Ecotourism in action
Bamboo Ecotours
- Office In:
- Size:
- 5-10 employees (Founded in 2012)
- Member Of:
- Association of Uganda Tour Operators
- Tour Types:
- Customizable private tours and fixed group tours
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $1,903 to $10,381 per person per day (MXN, excl. int'l flights)
for a custom tour
Your request will be sent directly to the operator
If preferred, you can contact the operator directly
Reviews
IT
Email Alessio | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Excellent organization, very efficient communication and support. Great 17 days trip experience!
Edison from Bamboo Ecotours was really a great person to deal with during our trip plan. Since the beginning he has been really helpful, clear, well organized and detailed in the information provided.
He was very quick to respond since the beginning with superlative attention in organizing all the details and drawing down the trip schedule.
We arranged together with him some modifications to the original plan, adding some days: everything has been managed wonderfully.
Bamboo Ecotours dealed with all the nexessary bookings and formalities for all the trip.
The trip itself has been a great experience, with a perfect 4x4 car and Fred was a great and experienced guide and driver. He well managed all the trip, providing with information, explanations and support.
We opted for budget accomodations, and every accomodation provided by Bamboon Ecotours was really good without any issue.
Planning with Bamboo Ecotours was easy and quick. If we ever plan another trip in Uganda or Rwand, we will definitely book again with Bamboo. Highly reccomended company!
ES
Email Bérénice | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Our guide Joseph, was really very nice
We went with them on the coffee tour and the village tour, and I can recommend both and for end the day we when up to the view point , Joseph did really every thing he could to show us and learn us things about his country
Email Diane Priestley | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A Fascinating, Unique Experience
I was absolutely delighted with the impeccable service provided by Joseph and his dedicated team at Bamboo Ecotours.
The drivers and tour guides are extremely knowledgable about the spectacular natural environment of Kisoro and the fascinating cultures of the people and they share their knowledge generously with curious visitors.
Joseph was flexible and willing to customise any tour for members of my group; from transporting us to the national park for gorilla treks, tours of coffee farms, kayaking on the beautiful lake or visiting the Batwa tribe who live in a remote corner of the surrounding hills.
Joseph and Godfrey took my friend from Mexico and I on a visit to the Batwa tribe, which tourists rarely encounter. We were deeply touched by their plight and the challenges they face and also overwhelmed by their gift of friendship in singing and dancing for us.
Bamboo Ecotours is an extremely professional, conscientious service dedicated to excellence in tourism and devoted to protecting and caring for the beautiful region of southern Uganda.
I feel very privileged to have visited this idyllic part of East Africa and very grateful to Joseph and his team for making my stay so amazing.
Email Tom | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing 10 day western Uganda wildlife safari (including chimps and gorillas)
Just returned from an amazing trip, and all I can say is how amazing Bamboo Ecotours was. We chose to do the 10 day Western Uganda wildlife tour as we had 3 weeks total to spend in East Africa, and wanted to do more than just primates in Uganda, since clearly it has so much more to offer. And I am so glad that we did this, it was an amazing experience.
From the time we first inquired about the trip, Edison was nothing amazing and professional! Our tour guide Joseph and driver Herbert did such a great job - any time there was even a small issue they all went out of their way to help correct things (and these were problems that were beyond their control - if you don't own the hotel you can't make the staff care - but you can confront them about the issues and help your clients which they certainly did). Not that any issues impacted our enjoyment, because it was a great trip. All the lodging was mid-range either lodges or permanent tents/bandas - I think we actually liked the tents/bandas best - stayed cooler and felt closer to nature. Honestly liked all the places we stayed quite a bit. Also have to commend the transportation - 4 wheel drive mini bus type of thing (with pop up roof). The roads in Uganda (especially in the areas in/around/between the parks) are mostly dirt and many were actively under construction - and the vehicle never had any issues and had lots of room for us. Most companies seem to just have a single driver/guide - I really liked that for this type of longer tour we had a driver and a guide. The driving was very difficult and it was nice that we could ask questions without disturbing our driver, but they also worked as a great team. Really liked that setup.
Some specifics about places we went to:
-Ziwa Rhino sanctuary was amazing, was able to get so close on foot with a ranger (and unfortunately didn't see any other rhinos during our total 3 week trip so this was great to have included)
-Murchison Falls national park was absolutely gorgeous and had so much more wildlife than I could have imagined - the boat tour on the Nile was fantastic and relaxing, and lead to a hike to the top of the falls - also amazing
-Kazinga channel (essentially adjacent to QENP) was great. It was the end of the dry season and very hot, so pretty much all the animals were at the water's edge. We did a boat trip here as well - but small boat with only 2 other people plus guide and driver so we were able to get very close (which was different than the big double decker boat on the Nile)
-Kibale for the chimps and Bwindi for the gorillas were just amazing, once in a lifetime kind of experiences. In both cases the animals ended up just a few feet away and we got such good pictures
-Before the chimp trek at Kibale we did a swamp walk in Bigodi swamp including a community walk and stop at someone's home to see how banana beer and gin were made - optional activity but highly, highly recommended
-Last stop was Lake Mutanda - wish we had more time here, was gorgeous! Did more cultural activities here - visited with the Batwa people and then went to a coffee plantation (small, family owned) - which was so incredible. Had options of activities for this day - I think we chose well and I really like that these were community activities where money we paid went directly to individuals in the community and not to some other company.
Overall I really just can't say enough good things about Bamboo Ecotours. They will of course do a great job if you just have a few days and want to see primates - but I really would recommend seeing more of the country with them. We spent a week in Tanzania after this and it was different - so I don't feel at all like we duplicated things. Thanks to Edison, Joseph and Herbert for making this incredible experience possible!
Email Jon | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Gorillas were an amazing experience! Would do it all again!
TRIP PLANNING & BOOKING
Our coordinator was great to work with and very responsive to our needs. We had a short fixed window to work within and wanted to do a lot, in which they were very accommodating. We received a highly customized experience, even accommodating last minute changes we introduced. In the end, we received a detailed itinerary was a plan for an exciting adventure.
TRIP DETAILS
It was 3 days in Uganda - river, chimps, tribe, and gorillas.
- Chimp Trekking Forest: Kalinzu Forest
- Gorilla Trekking Forest: Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
- Boat Ride: Kazinga channel
- Hotel 1: Buffalo Safari Lodge
- Hotel 2: Mutanda Lake Resort
- Tribe: Pygmies (Echuya Batwa)
Both hotels were great, but fell in love with Mutanda!
THE RIVER EXCURSION
We started with a boat ride, touring herds of hippos, buffalo, crocodiles, lizards, and birds among other river dwelling creatures. The guide was knowledgeable and friendly. While not the highlight of the entire experience, it was fun seeing giant reptiles and albino buffalo, as well as learning about ‘loser’ buffalo, removed from the herd.
CHIMP TRACKING
The hike through the forest may have been more exciting than the chimps themselves. We went during the winter when the chimps stay at the top of the trees for warmth, so we weren’t able to get close to the chimps, rather watch them walk along the tree traps and sleep. Highly recommend going during the summer when they come down to the ground for the cooler temperatures and you get better viewings.
GORILLA TRACKING
By far the highlight of the whole trip. We were able to see the gorilla family after 1.5 hours of walking, which is considered quick. We got up close to the gorillas and took lots of pictures. It felt shockingly safe, despite their huge size. Watching the baby gorilla play with grass and spin around was another little highlight.
THE GUIDE
Our guide was super friendly and very helpful. He was a source of information, and helped with things like exchanging money and covering when out of cash. A very joyful individual to be around. More than helpful and very flexible with our random requests. Thank you, Amanya!
TIPS FOR TRAVELERS
- Bring lots of cash and small bills for tips
- Bug spray
- High socks for ants that like to bite
- Prepare for rain, mud, and slippery ground