he proved his professionalism with a perfectly tailored quote and timely responses to all my queries. After paying for the experience he was always available for any other questions I might have coming up to the trip. Finally, when he picked me up for the two day gorilla safari he went above and beyond to make sure I was comfortable, safe and had an amazing time.
As a female young solo traveler I deeply appreciate companies and people that make me feel safe and protected. Big Apes Africa and Peter were definitely the best choice I could have made for this unforgettable experience! Thank you!
CA
Email Diane | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
He was very attentive, very professional, with a calming disposition.
The trip was phenomenal. Peter our tour operator always insured we were having a great time. We saw many gorillas, the silverback, and babies. Our trip to the Lake which I was not expecting to be much was such a highlight. The lake and accommodations were breathtaking , the service was very professional and the value spectacular. This Canadian found Uganda a wonderful experience all because of Peter.
DE
Email Marco | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Probably best guide in East Africa
The whole trip was perfect. The experience with the gorillas and also another tour to the Queen Elizabeth NP is unforgettable. From the beginning, Peter helped us with everything we needed. Was always checking if we could get something cheaper as we would have found it. We saved much money thanks to his negotiating skills with food and accommodation. In addition he even picked us up for free from our hotels and brought us back even after our agreement. He drove us from Kabale to our Hotel in Kigali for free and offered his knowledge whenever we have questions. Also important are his extraordinary driving skills. We felt save the whole tour due to his careful way to drive. Honestly I think it's not possible to do it better.
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Email Cindy Zahner | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Exceeded our expectations, our guide/driver Roland was outstanding, we had the best experience ever!
It was everything we expected and more. Everything was planned booked and carried out with ease. Our driver/guide Roland was the best. He drove safely and everything was organized for complete enjoyment. We actually added on two days and Peter did not bat an eye. He planned our extra two days and what he planned was exactly what we wanted. We would recommend this company totally, you will be so happy.
US
Email Robert Z | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
We got a customized tour that exceeded our expectations.
Peter modified our tour at our request multiple times, including changes after we arrived in Uganda. We were very pleased with the service and results!
IT
Email Federica and Shwetank | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
The best safari experience ever!!!❤
In June 2023 my husband and I finally went to Uganda! It was our dream to see the mountain gorillas so in March 2023 we started checking for some tour operators offering safaris in Uganda on safaribookings.com. The first one we contacted was Big Apes Africa. Since the first contact with Peter, we immediately liked his way of dealing with us: he was polite, honest, clear, and he never insisted or kind of forced us to book immediately, he was always telling us: take your time, choose what is best for you, no rush my friend, etc. We really appreciated him. Of course, we received also quotes from other tour operators, but we decided immediately to stick with Peter and the safari he planned and customised specifically for us to meet our needs (in terms of time, budget and experiences we wanted to make). We made the payment, everything went smoothly and in June we were finally in Uganda.
Our safari with Peter was simply amazing!
Email Victoria M | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Life-changing adventure, getting face to face with gorillas and exploring the gorgeous countryside
Just had the tour of a lifetime with Peter, our wonderful guide, and three of my friends. Cannot recommend Big Apes enough! Overall, the trip was a fantastic value and we got face to face with incredible wildlife including gorillas, golden monkeys, zebras, and impala. We also stayed at some very unique eco-lodges and tried some delicious local foods! Another highlight was just driving through the gorgeous Rwandan and Ugandan country-side.
From my first contact with Peter on Safari Bookings, he was very responsive and worked with us to tailor the trip itinerary. We had a super convenient and smooth pick-up from the airport and comfortable lodgings each night with the basic amenities (Wi-Fi, hot water, mosquito nets, comfortable beds). The restaurants we went to were also great and had options for local and Western cuisine. Some bonus experiences we had included trying some exotic fruits, swimming in a gorgeous lake, and visiting some local markets. Peter himself is also a highly knowledgeable guide who taught us a lot about the history and ecology of each country.
CH
Email Szandra M | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Very well organised and all we could wish for.
We did this tour with a group of 6 pax, starting from Kigali, Rwanda. Our tour guide Peter was already very communicative before the start of the tour and turned out to be an even nicer man in person. He was always on time, always atuned to our needs, and met all our wishes. When we had some hick ups due to our own groups lack of organisation, it was resolved quickly. Every single thing of our 3 day trip was organised in every small detail and extra wishes and changes were not a problem at all. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, we loved it.
IT
Email Alessandro | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Gorilla, Chimpa and Golden Monkey Tracking
Big Apes Africa is a professional agency. The did a great job designing the tour accordingly to our expectations (both in terms of experience and budget). Roland was the best guide. He was supporting all our needs sharing his knowledge and providing valuable recommendations. We did Gorilla (Bwindi) , chimpanzee (karinzu) and golden monkey (Mgahinga) tracking. They were all amazing with a preference for Gorilla and Golden Monkey. We were a little bit unlucky with Chimpa. We saw 2 of them from distance and the track was quite short (just 2.5 hour). We started our Tour in Kigali and Peter made the transfer to Uganda during day one. We thought the first day would have been transfer only while Peter organized big surprises. We did a couple of stops in spot of interest including boating on the lake Bunyonyi on local canoe.