The Grassrootz Adventures Dream Team 2023
Grassrootz Adventures
- Located In:
-
Netherlands
- Size:
- 1-5 employees (Founded in 2012)
- Member Of:
- UTB, UCF & UCOTA
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $1,299 to $8,657 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
NL
Email Rogier | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
tailor made to taste
second time we booked with Grassrootz. I know Uganda pretty well so we clearly indicated what we were looking for and we got - with some very accommodating tweaking and tuning - exactly that: basic but decent accommodations, a great driver/guide who knew a lot and was super helpful and the right balance between the tourist experience and the local experience. Sander did some good recoomendations that perfectly matched what we were looking for.
Email Amit Kahana | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
An incredible experience in the pearl of Africa
I travelled with my wife and her mum who is 76. We did a nine days safari (eight nights) in the west of Uganda, starting from the north west and finishing in the south before heading back to Entebbe.
I'll start by saying that the trip was one of our top five trips in the world, after visiting 60+ countries. There were two contributing factors to this statement:
1. Uganda
2. Our guide, Paul
We could not have asked for a better guide and we implore to ask for him personally (as you'll see in other reviews). Paul is extremely knowledgeable, pragmatic, experienced, kind, patient and has a wonderful sense of humour. He constantly found the best options for the trip based on the weather, traffic and our interests. He's also an excellent driver and within the somewhat challenging conditions of driving around Uganda he's very prudent and safe.
The tour itself was intense, as we wanted to cover all of the west in a nine days. This is not for the faint of heart with several transfers taking 4-6 hours given the distance that needs to be covered. If you want a more relaxed journey, you should extend your trip so you can stay two nights in each location. We only stayed in two locations for two nights, with the remaining five being one night each which meant a lot of driving in order to get everything done.
For us, albeit somewhat challenging, it was absolutely worth it. Most drives went by quickly as we saw the countryside of Uganda and met interesting people. We also managed to hear quite a few stories from Paul and get to know the country better.
We enjoyed the Gorillas (obviously) and the Chimps, but in general the different national parks were great and we easily spotted the big dive, with some extras like hynas and other exotic animals like the shoebill stork (a must see). We also enjoyed meeting different communities and learn about their crafts (gin making, coffee production etc) and meeting the Batwa was an incredible experience (definitely ask to do that, although it's three hours it's absolutely worth it). For us, this is an easy five stars to give and we'd highly recommend it.
Overall, it was an incredible
NL
Email Rachel | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Knowledgable, pleasant, fullfilling our wishes, creative in organizing the perfect trip and safaris
We have made such a special trip with our family (parents and 2 sons of 22 and 19 yrs) in beautiful Uganda. It is a beautifully varied country and Toon and Sander from Grassrootz have organized a perfect trip for us, even for our smaller budget. In 10 days we did jeep, walking and boat safaris with a perfect guide Emmy. He is super knowledgeable, pleasant to travel with for 10 days, arranges everything perfectly down to the last detail, finds nice coffee and places to eat and is creative in coming up with even more sights. It was great and we saw an incredible amount. Elephants, giraffes, endless hippos, crocodiles, beautiful birds, too many to mention. The country is beautiful and the people are incredibly friendly and helpful. The nature is impressive and varied. From broad savannas, beautiful overgrown hilly landscapes and the most beautiful lake ever seen, Lake Bunyonyi with 29 islands. Chimpanzees a few meters away. We have trekked from Kampala, Murchison Falls National Park ,Lake Mburo National Park, Northern Queen Elizabeth National Park, Ndali Kasenda Crater Lakes and DjaDja Banga. In short, a must for everyone!
BE
Email France | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Unique experience : walking by gorillas, chimpanzees, even rhinos
Our Uganda safari was very well organized by Grassrootz. It was a private 11-day tour that took us to several national parks, with the highlight being encounters with gorillas (be careful, if you're not physically fit, the walk is strenuous but worth it), as well as chimpanzees (you also have to walk, but it's much less difficult), not to mention rhinos (never seen so close in the wild) and even giraffes and zebras (guided walk in the savannah during which you can get up close to these animals). We were able to ask Sander all our questions before and after booking the tour. Our guide, Barnice, guided us very well. He spotted the famous shoebill for us, which is not easy to encounter, and knowing that I particularly enjoyed small bananas, he brought us some the next day as a snack. The accommodations were of good quality, comfortable, and well-equipped, some with spectacular views. The food was always good, even very good (of course, it depends on your taste), with always a vegetarian option for those interested. Uganda may be less renowned for safaris than Kenya or Tanzania, but it's up to you to discover it. The country and its people are certainly worth it.
CH
Email Oliver | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing Trip
Our trip to Uganda was an unforgettable experience, perfectly organized from start to finish. We arrived in Entebbe on Day 1, where we were picked up by our driver, Moses. He was absolutely fantastic—punctual, knowledgeable, very friendly, and above all a safe and reliable driver. We felt well taken care of from the very beginning.
From Entebbe, we drove down to Bwindi National Park and spent the night at Broadbill Forest Camp, a beautiful lodge in the middle of the jungle. The staff were incredibly warm and welcoming, and the entire stay was excellent. The next day, we had the once-in-a-lifetime experience of seeing gorillas up close—definitely a highlight of the trip.
Afterwards, we continued to Rwenzori for trekking. Everything was well organized and went smoothly. Moses suggested taking a scenic route through Queen Elizabeth National Park, which turned out to be a wonderful idea. We saw a wide variety of wildlife and enjoyed stunning views throughout the drive.
We then stayed overnight in Kasese at the Sandon Hotel, which was also a great choice—comfortable, clean, and with friendly staff. There was a power outage, but it wasn’t a major issue. Following our trekking time in the Rwenzori, we continued to Fort Portal for one more night before returning to Entebbe for our departure.
Overall, we would rate this trip excellent. Everything was well organized, there were no unexpected changes, and the entire team was extremely polite, helpful, and professional. Our tour operator Sander was highly responsive and always quick to answer any questions. We couldn’t have asked for a better experience.
Highly recommended!
Email Jenny Shelton | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
We have no hesitation in recommending Grassrootz to anyone wanting to tour in Uganda.
After doing thorough research into numerous tour companies, we chose Grassrootz based on communication, flexibility with itinerary, accommodation etc and competitive pricing. It was a great decision. Our driver and guide was Barnice who was excellent. It truly was a trip of a lifetime and if you have time, it is worth going to Uganda not just for Gorillas but for multiple other amazing wildlife and nature experiences.
NL
Email Tineke | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Fantastic
What a fantastic trip we had through Uganda! Sander was very attentive to our wishes and suggested wonderful excursions. Trekking with chimpanzees in an area still relatively undiscovered by tourists, mountain biking through a park, boat trips—we were constantly surprised, and this was also true for the beautiful accommodations where we stayed. And then there was Paul, the driver/guide who traveled with us for 19 days. He has such a passion for the country and its people. We could ask him anything about the culture and customs; he's incredibly knowledgeable about animals and knew all the birds by name. He's a fountain of knowledge and a very pleasant person to be with, and an incredibly good driver.
CH
Email Fabian | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Grassrootz offers well paced, authentic adventures that reveal Uganda in all its wild richness
We travelled through Uganda with Grassrootz for two weeks, and it was an outstanding experience from start to finish.
From the first communication with Sander van Zanten, everything was clear, honest, and very well structured. The itinerary made sense and was exactly what we were looking for. Long travel days were balanced with calmer moments, and intense wildlife experiences were followed by time to rest and absorb everything.
Travelling through Uganda requires experience, flexibility, and good planning, which is exactly where Grassrootz really stands out. Despite long distances, rough roads, and changing conditions, everything ran smoothly. We always felt well prepared, well informed, and in very good hands.
A huge part of the experience was our guide and driver Bob Magezi. Calm, reliable, and extremely knowledgeable, he took great care of us every single day. His ability to spot wildlife was remarkable, and many of our best sightings happened thanks to his experience and patience.
The route itself showcased Uganda’s incredible diversity. Savannah and rainforest, rhinos, chimpanzees, lions, leopards, elephants, and gorillas. Over the course of the journey, we saw more than 150 bird species, over 50 animal species, and countless butterflies and insects. At times, it truly felt like being in a living nature documentary.
We also deeply appreciated how respectfully Grassrootz handles cultural encounters and wildlife experiences. Nothing felt staged or rushed, and there was a strong sense of responsibility throughout the trip.
Grassrootz offers real, well-thought-out adventures with strong local knowledge and genuine care. We would absolutely travel with them again and highly recommend them to anyone looking for an authentic Uganda safari.
DE
Email Steffi und Andreas | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent, Highly recommended!
Our trip to Uganda with Grassrootz was exceptional in every respect and counts among the most impressive travel experiences we have ever had.
Even the communication beforehand was excellent. Sander was always available, answered all of our questions in an extremely professional manner, and responded to every request with flexibility and reliability. The entire trip was superbly planned, well structured logistically, and perfectly coordinated. Every single destination was absolutely worth recommending and offered unique experiences.
Our route took us, among other places, to the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, where we were able to see rhinos up close; to the Bugoma Forest for chimpanzee trekking; through the Bigodi Swamp; into the impressive Queen Elizabeth National Park; and to Ishasha, famous for its tree-climbing lions. An absolute highlight was the gorilla trekking in Bwindi — a deeply moving moment that will remain in our memories forever. Lake Mburo National Park, with its giraffes and zebras, was also incredibly beautiful.
On the last day before continuing our journey to Kenya, we made a stop at the Mabamba Swamp near Entebbe. Unfortunately, we arrived at Mabamba Swamp a bit later than planned and therefore had less time than expected. All the more remarkable was the dedication of our guide: Amos organized another opportunity for us completely free of charge, which we were able to take advantage of on New Year’s Day — a service that is anything but taken for granted.
Our guide Amos was simply outstanding. His professionalism, extensive knowledge of animals, plants, and Uganda’s nature, as well as his warm and humorous personality, made every single stage of the journey a special experience. No matter what question we had, Amos always had an answer. He consistently managed to keep the mood high and accompanied us with so much passion and commitment that we will never forget this time. Our greatest thanks go to him.
We will definitely be back.
Thank you very much for this unforgettable journey!
Email Jean | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Stellar service
We very recently did a 3-day safari trip with Grassrootz during our brief stop in Uganda on our East Africa tour. Our main objective was to see the gorillas at Bwindi, but since that's only a one day activity, we were also scheduled to go chimp tracking on our first full day, and on a game drive in Lake Mburo national park (NP) on our last day.
Planning with Grassrootz was quite easy. Sander, the owner, is very responsive and helpful in his suggestions without being pushy. I had actually contacted 8 different companies, all of whom offered fairly similar packages at fairly similar price points, so Sander's responsiveness was the main reason we went with this outfit. It only got better from there.
To be clear, Uganda is still pretty rough around the edges as far as tourism infrastructure. We saw a lot of development in the works, but as of October 2017, we can report that the roads are awful and the hotels low quality. Food was the worst of any East African country we visited. There's a lot of pollution and everything is very very spread out so you're spending hours upon hours bumping and rattling along those terrible roads getting what the locals jokingly refer to as "an African massage."
I say all this bc without David, our local guide, I think the 3 days in these conditions would've been somewhat miserable. But David is a gem of a person and really made our journey one I'll look back on fondly. And here's why. He's deeply knowledgeable - e.g. it was obvious to us that he was more knowledgeable about animals at Lake Mburo than the park ranger who did the game drive with us. He also gave us advice that served us well and left us feeling well prepared before the chimp tracking and gorilla tracking, which we did with the designated rangers at Kalinzu and Bwindi, respectively - e.g. he told us what to look out for with the chimps in terms of safety, how to "slope" (hike downhill) safely, how to ensure the rangers kept our pace etc. The rangers themselves covered none of these subjects.
He's deeply passionate about, and proud of, Uganda and committed to educating the rest of the world about it and East Africa (he also guides in Tanzania and Kenya etc). He's very friendly in a completely disarming and unassuming and tactful way.
And he's beyond resourceful. Uganda had heavy rains both before and during our visit, which made the roads 5x worse by enlarging potholes and causing rockslides. On multiple occasions, David figured out ways to navigate past seemingly impassable roads to keep us on track. Most critically, the morning of our gorilla trek, we found our way blocked by mud and logs. Another truck already stood empty and abandoned at that spot. As far as I understood, they only allow one set of persons to go track gorillas each day at 8 am, and the $600 permit you buy is good only for the specific day. In case of an act of God like the one we were experiencing, I suspect they would have given a partial refund or told us we could come back the next day, but even the latter would not have helped us as we were slated to fly out the next afternoon and still needed to drive all the way back to Entebbe, which was an all day drive again. Without hesitating, David got out of the car and rolled up his sleeves and somehow miraculously got us through by shifting one of the unbelievably heavy logs out of the way (with a little help from me), putting rocks under the tires to provide traction, and some very skillful driving. Had it not been for David's refusal to just throw his hands up and wait for help, and willingness to physically put himself out there to push us through when at least one other driver had given up and just left his truck behind in the middle of the road, we would certainly have missed our opportunity to see the gorillas.
Later that same day, we came across a similar situation where another tour company jeep was waiting by a much larger rockslide, unable to pass. David got out and went to examine the situation on foot, and then came back and said he was going to give it a go. Again, with his skill behind the wheel, he got us through on the first go, which encouraged the other guide to follow. I don't know how long those other tourists were sitting there until we came along, but it was clear their guide was not willing to even try without first seeing David succeed.
Also among David's resources are the relationships he's cultivated with people at the various stops we made, which seemed to be to our advantage as his clients insofar as getting small advantages like assignments to the best gorilla tracking group (our ranger appeared very knowledgeable, spoke excellent English, and we saw gorillas within an hour of setting out).
In short, if you want to see Uganda with a guide who is going to go above and beyond to get you safely everywhere you need to go, then you should book with Grassrootz and ask for David specifically.