Gorillas & Masai Mara - Camping

Most Inspirational Moment

It has to be the time spent with the gorillas in Bwindi. You know that they could take you out with one swipe of their hand, but you never feel threatened. They are so chilled, and it is a once-in-a-lifetime experience to be in their presence. The balloon trip over the Masai Mara is also worth it. It is just such a fantastic experience, and gives a different perspective (literally) on the animals and their life. The champagne breakfast after landing is great too!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Clara was an excellent guide. Her insights into the local situations were fascinating, and she was happy to share her knowledge, as well as ensuring that everything ran smoothly. She was always cheerful and helped make the group into a family. She also joined in the Whatsapp group for updates and messages, and has stayed in touch after the trip. Stoney, the driver was first class. The roads are very variable in quality, and some off-road driving was also required in the game parks. We never felt unsafe, even when there were some very tight turns and narrow gaps. Ken’s food was very good. You should not expect “cordon bleu” cooking in a camping safari. You hope for tasty and filling food, and we got that in abundance. The dietary requirements of some of the group (my wife and son are the “no-peppers” that Angela referred to) did not faze him at all, and there were no complaints. Finally, James was a great help to everyone in his roving role as general helper for everything.

Advice for Potential Travellers

As mentioned, you want to have the right approach for a trip like this, and our group definitely did. Although the trip is described as “full-service”, so that the crew put up and take down the tents, in practice, everyone chipped in to help, as it was more efficient and we could get on the move earlier, or get the camp up earlier. Early starts (5:30 a.m.?) are not a problem, as you have early nights as well – you just need to set your body clock to go with the daylight. It was worth hiring the porters for the gorilla trekking. We could have managed (just) without them, but they took away a stress that you don’t want interfering with such a memorable experience. The tents are not as large as on other Exodus trips (we have previously been on the Wildlife & Wilderness of Botswana) and so if you are sharing, there isn’t really room for two people plus their cases. However, just a little forethought is needed – what will I be wearing tomorrow? – and only take that and “night-stuff” to the tent. Leave the rest of the luggage on the truck overnight. Those who were not sharing had no problems. The lockers are slightly bigger than the trip notes suggest, and can be easily accessed during journeys, and throughout the evenings, as the crew stay with the truck. I suspect that our trek to see the gorillas was not as tough as some have had (based upon others’ reviews), although you do want to be reasonably fit. Still, it was not beyond me, as the oldest of the group (at 60), so most people should be fine. Laundry service is available at Jinja (“Adrift”) and Kisoro (“Virunga”) campsites, if you need to keep the luggage down. The upgrades, if you wanted to skip camping for a night or two, were basic chalets / rooms, but always clean, with hot showers, and very reasonably priced. (We upgraded for the nights before and after the gorilla trekking so that we were ready for the trek and in case we were shattered after it.) The trip notes do not mention the hotel in Kigali. We arrived there at about 14:30, so we had plenty of time for a re-pack (sleeping bag back into case) rest, shower, and an excellent dinner, before the 23:30 transfer to the airport for the flight home.

Suggestions

Make sure that you set up a WhatsApp group to share photos. I have pictures of me and my family with the gorillas thanks to the others in the group. Angela’s point about the connection at Heathrow is important. My daughter does have her case back now, but only because we had a longer connection to our flight than she did, and could wait for her baggage to come off and return it to her later. 4 hours is really the safe minimum connection for a domestic flight after coming off an Ethiopian Airlines flight.

Most Inspirational Moment

There were so many. Helping to rescue a lost/abandoned baby elephant in the Masai Mara (big shout out to the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust for their prompt action) was such a privilege. Watching a cheetah run flat out across the plains, demonstrating just how fast and graceful they are. And of course, the hour spent with the gorillas in Bwindi - what an experience. The gentle giants were so relaxed, whilst the young adolescent gorillas were playful and cheeky. It truly is an extraordinarily honour to get to spend time with these amazing family groups.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Clara was amazing - so full of knowledge and passion for the region, she took the time to speak to us about a different local topic each day and enhanced our understanding of the local customs and history. She was always smiling and helpful, and so caring, especially when some of us were feeling unwell or needed a bit of extra help. Stoney the driver is a legend - how he navigates some of the roads in the truck is a true talent. The truck is well taken care of, and we always felt safe throughout the trip, even on some of the very bumpy roads. He also did a fabulous job of navigating the safari drives when we used the truck, and finding us great view points to watch the various animals. Ken's cooking was amazing - the variety of soups and mains he managed to conjure up were fabulous, and he went out of his way to cater for all the dietary requirements of the group (veggie, no-peppers etc). Nothing was ever wasted and all the food was tasty and exactly what we needed after a long day of adventure. James, our overall helper, was a joy. His ability to put up and take down tents in the blink of an eye was amazing and nothing was ever too much trouble. He was always there to help with the cooking, cleaning, dealing with stiff truck windows, and just being an overall help throughout the trip.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Just go! It is completely worth it. My whole group agreed that the Nairobi-Kigali direction was our preference - building up to the gorillas at the end of the trip and sharing that experience with people you have just spent two weeks bonding with, was incredibly special. Proper hiking boots for the gorilla trekking are a must. The group will be split into eight for the gorillas, so you may be split or joined by other people if you are not an even 8 or 16 people. We hired three porters for our group of eight (20USD per porter) and these guys were invaluable in helping with bags and some of the steep scrambling we had to do to reach our gorilla family. The money goes to supporting the local community and, by association, the protection of the gorillas. Get the combined East Africa Visa, as this saves a lot of hassle at the border crossings into Uganda and Rwanda. It is the same cost as getting the visas separately, and is worth it for the ease. USD notes need to be flawless - even the slightest pen mark or nick/tear in the note will be rejected in Uganda, so make sure you check your notes before leaving the exchange bureau. Exchange places and ATM availability was fine for local currency, which you will need for the snack stops and small souvenirs, and many of the campsites have bars with reasonably priced beer.

Suggestions

Ethiopia Airlines from Addis Ababa to Heathrow has daily issues with baggage - so be aware if you have a connection from Heathrow (coach or plane) that you need to allow for plenty of time. Our flight was half an hour late, and then all of our bags took 1hr 45mins from landing to getting to the baggage carousel, which meant one of our group who had an ongoing flight connection had to abandon their checked baggage in order to make what should have been a reasonable 3hr connection. The baggage enquiries people at Heathrow told us this was a daily occurrence due to the Ethiopia Airlines overloading the baggage crates with oversized and overweight bags - so just something to be aware of. Overall, the trip was absolutely fabulous and I can only encourage everyone to go and experience it for themselves.

Most Inspirational Moment

There are so many on this trip but I suppose seeing the mountain gorillas was something I will never forget. To get so close to them and they not be worried that you are standing around them. They had young also that were very playful which was great to witness. Second would be the balloon ride over the Masai Mari, although it was very foggy it was still amazing but expensive. The champagne breakfast was the best, amazing what they prepared for us.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Jacob and his team were amazing. Jacob's knowledge about all the wildlife and history and culture was second to none. Whenever we had issues he was always there to listen and take onboard what we had to say. On many a time he sorted out the accommodations for us and most of us had illness while this trip and he helped us through it.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Do not underestimate this trip, it's early starts and long days. The truck can be uncomfortable at times mainly due to the roads not being up to the standard we are used too. I would also say do the trip in reverse and see the Gorillas first as by the end of the trip we were all exhausted and a few of us were unwell. The lockers are small so no big bags and I would take lots of little packing bags as it can get a bit chaotic when everyone is trying to get to their stuff. Also take wet wipes just in case......

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing the Silverback gorilla so close

Thoughts on Group Leader

Gilbert was excellent. The other three members of the crew, Stoney, Albert and James, were also excellent.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take a light weight inflatable mattress if you need that little extra padding, we took an adjustable walking pole each for the gorilla trekking and found them very useful although even more so was the porter who guided you over the worst bits of the mud and held you up when you started slipping. Go with an open mind about early morning starts and long journey times as they are all necessary and the holiday was unforgettable.

Most Inspirational Moment

I was fully expecting to be blown away by the Gorillas (and they did not disappoint !) but as someone who has done safari before, I was not expecting the spectacular sightings that we had at the Masai Mara! We had a mind blowing first few days! So many big cats in such close proximity - including the ever elusive leopard ! 😍 We also saw wildebeest crossing and a kill which was bittersweet. Seeing the chimps in their natural habitat carrying on their business was also awe inspiring . When they start calling to each other and drumming the trees, it’s really quite intimidating but in the best possible way.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Gilbert was our Group leader and I thought he was fantastic! As well as being incredibly witty and good humoured throughout the trip, Gilbert was always explaining local culture, history, knowledge of the wildlife etc. I always felt very well informed and in safe hands! A very knowledgeable guy! Incredibly patient with a big group of big personalities! He and the broader team had a great bond and worked so well together!

Advice for Potential Travellers

The only consideration I would raise with potential travellers is around the camping. For me, I’m not a regular camper and so was a little out of my comfort zone at times. In saying that, whilst not all camps had hot water all the time, all of the campsites were lovely and indeed, I think my favourite nights were in the wild / unfenced camps. Truly an experience! I don’t at all regret the camping option as it was great fun but I did very much take advantage of the upgrade options, which were a nice break for a city girl at times (but i still felt part of the group and experience). I also thought upgrade prices were generally reasonable. Tents were clean and the team were very efficient with taking them up and down, but for a single traveller, I’d consider single supplement next time just due to personal space. In saying that, a number of single travellers and couples alike stayed in dual occupancy tents for the whole trip and loved it, so just personal choice. It’s nice to have the option of both though .

Suggestions

Beyond the above, I would like to commend the whole Exodus ground team (Gilbert, “Stoney”, Albert and James). They work so hard and so well together and were a pleasure to be around. Food is incredible and you will not go hungry! 😉 I always had seconds (and sometimes thirds!). There are some very long drives but there’s no other way of covering the distance otherwise. Well worth it overall though and I think the itinerary was well balanced. Can see how it’s been refined over time!

Most Inspirational Moment

Getting so close to mountain gorillas was an unforgettable experience. We were very lucky with all the wildlife we say. The hot air balloon safari was amazing to, watching the sunrise and seeing so much wildlife.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our tour guide (Gilbert) was very passionate knowledgeable and about the history and wildlife. He was also very helpful with any problems that came up like sorting out get peoples luggage back to them after the airlines lost them. He was always smiling and laughing with us all.

Advice for Potential Travellers

On the truck there are two uk plug sockets by each set of seats so don't worry about charging things. I'd highly recommend doing the hot air balloon safari, you will not regret it. Also there optional upgrades at some of the campsites. At Lake Bunyonyi campsite I upgraded to a tent with a bed and a balcony with views overlooking the river at a very reasonable price. I definitely recommend this.

Suggestions

The other people in are crew were great to. Our chef (Albert) made us delicious meals and made us laugh so much. Our driver (stone cold) was a really good driver and kept us safe on the roads, it must be an exhausting job but he was always happy. Charlie was helping out with everything, always smiling and great company.

Most Inspirational Moment

I should also mention that the people in Kenya and Uganda were wonderful. I’ve never seen so much road-side waving in my travels. It’s nice to feel wanted as a tourist and everyone we met along the way was very welcoming.

Thoughts on Group Leader

The best I've ever had.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Bring a small lock for the lockers. A large lock won't fit in the hole provided.

Most Inspirational Moment

Spending time with the gorillas and seeing the look on everyone's faces as they encounter these incredible animals up close.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Gilbert was really good at bringing people together and engaging the group. He was also active in securing us better times for chimp trekking and minimising time on the truck / getting good plots on campsites. A lot of what he was doing behind the scenes in planning / logistics was while people slept on the truck so he could chat and sing songs when we were all awake. He also had excellent wildlife and historical knowledge and was happy to share The only problem we encountered was on the day the team weren't there at the Rwandan border - and over the phone he was working on a solution to get us moving

Advice for Potential Travellers

Bring a folder for certificates they give for gorilla trekking Have a sheet or blanket to sit on in the truck as the vinyl seats can get hot in the sun ( thanks Vio) Have some small Ugandan and Rwandan currency so you can buy things at service stations if they don't accept cards or dollars ( Rwanda the bars all wanted local currency). Pack some extra clothes in your daysack when flying - airlines lose bags so have at least a change of clothes to last you a day or two. Go to Carnivores in Nairobi it is a great meal and intro for the group. Don't expect glamping but this is comfortable camping and you get to hear lions calling.

Suggestions

If the team running this trip do any other Africa trips I'd gladly go on them

Most Inspirational Moment

From day one, every day was memorable! And just when i thought that nothing could top seeing the big five, here comes chimpanzee trekking, mountain gorilla trekking, the scenery all around were absolute breathtaking. Totally totally would recommend this trip to anyone who's ready for adventure.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our tour guide Gilbert together with chef Albert, driver Stony and all around helper Charlie made our experience a memorable one. I could not have asked for a better crew! They were awesome and their hard work must be acknowledged. Absolutely stunned with Gilbert's knowledge in terms of culture, nature, wildlife; and throughout the trip he always kept us informed, always smiling laughing and ready to listen to everything we had to say. Driver Stony, hat down! His many years of experience definitely had a say and he kept us safe throughout the journey. 100% confidence is his skills. Chef Albert looked after our stomach affairs! The whole group were astonished how he always managed to come up with the most delicious dishes even when camping. Healthy and freshly cooked food, always a bonus. Charlie the man does it all!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Pack a sense of adventure and a big smile and you'll have the holiday of a lifetime! I was nervous when i booked this trip as was travelling alone, and never done this sort of trip before, but words cannot express how amazing the trip was and how well the group and crew members integrated from day one! Be prepared for long drives on bumpy roads sometimes. Its part of the adventure package!:)

Suggestions

When we had to say goodbyes we cried....No one wanted the trip to end... I've created what am hopping to be lifelong friendships and its amazing!

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing the animals were amazing, especially the big cats in Kenya and it only took us 36 hours to see the 'big five', plus many others, ranging in size from Mongoose to Elephants.

Advice for Potential Travellers

If you do this trip, make sure you are really fit, for us the Leisurely/Moderate 2 rating in the trip notes was very misleading, a lot of the roads are really rough and can be very uncomfortable and the Chimp and Gorilla treks were probably 4 & 5 respectively. For the Gorillas, make sure you take good boots, a lot of water, money and do hire a porter as they can be indispensable. Make sure you take earplugs as you might have to share sites with other less considerate campers and with early starts most mornings (7am & earlier departures) you do need your sleep. As long as you are aware of the above and are willing to 'rough it' at times then you will enjoy this trip.