Gorillas & Masai Mara: Safari Holiday, Kenya, Uganda & Rwanda

Our Clients’ Reviews

Here at Exodus we thrive on feedback from our customers. It's the only way we can ensure our trips continue to be the best they can be. So, for the real tales, twists and turns of the trip you're interested in, look no further than the reviews from our previous travellers. Any feedback collected (Good or bad) from Exodus clients is posted straight onto our website - totally unedited. Read more...

Average Review Rating: from 127 reviews.

Melanie Whitfield

GORILLAS & MASAI MARA

Written November 2008
I knew this was going to be a good trip but the reality far exceeded all my expectations!!!! My group was fantastic, our tour leaders the absolute best and I would recommend this to anyone and everyone.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Challenging myself by trying bungee jumping for the first time, followed by white water rafting, followed by another bungee in the dark!
Seeing the Wildebeest migration- awesome.
The amazing scenery in Uganda and Rwanda.
The way our group came together right from the start - it felt like I was with old friends after just a few days.
Laban's laugh.
What did you think of your group leader?
Julius, Laban, and Leo - our new best friends! Very friendly and knowledgeable, and even up for the challenge of a bungee! Julius and Laban are pool sharks though....don't believe them when they say they aren't very good ;)
Leo's cooking was outstanding and I think we all came home a few pounds heavier. What that man can do on a camping stove still amazes me......
Don't make the mistake I did and wait until the last night to reveal to Laban that you don't know where the dustpan and brush is kept.......:) But if you can make him laugh it will keep you smiling for weeks!!
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
1) Take thick trousers and long sleeve top for the gorilla trek as there are massive stinging nettles which get through even two layers of trousers.
2) Take lots of toilet roll and baby wipes.
3) Take layers of clothing rather than lots of thick jumpers. I sat at the front of the truck and never really felt cold but people sitting at the back did get a bit chilly.
4) Cash and credit cards don't tend to work in ATM's in Uganda and Rwanda so make sure you have plenty of cash.
5) I used Eagle Creek pack it cubes for my luggage which really helped to keep things organised in the locker - it can get qute hectic with lots of people trying to sort out their stuff!
6) Try the rafting! It scared the life out of me but is the best thing I ever did! Apart from the night bungee maybe.....
7) Soak up as much of the scenery as you can on the long journeys - it's amazing.
8) Wait until you get to the lodge hotel in the Masai Mara to buy gifts. They are far cheaper and far better quality than the curio shops we went to.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
I think that participatory trips should still get the 4x4's for the Masai Mara as we would never have seen everything that we did if we were on the truck.
I would have preferred an extra night at Jinja as the campsite is fab!
I can't wait to come back!
Wendy Hamilton

GORILLAS & MASAI MARA

Written October 2008
An amazing experience from start to finish - very well-organised tour, just the right ratio of activity:leisure, epic wildlife encounters, great crew, fabulous food and meeting very special people - some of whom I hope to keep close for a long time, others I'll simply never forget.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Difficult to narrow it down! Being able to experience the gentleness of the gorillas up close in Rwanda was an obvious highlight, as was witnessing the migration from a sunrise hot air balloon flight over the Masai Mara. We saw lions on every single game drive and were very fortunate to see two separate leopard sightings in as many days. Wildlife aside, there were so many special moments that can be attributed to feeling safe and comfortable with new friends - the kind of stuff that you can't capture with your camera or describe to your friends and family when it's all over and you're back home.
What did you think of your group leader?
Chris was knowledgeable and friendly. He provided us with our rundown on the following day's events each night after dinner and was always happy to answer any questions put to him.
Jonas, our cook, deserves particular mention. Not only did he serve up substantial portions of nutritious, delicious food, he did it with an unrelenting passion. This guy was seriously offended if you were feeling a little chilly and didn't go and ask him for a cup of tea!
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
If you're wearing shorts for the white water rafting a Jonja, don't be shy with the factor 50 on your thighs - even if it's cloudy! Comparing sunburns in the bar later was all very well for group bonding purposes, but one of our guys recently commented that his thigs are still peeling after over a month!
Is there anything else you would like to add?
This trip was one of the most amazing things I've ever done and I'm quite spoiled in that respect, having recently entered my eleventh year of serious travelling. I'd never booked a group-style tour before and had reservations in terms of spending over two weeks with people I didn't know. I'm currently trying to arrange Kilimanjaro for Christmas, but now wonder if any holiday could beat this one - unforgettable in every respect. Thank you Exodus for making it happen!
Adrian Turner

GORILLAS & MASAI MARA

Written October 2008
This was truly a "trip of a lifetime" in so many ways. Seeing the gorillas up close was obviously the climax, but the beautiful African backdrop, incredible wildlife and hair-raising white-water rafting meant this trip was by no means a one trick pony. It has everything one could want, particularly if you're new to Africa as was I.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
There is something magical about the gorillas and the hour that the permit allows you will fly by so very quickly. Seeing a leopard a hundred foot up a tree, surrounded by lions was an incredible sight too!
What did you think of your group leader?
Manu was excellent and gave thorough and interesting briefings each evening about the following day's activities. His assistant, Mike, and the cook, Pete, were also excellent. The food was really quite something special and made meal times a real hit with the whole group.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
The trip notes and guides from Exodus were pretty comprehensive. A good read of those should tell you everything you need to know. Don't forget to take sufficient memory cards and batteries etc. for your camera. If you're particularly keen, a good zoom lens would be a good investment.
Kerry Flood

GORILLAS & MASAI MARA

Written September 2008
The most magical experience imaginable from start to end! I didn't want to come home!
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Meeting so many inspirational and fascinating people. Being humbled by the welcome we received everywhere we went.
Seeing the gorillas is everything you can imagine and more, but there is also so much more to this trip!
What did you think of your group leader?
Often Konzoro - there is nothing this man cannot do! He's funny, has a knowledge of Africa and the tour you will never get from a book, excellent driver (on the roads in Kenya and Uganda you will appreciate this immensely!), can cook, has "hawk eyes" that miss nothing in the game parks, and genuinely cares that you have the best trip possible........if you get on one of his trips, you've hit the jackpot!
His team, Nebat and Benard are also fantastic. The stories they have to tell will have you in tears of laughter!
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Don't bother carrying any fiction books. There is so much to see (even on the long drives) that you won't want to waste a minute!
The last rapid on the Nile at Jinga is called the Bad Place for a reason!! It's worth every penny to do the full day though, so don't miss out!
Is there anything else you would like to add?
I'd never done a trip like this before, and was quite nervous about the whole thing when I arrived.
Now, the only thing delaying me booking my next Exodus trip is working out when I can free up some more time off work to go again!!
Joyce Serf

GORILLAS & MASAI MARA

Written September 2008
A fantastic trip, well organised with a good balance of activities.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Being up close and personal with the gorillas. Sitting round a camp fire with Masai warriors. The fantastic scenary and the friendly people.
What did you think of your group leader?
Often is probably the best group leader we have ever had the pleasure to go on holiday with. He could not do enough to ensure that our holiday was special. His back up team of Bernard and Nobutt were pretty special too.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Change money at the border going into Rwanda. The rate is just as good as the bank and will save you an hour's wait. Buy your gifts at The Source of the Nile Cafe, in Jinja. The goods are fixed price and cheaper than any where else. Bring a small bag as the lockers are not that big. You really don't need that many clothes! If youy don't like camping ask to be upgraded, most campsites have rooms. ($50 a double max)
Is there anything else you would like to add?
A brilliant trip, which we thoroughly enjoyed. We don't like camping, but managed to upgrade to rooms, which were excellent. Every aspect of the trip went very smoothly, down to the hard work of the trip team.
Janis McBride

GORILLAS & MASAI MARA

Written September 2008
A very busy but thoroughly enjoyable trip, we never stopped the adventure from the minute we landed. The group soon became very cohesive under the direction of the group leader, like a family as Often told us we would be.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
The gorilla's, the Masai Mara, the National Parks, the lions, the hippo's, the lovely people of Africa !!!
What did you think of your group leader?
Often was brilliant, we were so lucky to have him and his crew, nothing was too much trouble, he helped us, he made us laugh, he spotted animals we could not have imagined we would see, he was superb, such a lovely person, he made sure everyone was looked after all of the time. I would definetly feel confident of getting the most out of another trip if Often was the group leader.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Can be a bit chilly in the back of the truck so bring a fleece. Also, if you are not used to camping as I wasn't, make sure you have a decent head torch.....which I didn't. Other than that, enjoy the whole experience, it was a wonderful trip.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
I would definetely recommend this trip to people, to see 3 countries and so many different experiences was indeed a privilege.
Antonia Harrison

GORILLAS & MASAI MARA

Written July 2008
When I saw the truck on the first day in Kenya, I thought we were going to be invading Uganda and Rwanda rather than going on a vacation – but I found I got quickly attached to our lovely new home and became a committed overlander. We had a great group of travellers, and the trip leaders were an integral part of this experience – being great at their jobs but also the best of friends. The obvious highlights were the Masai Mara safari and hot air balloon trip, the Gorilla trekking, and the white water rafting at Jinga, however loads of other stops along the way made special memories – particularly at Lake Bunyonyi and at the Rwandan orphanage we visited. As a first-time overlander, this trip was perfect – the long drives were actually few and far between, and the basic camping was limited to less than half of the trip as we had walk-in tents with beds at many of the locations. The temperatures were also moderate in July - suntan weather but not actually hot (and a little chilly at night sometimes). All in all, more comfortable than you’d expect, absolutely no time spare to get bored, and a great deal of good local beer to get through in the camp bars each night. Nice.
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