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.

Suzanne Boroujerdi

GORILLAS & MASAI MARA

Written August 2012
Amazing trip! Well organised, diverse and inspiring!
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Uganda is beautiful! I had no idea of what to expect from this country as I did not know much about it but would go back in a heart beat!
What did you think of your group leader?
Often and his team were amazing! So helpful and hard working, always a smile and a listening ear!
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Book it! Make sure you have a good camera and torch!
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Cant wait to book with exodus again!
Richard Remmer

GORILLAS & MASAI MARA

Written August 2012
Although the highlight for many was the gorilla trek, my reason for going on the trip was the wildebeste migration. Being amongst it on the ground was good, but seeing it from the air was even better. (I heartily recommend the hot air baloon trip. It is well worth the money.)
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Hot air balloon trip.
Lions at a kill.
Leopard in a tree.
The reaction of the masai, showing them the picture of the house in which, I was born in England. It was also a mud hut with a grass roof, with no electricity, no gas, and no mains water, just a well, and an outdoor earth closet.
What did you think of your group leader?
Moses was brilliant, as were the rest of the crew.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Do the hot air ballon ride.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
The local beer is good
Natalia Slaska

GORILLAS & MASAI MARA

Written July 2012
Three stunning countries in just over two weeks. An unforgettable adventure!
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
The whole trip, for me, was absolutely inspirational: the people, the scenery, the wildlife… Especially (in no particular order!):

- The beauty of Rwanda

- The visit to “Little Angels” primary school for orphans by Lake Bunyonyi in Uganda

- The game drives around Lake Nakuru in Kenya

- The early morning balloon ride over the Masai Mara in Kenya

- The encounter with mountain gorillas (especially when one of them expressed a desire to play with me!)

- White-water rafting on the Nile (by far the scariest thing I have EVER done!)
What did you think of your group leader?
The whole team who looked after us were fantastic!

- Benard Mathenge was an absolutely amazing driver who safely navigated through many hair-raising situations on the roads – including one instance when the truck almost got stuck in mud on the way to a campsite. I am still in awe of his driving abilities!

- Beatus Kababa and Elias Otieno prepared delicious, healthy meals in copious quantities and made sure we never went hungry. I never expected to eat so well or so much!

- Julius Leteele was a wonderful team leader. He was always happy, smiling, very enthusiastic about everything, and a mine of knowledge about East Africa. I particularly appreciated his willingness to share personal stories with us as this was invaluable in giving me an insight into the Masai culture and identity – something which I would otherwise have no idea about.

- When I got sick in Rwanda, Julius organised a taxi to take me to the local hospital for a check-up. He stayed with me during this difficult time, helping with the arrangements at the hospital, and comforting me that all would be well (which it thankfully was!). His caring manner and the sensitive way in which he handled the situation were much appreciated.

Even when Julius’s duty of care had ceased (once he had helped us through security at Kigali airport), his concern did not cease: he called me to check if the whole group had all cleared security and to ensure that there were no issues. This was a lovely parting gesture from someone who never stopped caring.

All in all, Julius, Benard, Kababa, and Elias made this the trip of a lifetime for me. Their teamwork was exemplary, their sense of humour had me in giggles, and the fun and banter that we all shared at mealtimes will be a lasting memory. Asante sana!!!
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Yes!

1. Useful things to bring:

- A re-hydration kit, including re-hydration salts and antibiotics (a fellow-traveller gave me hers and it was a life-saver)

- A thermometer (extremely useful when I was sick)

- Hand sanitiser

- A LARGE padlock (my small one didn’t fit onto the locker in the truck)

- A travel washing line for drying your clothes

- Zip-off trousers that turn into shorts (so handy!)

- Thermals to sleep in (much warmer than pyjamas)

- A swimsuit if you intend to go white-water rafting

- A comfortable daypack for gorilla-tracking

2. Make sure your head-torch has a white (not red night-time vision!) light.

3. Don’t worry about the “basic” campsites: they are a lot less basic that we’d all expected and the only one with no showers was at Lake Nakuru.

4. I booked the non-reverse-itinerary trip which meant a nice build-up from campsites in Kenya to lovely hotels in Rwanda. Something to bear in mind when deciding on the direction of your travels…

5. I went pre-migration (June) so a lot of the animals were still in the Serengeti rather than the Masai Mara. Worth thinking about the likely location of the animals when choosing your dates (having said that, the animals at Lake Nakuru are a permanent fixture and are absolutely amazing!).

6. JUST BOOK IT; you won’t regret it!
Is there anything else you would like to add?
I went solo, but certainly didn’t feel solo during the trip: the fellow travellers and crew were very inclusive and extremely supportive (especially when I got sick) – a wonderful bunch of people!
Lydia Emerson

GORILLAS & MASAI MARA

Written July 2012
A truly inspiring, exhilerating, unforgettable African adventure!
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Meeting the fantastic, hard-working, friendly, enthusiastic crew: Julius, Ken, Boniface and Joseph.
Exploring the awe inspiring Masai Mara with our local guide, Samuel.
Travelling through three extraordinary countries in 2 weeks.
Camping with wild animals, especially the baboons and hippos!
Feasting on Ken's culinary delights!
Painting walls and meeting children at a community project in Uganda- the children love to take photos so take lots of memory cards!
Trekking up to 3600 m to see the Sousa family of gorillas- a family of 35!!!!
What did you think of your group leader?
The best part of my trip was meeting Julius and his wonderful team: Ken, Boniface and Joseph. Julius and his team were incredibly hard-working, enthusiastic, friendly, helpful and truly inspirational people. They worked non-stop, often getting up at least hour before the group (bearing in mind we often got up before 6am) to prepare for the day ahead.
Boniface was a fantastic driver who safely navigated and drove us along the many precarious roads of East Africa!
Ken, with the help of Joseph, prepared delicious, healthy, mouth-watering meals and never failed to fill up the hungry masses!
Julius Leteele was a wonderful team leader. Hard-working, friendly, informative and very enthusiastic about everything, always happy to share his excellent knowledge of East Africa with the group. I particularly loved listening to his personal stories about his family and Masai culture and identity.
I will never forget Julius, Ken, Boniface and Joseph and hope that more people will be lucky enough to meet these very special people. I feel privileged to have spent 2 weeks with this fantastic crew.
Thank you Julius, Ken, Boniface and Joseph!
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Helping the crew with putting up the tents, preparing food in the kitchen and washing up (all optional, of course!) really enriched my African adventure and I would urge any potential travellers to get involved and get to know the wonderful crew!
You will always be in very safe hands and don't need to worry about anything along the way- you will always be looked after by the fantastic crew!
Is there anything else you would like to add?
I hope that Julius, Ken, Boniface and Julius will be recognised for their wonderful work- thank you!!
Chris Buckley

GORILLAS & MASAI MARA

Written July 2012
Africa at it's best!!
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Every moment of this trip was amazing, I can’t recommend it enough. I chose this trip because I wanted to see the Masai Mara and the gorillas and they didn’t disappoint.

Seeing the big five in their own environment was very special and the balloon ride, floating silently over the beautiful landscape, is something I will never forget.

Seeing the Susa group of gorillas on the mountain side in Rwanda really exceeded all expectations. A group of 35 stunning creatures, including 3 silver backs, at close quarters. They walked around us as they ate and rolled through the vegetation.

Although I went for the wildlife, it is the local people that I will remember more than anything else. From our faultless team of Julius, Boniface, Ken and Joseph, who worked so hard to make sure our adventure was as enjoyable as possible. To the children we passed on the way, waving at us we drove by, always with the biggest smiles.

For me the most inspirational moment of the trip was visiting the Soft Power Education NGO in Jinja, Uganda. We painted a classroom in a school and meet some of the local children. If you get the chance to do this, grasp the opportunity, you won’t regret it!!!
What did you think of your group leader?
Julius was the best trip leader I’ve had on the three Exodus trips I’ve been on. It’s not that the others were poor in anyway, just that Julius, and the whole team for that matter, always went that extra mile to make sure that we were always happy and getting the most from our adventure.

Julius was a great guide, with a wealth of knowledge of the areas we travelled through. He never failed to answer any questions I had.

Ken served the most amazing meals. Been a fussy eater, the food was something I had worried about, but Ken never left me hungry. His fish dish was the best I’ve ever tasted.

Boniface drove us safely across the three amazing countries even when the local roads were far from smooth and level.

Joseph helped the team and put our tents up.

You don’t have to help the team, but if you do help and chat to them, it will only add to the enjoyment of your trip.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Don’t hesitate about booking this trip!! I hope you get the team we went with, you couldn’t wish for a better group of people to look after you on your travels.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Thank you to the great team, I’ll never forget them or this amazing adventure!
Emily Parson

GORILLAS & MASAI MARA

Written July 2012
Africa stole my heart over 12 years ago when I first visited and it didn't disappoint with this return trip. The people are amazing, family focussed, hard working, always smiling and very friendly - I learnt a lot from them and made some friends for life. The scenery is spectacular, ever changing as you cross the borders from Kenya to Uganda and finally Rwanda. Be prepared for the unexpected and when it happens embrace it, some of these moments prove to the best bit of your holiday. Finally, be nice to the crew, a please and thank you goes a long way, something a lot of people on my tour seemed to forget! We were lucky, our crew was amazing (Julius, Ken, Bonfas, Joseph), the guys worked tirelessly to make sure we were happy, safe and well looked after.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Volunteering at 'soft power' and 'little angels' - met some truly inspirational people who are slowly but surely making a difference. Hot Air Ballooning over the Masai Mara - absolutely breathtaking, yes it's expensive but you're only going to do it once, worth every penny. Gorilla Trek, Rwanda - amazing!
What did you think of your group leader?
Our group leader was Julius Leteele, the man has the patience of a saint! Always smiling, happy to help, knows the local areas well and was more than happy to answer all my questions regarding tribal rituals, customs, beliefs etc. Our cook Ken made some of the most delicious meals I have ever eaten on two gas rings in the middle of a field - genius! Bonfas our driver always made sure we were safe on the road, and Joseph helped the rest of the crew to make sure everything ran smoothly (he also makes amazing chappatis), the African dream team!
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Prepare for every eventuality and expect the unexpected. As our tour leader said TIA (this is Africa), roads are bumpy, toilets don't flush (assuming it even has a flush and is not a hole in the ground), showers are rarely hot, the truck will break and at some point things will go horribly wrong - but isnt that why you booked the trip in the first place? Africa isn't hot in July, bring a jumper and a raincoat - you'll need them. Bring pens and pencils to give to the local kids, far better for them than sweets. Most important - bring a sense of adventure and you'll have the time of your life x
Peter Smith

GORILLAS & MASAI MARA

Written February 2012
Top trip, some long drives but hey, if you want to see stuff you've got to travel. Excellent value for a trip full of great memories. The only problem is how to edit your photos down so as not to bore your friends.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Hearing the first gorilla roar followed by the silverback charge pummelling his chest. Never knew they had jet black tongues! Then to see my 1st leopard in the Mara (after 50+ safaris) was amazing.
What did you think of your group leader?
Often was excellent, well supported by Bernie (watch the sauce) and Francis (watch out girls).
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
My top 5 tips:
1. Make sure your torch works well - you'll need it 2. Don't drop your toothbrush in a pile of dung 3. The four essential bits of kit are shorts, anti-bacterial hand gel, comedy pants and cards for the long trip to and from Jinja. 4. Support the local economy, drink their beer 5. If you do the bungee at Uganda, remember to hold your breath before entering the Nile at 120mph.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Great group, really enjoyed everyones company. Will definately go with Exodus again. Oh and if you're unsure if the Orphange trip is worth it, just go - its an eye opener.