35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Professional, efficient, caring
I just finished an 8-day Uganda safari with Bamboo Ecotours, and it was a great experience.
When planning this trip, I contacted several tour operators in Uganda. Communication with Bamboo was by far the most effective. Edison showed an excellent understanding of our constraints and preferences, and the itinerary he proposed was the most practical among all the responses we received. He clearly knows the activities very well and offered concrete suggestions that proved extremely helpful.
His responses were always prompt and to the point. For example, shortly after I paid the deposit, he sent copies of our chimpanzee and gorilla trekking permits, along with the list of hotels that had already been booked for us. He also provided a helpful packing guide for the various activities and explained the subtle differences in how Uganda and Rwanda handle the East Africa Tourist Visa. This level of organization is exactly what you would expect from a professional tour operator.
The finalized itinerary included the Mabamba shoebill tour, Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, a Nile boat tour in Murchison Falls National Park, the Bigodi swamp and community walk, chimpanzee trekking in Kibale, the Kasenyi game drive and Kazinga Channel boat tour in Queen Elizabeth National Park, gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, and the Kigali Genocide Memorial. Every one of these activities turned out to be a great experience.
Unfortunately, our trip began with a major disruption. Our flight to Entebbe was severely delayed due to an aviation workers’ strike in Nairobi. During this uncertain period, Edison and our driver and guide, John, stayed in close contact with us and provided practical advice on how to deal with the situation. Thankfully, after a 15-hour delay, we arrived in Entebbe just in time for our first major activity, the Mabamba shoebill tour. John remained available the entire time, which gave us great reassurance.
We had a wonderful time traveling with John throughout the trip. He knows the destinations and activities inside out and made sure everything on our itinerary was carried out smoothly and on time. During dinners, he told vivid—and sometimes suspenseful—stories about local people and culture. He is clearly proud of where he comes from and often pointed out interesting things along the way that were not listed on the itinerary, such as scenic viewpoints during our drives. On our final day, he also handled the border transfer at the Uganda/Rwanda crossing and our airport drop-off in Kigali as smoothly as possible.
We chose the budget lodging option, and the “budget” hotels all turned out to be quite decent. Their locations were reasonably close to the places of interest. Many had beautiful gardens with birds and occasionally calm warthogs wandering around. The rooms and bathrooms were clean, and the meals and service were very good. Some places even had live music.
That said, Edison had mentioned that “mid-range lodging offers more comfort,” and after experiencing the budget options, I understand what he meant. Some rooms were quite small—just barely enough space for a bed and our luggage. A few showers required some effort to keep the water at a comfortable temperature.
Our stay in Bwindi was unfortunately the least comfortable, despite the sincere efforts of the hotel staff. We experienced intermittent but heavy rain during our stay, and the air was very humid. As a result, our clothes constantly felt damp. The shower drainage was also clogged for about a day and drained very slowly. The only place available for drying clothes was a single fireplace in the reception/dining area. I’m not sure whether the mid-range lodging option in Bwindi would be significantly better, but it is definitely something worth discussing with Edison when choosing accommodations there.
One small regret from the trip is that I did not get to see any nocturnal primates, despite including a night walk in the itinerary. If seeing nocturnal primates is high on your list, it may be worth doing additional research or discussing this in more detail with Edison during the planning stage to improve your chances.
Overall, Bamboo Ecotours is a very professional tour operator. They are pleasant to work with and clearly care about their guests, the wildlife, and the local community. I highly recommend them.
JP
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Kilimanjaro
Climbimg Kilimanjaro was not easy for me, but their support made it less difficult.
So, I made it !
That's a wonderful experience and I'll never forget it.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Very professional, educated and fun
3 weeks with my family in Kenya and
Tanzania with Melodica Africa Tours and
Safari was great. We had an incredible
experience them. Our adventure
exceeded our expectations in every way.
From seamless airport pickup to thrilling
game drives, everything was top notch.
Our guides Chris and Jenny were
fantastic. I highly recommend Melodica
Africa Tours and Safari with a 5 Star for
anyone looking for a world class safari
experience to Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda
or even Tanzania
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An extraordinary safari experience — beyond every expectation
We recently completed a custom-designed 10-day safari with Great Escape Trails to celebrate a milestone 50th birthday, covering Tarangire National Park, Lake Natron, the Central Serengeti, Ndutu, Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Manyara National Park. The itinerary itself was tailored specifically for us, built out from a shorter trip to give us the experience we were really after. We researched four different operators before choosing Great Escape Trails, and we are so glad we did.
Planning & Itinerary — Thom
From the very first interaction, Thom set Great Escape Trails apart. He was responsive, thorough, and genuinely invested in making our trip perfect — working with us to custom-design our itinerary from scratch, helping us fine-tune every detail, and going well beyond his brief to advise on accommodation after the tour and how to make the most of any extra time we found ourselves with. That level of care and personal attention is rare, and it was the deciding factor in choosing Great Escape Trails over their competition.
Our Guide — Hans
Hans is, quite simply, exceptional. His knowledge of the wildlife, terrain, and ecosystems is extraordinary — and his ability to navigate the Serengeti without so much as a GPS seemed almost supernatural. In quieter areas, he drew on years of experience and deep personal knowledge; in busier locations, he used his network of fellow guides and his radio to make sure we were always in the right place at the right time.
The result was extraordinary. He got us closer to wildlife than we ever imagined possible — within metres of lion cubs playing in a tree, elusive leopards lounging on low branches, a cheetah with a fresh kill, elephant families crossing the road directly in front of our vehicle, and a large group of giraffes surrounding us completely. He balanced all of this with genuine respect for the animals and for other visitors. Worth noting too — the wet season arrived unexpectedly early, and Hans navigated some seriously challenging deep mud conditions with complete composure and skill. It never once disrupted our experience. If we had self-driven, we would not have seen a quarter of what we did — and we would almost certainly have been hopelessly lost, or genuinely stuck.
By the end of the trip, Hans felt more like a good friend than a guide. We had learned each other’s sense of humour, shared stories, and the whole experience felt warm and natural. Saying goodbye was genuinely difficult.
Accommodation
Once we hit the road after our first night in Arusha, every property delivered something special. The range was part of the adventure itself — a fixed lodge in the Central Serengeti, a mobile camp in Ndutu, an eco lodge near Lake Natron, and comfortable accommodation in nearby towns for the other nights. The level of facilities naturally varies across such a diverse itinerary, but every night felt right for where we were and what we were doing — beds were comfortable, food was generous, and hosts were warm and welcoming throughout.
In Summary
A self-drive safari might appeal to some, but we cannot imagine having experienced anything close to what we did without Hans and Great Escape Trails behind us. This was a once-in-a-lifetime trip to mark a very special birthday, and Great Escape Trails delivered something truly bespoke — not an off-the-shelf package, but a trip designed around us. We would wholeheartedly recommend Thom, Hans, and the entire Great Escape Trails team to anyone considering a Tanzania safari — you will not regret it.
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Mose’s and his team were competent, caring, and efficient going above & beyond to support our group
Climbing Kilimanjaro was an unforgettable experience, and a big part of that was thanks to Moses. He was competent, caring, and incredibly efficient throughout the hoe.
When one of our fellow climbers struggled with the altitude, he stepped in immediately—checking on them regularly, adjusting the pace, and offering steady encouragement that helped them keep going.
RU
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Review about Tarangire National Park by Tatiana
The perfect place to see elephants - just an arm's length away!
RU
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Review about Serengeti National Park by Tatiana
Oh, this is my personal crush! Words and descriptions are powerless here – the Serengeti simply has to be seen!
RU
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Review about Ngorongoro Crater by Tatiana
A unique park in the crater of an ancient volcano. Absolutely stunning views from above and a multitude of wild animals living their lives in a relatively small area, all the while allowing people to gaze upon them with rapt attention.
RU
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Review about Lake Manyara National Park by Tatiana
Unfortunately, I think the park is dying due to the recent floods. It's sad, but it's instructive to see how cruel and merciless nature itself can be at times.
RU
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An Unforgettable Safari Adventure in Tanzania
Our safari through Tarangire, Ngorongoro, and Serengeti was truly one of the most amazing travel experiences we’ve ever had. Everything was very well organized, which made the whole journey stress-free.
The planning of the safari was excellent. Each day felt perfectly balanced — full of adventure but never rushed. The accommodations were also great: comfortable, and located in beautiful natural settings. My personal love is staying in tented camp-lodge Tukaone Serengeti camp surrounded by the African savannah! It made the experience absolutely special! Waking up to the sounds of nature and watching the sunrise and sunset over the plains is something I’ll remember for a long time.
A big part of why this safari was so special was our driver-guide, John. He was fantastic! Not only is he a very skilled driver (which is important on some of the park roads!) If anything unexpected came up, he handled it easily and always found a solution.
He also has an incredible eye for wildlife. Time after time he managed to spot animals that we would have completely missed on our own — lions resting in the tall grass, a leopard hidden in a tree, even rhinos far away in the distance.
Thanks to his skills — and a bit of luck — we managed to see the entire Big Five. That alone would have made the trip unforgettable. But we also had fun spotting the famous “Ugly Five”, which made the experience even more unique.
So, if you want to have the safari of your dreams, then with John as your driver you will on heaven!
Each park had its own atmosphere: the massive baobab trees and huge elephant herds in Tarangire, the breathtaking views and dense wildlife in the Ngorongoro Crater, and the endless plains of the Serengeti - my personal crash - filled with animals everywhere you look.
Overall, the safari exceeded our expectations — great organization, comfortable places to stay, incredible wildlife, and a truly excellent guide. We’re very grateful for this experience and would absolutely recommend it to anyone who dreams of seeing Tanzania’s amazing national parks. It was a trip we’ll never forget. 🐘🦁🌅
