How was your Explore Tour Leader?

Our tour leader, Geoff, was excellent and certainly made the trip run smoothly.  I was a complete novice at camping but he cheerfully helped me put my tent up and showed me how it should be done.  I found my sleeping bag like a straight-jacket, so he very kindly lent me his thick blanket until we found a shop where I could purchase one cheaply.  He was good company and very knowledgeable about the country.  He never got impatient with any questions or small problems that arose, such as an additional ‘bush stop’, when the need arose.  He also got on well with our cook and the driver, which made for a good friendly atmosphere throughout the trip.  When some went white water-rafting he took the rest of us on a boat trip to the source of the Nile, which was superb.  

What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?

The main tip I would give to anyone booking this trip is to keep an open mind and enjoy all the experiences this trip has to offer.  A couple of nights it got cold and damp in the tents when we camped near lakes and, on the truck in the mornings, it could be very chilly with all the windows rolled up, so ensure that you take a warm jacket.  On the gorilla trek, good walking boots and a pole were essential and you need to be pretty fit.  The trek I went on took 4 hours up the mountain and three hours down again, all in 30-35°C of heat.  Make sure you hire a guide; they are worth every penny and, besides carrying your rucksack, they also help you over difficult terrain.  I definitely wouldn’t have made it without mine, especially as I am in my late 60’s.  

Having travelled to Africa before (Namibia, Kenya, Tanzania), Uganda was a complete suprise to me. It was more lush and green than I ever expected. The itinerary is great with long drives spread throughout the trip which allowed you to recover from the chimp and gorilla trekking with  days of admiring the scenery from the truck. I m glad to see that the active level has been upgraded since I went on the trip from 2 to 3, as the Gorilla trekking can be tough. Depending on which group of Gorillas you are allocated to (this is done when you are at Bwindi) can determine your travel time to where they are positioned and how far you have to walk. The group I tracked were a 2 hour drive away from camp just to get to the start point. Others in the group only had to walk 10 mins to the start point to search for their group. Also depending on where the Gorillas have nested that night can also determine how far you have to walk to reach them. I was lucky as I only had to walk an hour into the forest to see them and then an hour back out. Although I did find this tough in parts and the terrain is very steep and you often find yourself scrambling on your hands and knees to get up the steep sections! It was also quite humid, which was quite draining. Others in my group were not so lucky and had to walk between 3-4 hours before they found their group of Gorillas, and then the same back out again!  The days spent at lake Bunyonyi on Bushara island, are a great way to relax after the Gorilla tracking though. It’s a beautiful, peaceful island with lots of bird life and there are several optional trips you can take if you want to keep yourself busy. Its also nice to be in fixed tents, so it’s a break from putting your tent up and having a bit of space to sort your bags out.  Overall, the camp sites seemed to be more civilised than ones I have visited in Kenya and Tanzania, as the majority are on the site of a lodge, so there is generally a veranda where you can eat your meals and sit on comfy chairs. All the camp sites also had a bar, so drinks can be bought easily. Showers tended to always be warm, but toilets were more often of the squat variety!  The White-water rafting at Jinja was exhilarating, but I was petrified! I can swim but after this experience it made me realise I m neither a strong or confident swimmer compared to when I was younger. If you do choose the option of white water rafting, shorts that cover up to your knees are a must, also at least a factor 40 sunscreen. Everyone on our raft got burnt to a crisp (especially on our thighs) and factor 30 wasn’t strong enough even though we reapplied it half way through at the lunch stop.  Extra tips: take old clothing and school supplies to give out when you do the village walk in Bwindi, or visit the school at lake bunyoni. Take balloons to give out to children rather than sweets. Laundry can be done at most camp sites quite cheaply but doesn’t dry very well as its quite damp everywhere. The campsites can get muddy so wear something like crocs which are thick soled and can be washed easily, when walking around.    All in all a fab trip – I’d love to go back again sometime! (UW - 22nd July 2011)

The gorillas were most def a highlight. But I loved everything, I was surprised how lush and green Uganda was. The local people were really friendly and welcoming. I really loved the chimp trekking in Kibale and enjoyed the stunning scenery of Lake Bunyoni. I would recommend Uganda and this tour to everyone. (UW - 17th September 2011)

A fantastic trip, with a very varied and fulfilling itinerary. Highlights including chimpanzee & gorilla trekking as well as the thrill of white water rafting (optional) were supported by many opportunities to spot a wide array of animal and birdlife. In addition there was a perfect opportunity to relax in the tranquil setting of Lake Bunyoni. The tour guide was very knowledgeable and always made us feel comfortable the whole time even though it was a completely new experience to us. (UW -10th september 2010)

From day one when we climbed aboard the truck it was apparent why Uganda is called the Pearl of Africa; beautiful rolling countryside with amazingly friendly people and kids lining the roadside shouting 'Muzungu' (white person) at you desperately looking for you to wave at them.  If you are looking for an adventure (don't expect high levels of comfort - camping for two weeks and campsite toilets/ showers are not for the faint hearted!) where you feel the soul of the country look no further.  The tour was full of wildlife highights from the unfortgettable chest beating chimpanzees to mountain gorillas, hippos, elephants, tree climbing lions, monkeys and too many birds to count.  As well as the animals the trip was jewelled with wonderful events (sometimes heart wrenching) such as listening to orphaned children sing, meeting the batwa pygmies, attempting to canoe on Lake Bunyoni and the adrenaline fueled day of Grade 5 rafting (from which I have several large bruises but they were worth it).  It really was an all encompassing and unfortgetable experience.  Just fantastic, a definite must. (UW -September 10 2010)

Uganda took me by surprise. It looked so green and fertile. After the first night at the hotel in Kampala, the whole itinerary was excellent. I never imagined that we would get so close to the Chimps in Kibale. That was a really pleasant surprise. The Gorilla experience was fantastic! Every bit as close as on the TV programme but miles more interactive. It was one of those times when you hoped the experience would be that good and it turned out it was! There was lots of travelling on some ordinary roads and some camping in one campsite where the word basic was an over estimation but usually the gaps in between the primate highlights were filled by some interesting bird and game watching. This all led up to the brilliant finish; white-water rafting on the Nile. I would recommend this optional activity. They push the danger and excitement to entice the young but I found it exhilarating and I felt perfectly safe. The water was lovely and warm and there were no crocs. The itinerary for this trip was interesting and varied and our tour guide was very well organised. There are only 700 mountain gorillas left. Go and see them while you can. (UW- 31st July 2010)