South Africa and Uganda Luxury Safari: Big Five, Gorillas and Chimpanzees

The trip went smoothly and was well executed, thanks to our guide. It was because of him that the experience was enjoyable, as he was very knowledgeable and resourceful, and had his own network. He was very patient with me and always encouraging. There are not enough words to describe how grateful I am to him for dealing with me for 19 days. 

Starting with receiving me at Entebbe International Airport, he gave me a friendly assurance that I would have a smooth and secure adventure. He kept me very safe and in a few days, I was able to trust him with all my belongings and my life. This was very important for somebody who does not live in Uganda and Rwanda, and was here for just a few days to learn and explore these two beautiful countries.

Let's do a breakdown of each of the places I went to:

Entebbe: I can't comment too much about this place because I only arrived at the airport and stayed at the guest house. The staff and the guest house were nice as I tried to get settled after a long plane ride and prepare myself for the adventures ahead.

Murchison National Falls Park: I won't forget this experience. I saw the wildlife as it is and enjoyed it so much. There are not enough words to describe the beauty of this beautiful savannah and the species that inhabit it. I fell in love with the giraffes, almost got charged by an elephant, and was very lucky to see a hyena, a leopard, and two lionesses in one day. I learned so much about Murchison Falls that I did not know, including that it is the world's most powerful waterfall, and I felt honored to see it in front of me during an afternoon boat ride.

Kampala: Kampala is very congested, but it was nice to see what the capital city was like and I somehow enjoyed visiting the Gaddafi mosque.

Jinja: I will never forget the day I saw the origin of the Nile River. That feeling cannot be replaced. I am proud of myself for celebrating the Nile River by doing bungee jumping, tube river riding, horseback riding, and whitewater riding. I'm so proud of myself for bungee jumping for the first time in my life, and over the Nile River.

Sipi Falls: This is a hidden secret that not many tourists know about and must be seen. These three waterfalls are just one long Sipi Falls flowing in Mt Elgon… breathtaking. The hike was very challenging, but necessary to appreciate the beauty of Sipi Falls. I really enjoyed my time with a nice couple who showed how they process coffee beans and also appreciated the Kapchorwa community for showing me their dance performance in their ancestral mountain cave. The hotel in the Sipi Falls area was not really a resort. They have more work to do to make this a very tourist-friendly accommodation. However, I did not complain much as it was all part of the experience. Therefore, I just made my stay for those two nights the way I could, knowing this was the best accommodation in the Sipi Falls area.

Kibale National Park: It was an honor to cross the equator more than once. My stay at the lodge in Kibale National Park was amazing. I enjoyed my stay and really loved the friendly staff who took care of me. I will not forget my experience of seeing the chimpanzees in the wild at the Kibale National Park. We were told we were very lucky to see all the chimpanzees sitting on the ground before they all headed up in the trees. To see the chimpanzees up close, a few feet from you, and lock your eyes with theirs is an experience you won't forget.

Queen Elizabeth National Park: Again, I crossed the equator at least three times during this experience. It's a different savannah that you appreciate in its own way. I was very lucky that with the help of our guide's contact, I was able to see, in an open spot, two lionesses with three baby cubs. I enjoyed my afternoon boat ride, surprisingly, in the Kazinga Channel, especially with the tourists I was riding the boat with.

Bwindi Forest: I enjoyed my 12km walk into the windy forest and into the Buhoma community to get to a car to drive me to my hotel. The next day, seeing the gorilla after trekking a very steep slope was an unforgettable experience. It was thanks to the porter who helped me trek these challenging slopes that I was able to see a gorilla community that I will never forget. I did enjoy my small amount of time in the Batwa community.

Volcanoes National Park: I enjoyed my stay at our hotel in Volcanoes National Park, as the staff were very friendly and made sure I was warm at night. The next day, I enjoyed my not-too-hard trek to see the golden monkey before heading to Kigali.

Overall, it was a beautiful adventure and I don't think I would have planned it any other way. I do wish I were able to see Kidepo National Park, as I was told multiple times how beautiful that park is.

Thank you so much for helping me organize this wonderful adventure, especially since this was my first African adventure.

What an incredible experience! Everything was so well organized by Zicasso's tour company, from the moment we stepped off the plane in Johannesburg to the time we got back on to head home in Entebbe. We were treated so well by all the support staff hired to help our trip move along seamlessly. All of our experiences were phenomenal and even more amazing than hoped for. We had excellent in-country assistance, lodge staff and other guides, wonderful accommodations, amazing safaris, and delicious food.

This review is long overdue, but better late than never! Zicasso’s travel agent helped us plan our South African adventure and it was the perfect vacation. Everything went completely flawlessly and all the accommodations were fantastic. The communication and service she provided were excellent and I just wish she was the person who could plan all of our vacations. We did Cape Town, Kruger, Zimbabwe, and Botswana, and it was the ultimate bucket-list trip. Her plan made it the best vacation ever!!!

Zicasso's travel partner planned a trip for us that exceeded even our very high expectations. We started our search by contacting three travel agents and explaining what we wanted in terms of timeline, cost, and experiences. Our travel agent came back with a plan that was exactly what we were looking for. He clearly understood that our main goal was a variety of experiences, a trip that included Cape Town and Victoria Falls, safaris where we could have a chance of seeing the Big Five, no driving of our own, a pace that would not leave us exhausted, a price that would not break our budget, accommodations that were comfortable but not extravagant, and to end our trip sitting by a beach for several days. He managed to do all that and more.

The result was a 33-day trip in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique that included all of the above, plus two days of whale watching, two days in the heart of South Africa's wine country, with multiple winery visits and tastings led by a very knowledgeable guide, three safaris (11 safari days in total), and six days relaxing by the Indian Ocean at an amazing, intimate, foodie paradise complete with free daily massages.

He also arranged all transfers ‒ car and large and small planes ‒ and had someone help us find a good deal on our transatlantic flights. Every vendor he selected was excellent and there was not a single glitch the whole trip, despite the numerous transfers.

What impressed me the most was his knowledge of all the properties and the thought he put into the ones he suggested, including the order of our stays. For example, he gave us plenty of time to relax and explore the Cape Town, Hermanus (whales), and Stellenbosch (wine) areas before going on our safaris. He then had our first safari stay be a tented camp. It was very comfortable and we enjoyed it immensely, seeing four of the Big Five there. Then, he stepped us up to somewhat fancier accommodations for our second safari, also an amazing experience, where we saw the last of the Big Five and the quite rare wild dogs (or painted wolves as they are sometimes known). Our last safari stay was one he had to talk me into because it seemed like the accommodations were fancier than what we were looking for or needed. However, he assured me that the experience would also be a step up, and wow, was he right. While the accommodations were great, what made the experience perfect was the knowledge of our guide, his tracking ability, and the unique location of the reserve, which even in drought conditions had a river running through it that attracted lots of animals we hadn't seen elsewhere. Our safaris were all on private land adjoining unfenced game reserves, so the animals could travel freely back and forth. We weren't faced with a slew of other vehicles vying to see the animals and we were able to go off-road to better track the animals we were following.

The back-and-forth dialogue with our agent in the planning process was something I truly appreciated. While some people might want to just set a budget and get a final itinerary (which I'm sure our agent can do), I wanted a more interactive process where he would give us different options and we would discuss the pros and cons, and then come to a decision. No question was too stupid and he never tried to rush us. I would book with him again in a heartbeat and have already recommended him to several friends.

On top of all I've already mentioned, he was fantastic when we had to delay our trip for a year because I learned shortly before we were going to go that I had to undergo chemotherapy. He was great in helping me make my claim on my travel insurance and in working with the properties so I was out very little money at all. And amazingly, when I was finally cleared to go, he was able to rebook almost exactly the same itinerary we had originally planned. There were also some other nice surprise extras he arranged, but I won't spoil them for you by saying what they were. I will say, however, that I can't imagine a more perfect trip or a more perfect travel agent to work with!