Holiday Reviews
We invite every traveller who books a holiday via us to send in a review. Because we don't run the holidays they're completely independent and unedited... remember to read between the lines though, as two people on the same trip can have different views!
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Gorilla holidays in Uganda, independent reviews
 Reviewed 24 Feb 2008 by Carl Willott |  |
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
All was very memorable as such a wonderful place. However, I think the exciting part was always going to be seeing the gorilla, although the chimps were a very close second.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Be sure to check your USD's as quite a few in my group presumed that they would have valid notes (those after 2001) when getting currency from a bank. Unfortunately this was not so even though they were nice and crispy, it’s best to ask specifically for newer notes to avoid this problem.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes, in villages where we stayed we met some very friendly bar owners who welcomed us with open arms when we visited them for a beer. There are a lot of locally produced items which are all made from the people within the village. Community walks (in Bwindi) are very good and you get to see a little more of Ugandan life with a chance to buy yet more locally produced items, this time such as banana gin!!!! The groups are small and felt very low impact which allowed everyone to interact with the locals as they saw fit
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
I would definitely give a 10 out of 10. We actually did the tour in reverse due to gorilla permits and must admit I preferred it that way. We got to see the gorilla early in the holiday when we had plenty of energy levels for the trek, the accommodation also gradually increased in standard although the accommodation was pretty good as a whole across all hotels and fixed camp. Our guides were excellent and did a tremendous amount of driving but were always very helpful and lively. There were a few nights when they did not stay in the hotels we were in and so invited them to join us for dinner and drinks which added to the group dynamic. The group was varied in age and travelling experience although were all very friendly and met some really nice people. This is a great action packed holiday where you really do and see quite a lot over the short time that you are there which adds to the memories when looking back at the time spent in Uganda while flying home.
| Reviewed 13 Aug 2008 by Archie Fleming | |
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Every day was memorable for different reasons, seeing Gorillas passing on each side of us after a 6 hour trek through the Bwindi rainforest, seeing Hippos, elephants, crocodiles and masses of birds from a boat trip on the Kazinga channel, tracking chimps in the Kibale forest. The most exciting was hearing the chimps in Kibale forest hunting and then sharing their monkey kill in the trees above our heads to the accompaniment of much noise and swinging on branches.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Use porters to carry your back pack when trekking Gorillas in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. It gives something back to the community as well as making it easier to trek on difficult and steep terrain. Be prepared for long drives over dirt roads.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
I believe that the form of tourism on this holiday helped local people in Uganda in several ways. Percentage of national park fees are put into community projects. It creates employment for national park, tour company and hotel staff as well as local guides and porters. It creates demand for locally produced food and crafts. It shows local people that there is a benefit in preserving habitat and animals.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
The holiday lived up to expectations and, with the exception of one hotel, accommodation and food was excellent.
| Reviewed 29 Jul 2008 by Stephen Allen | |
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Seeing the Mountain Gorilla's in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest - A simply magical experience.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Pack Light!!!
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
To a certain respect yes - however I felt that the Kenyan element was more beneficial to local communities because they are more used to tourists and ensure that elements are passed back to the community in full view of the traveller. Uganda is only just opening its eyes to the benefits of tourism and I felt that at times only certain enterprising individuals were benefiting rather than the community as a whole.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
An excellent initiation into the wonders of the African continent. This was my first visit to Africa but I have no doubt that it won't be last.
NB. This traveller also booked the Masai Mara extension.
| Reviewed 17 Jun 2008 by Jane Feron | |
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Watching Gorillas.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Take plenty of insect repellent and film and/or camera batteries. Be prepared for heavy rain and hot sunshine. Don't get so involved in taking photographs that you don't spend time just watching the animals. Take a water proof hat, not just a hood on your jacket, it may not be raining but the chimps like to leave their mark. If you can afford it track Gorillas on 2 separate days, it is a great experience but it just goes so quickly and as every tracking experience is different make the most of it while you are there.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
As much as is possible.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Very good, watching the gorillas is a memorable experience. I would suggest 1 slight change to the itinerary. We had a free afternoon in Mbura but it was not a great place to spend an afternoon. I would suggest travelling a little bit further to the Mbura national park and stay in a lodge there. This would mean you would be on the spot for an early morning game drive the next day, and you might then arrive in Entebbe a little earlier giving you time to enjoy what is has to offer.
| Reviewed 3 Feb 2007 by Anthony Callister | |
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Too many to mention, walking through Kibale Forest with the chimps, seeing a leopard alongside the road in QE Park, spending nearly three hours trekking to see the gorillas and being near enough to shake their hands, having a hippo walk within 20 metres of us while we were having our evening meal around the campfire at Lake Mburo National Park, going on a walking safari to see hyena's in Lake Mburo NP and many more things!
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Be prepared for some long days on the road, along some pretty bumpy and uncomfortable roads.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes.
| Reviewed 24 Sep 2006 by Jim Ashton | |
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Seeing a gorilla for the first time.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Don't bother with travellers cheques there's nowhere to change them. US dollars are date marked so change old for new at the Post Office.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
In general yes, but we found watching Pygmies dancing for the 'great whiteman' very degrading for them. Also the vehicles we travelled in were old and poorly maintained so they were belching acrid fumes everywhere. A poor complaint considering we flew there anyway.
4. Any other comments?
The only upset during our journey was when 2 of our party, Paul & Margret were told they would not have gorilla permits together. There was uncertainty for nearly 2 days as to the outcome. Matea our tour leader seemed to be unreassuring. This was unnecessary considering the day we went Americans were swapping permits and even changing names on the permits as some were too exhausted to go on their second day of trekking!!!
Read the operator's response here:
The dance shows that are put on by the local people are done as a way of them earning some income. Although sometimes this can seem false it does bring in welcome money to the community. This is far preferable to begging. Alternative sources of income are being developed however the dancing is enjoyed by many people and keeps this aspect of Pygmy culture alive.The roads that the vehicles have to negotiate make a 'new' vehicle seem 'old' very quickly. It is unrealistic to renew vehicles each season. Mechanically the vehicles are sound so it would be wasteful to scrap them. The vehicles meet emission standards in Uganda.
The issue of the gorilla permits is constantly changing. We allow two days in Bwindi to allow for all of the group to definitely see the gorillas. We state clearly on our dossier that the group might be split up. With regard to the Americans changing their permits, I cannot comment specifically about this, except to say that when I was there recently this could only be done on a case by case basis and required someone to know someone or a small payment.
| Reviewed 28 Jan 2007 by Ian Frampton | |
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The most memorable and exciting part was seeing the gorillas at such close hand. It was a fantastic experience and one I wont forget!
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
One tip I would give is that visitors to Uganda should take bills of $50 or above as the exchanges seemed very reluctant to hand over Ugandan shillings for anything less, citing that "banks won't give such a good rate otherwise". (The itinerary had suggested the opposite) Similarly, Ugandan banks have problems in cashing travellers cheques if the experience of two fellow group members was anything to go by.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
It was hard to tell what the impact and benefits to the local community were as although the Basecamp Masai Mara people told us that the local were benefiting we saw little evidence of it and also some of the Masai people hinted that they were not seeing the money they were entitled to. It was difficult to know who to believe.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
I would rate my holiday at *** Very enjoyable. I would have rated it much higher only a lot of time was wasted on the road due to the itinerary being changed to accommodate the gorilla trekking passes. The general consensus amongst the group was that this impaired their enjoyment slightly. Also the lack of clear information on the travel details between Entebbe and Nairobi for the Masai extension caused some confusion and consternation initially.
| Reviewed 14 Feb 2007 by Sarah Garrett | |
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Two things really stand out for me - both within Bwindi national park. The first is obvious - having the privilege to spend time with the magnificent and beautiful mountain gorillas. That really was an incredible experience. Secondly, I participated in a fabulous community based walk which showed me a variety of aspects of local village life and the wider community, including an opportunity to meet (and dance with!) some of the local Batwa pygmy population.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Consider having some time before or afterwards doing something independently. It is perfectly possible to go on this trip and be a "tourist", only spending time and money in hotels and lodges rather than with local people. Make sure you take every opportunity to talk to guides, drivers, villagers... and to share your money more widely through buying things in local shops not in hotels.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Not enough! The main beneficiaries were the hotels we stayed in and our tour company. You had to make an effort to ensure others also benefited. For example, most people in our group bought all their bottles of drinking water from the hotels rather than stocking up in local shops. Simple but effective.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
** OK. It was a great itinerary but I chose the wrong thing for me in terms of the style. I would have preferred a more local feel than staying in smart hotels and lodges. Unfortunately it was the only thing that fitted my timescales.
Read the operator's response here:
We are really pleased that Sarah enjoyed seeing the Gorillas and that she had such a memorable trip. We accept that there are only limited opportunities to mix with local people in this itinerary. This trip covers a lot of ground in a short time and Uganda is the same size in land area as the whole of the UK. We will remind our drivers and guides to stop in local villages so that travellers can buy water and provisions. We do have a more grass roots camping version of this trip but as Sarah says we did not have the dates available for the time that she could travel.| Reviewed 22 Sep 2007 by Morag Naylor | |
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Meeting Gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Use KLM via Amsterdam to Entebbe rather than the very lengthy Emirates group flights offered by the Tour Operator.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
A bit disappointing. Far too much driving involved, with no guide to make the journey interesting. Some of the journeys were supposed to be game drives but there is very little game in Uganda, so these were disappointing.
Read the operator's response here:
We clearly state on the dossier that the driving days are long. To see so much of one country, the size of Britain, in such a small time with the road conditions is always going to make the driving days long.The guides that we use on these trips are qualified driver/guides. If you are in two vehicles then it is sometimes the case that one vehicle has a driver and one a driver/guide, usually the clients can swap vehicles to spend time in the one with the driver/guide. The scenery on the drives is great and there is plenty of roadside life to see.
There is lots of game in Uganda in Mweya and Lake Mburo, recently a group saw elephant, hippo, lion, kob, buffalo, zebra, hyena and impala to name a few species, I think that you might have been unlucky.