Aside from the half day city tour with Gazelle as reviewed, I had also taken a 8 days 7 nights Trip with Gazelle in Uganda.
As a female solo traveller, being able to experience the local culture whilst ensuring safety are my top priorities. As an avid solo traveller herself, Annabel (Ann), was able to step into my shoes and ensure that freedom was not compromised at the expenses of security. From the initial planning stage till the last day at Uganda, Ann had been extremely helpful in selecting accommodation, planning the tour to accede to my interests, and managing expenses to fit my budget. Despite some minor hiccups in communication, Ann was quick to adapt to my mindset and understanding. Ann had great connections in the industry and was able to efficiently resolve last-minute emergencies. Ann also makes sure that she gets to meet the client as they land and she has been very open to receiving feedbacks of all sorts, always trying to improve and excel. Overall, Ann is an amazing figure when it comes to empowering women in the tourism industry and I am always in awe of her hospitality.
With regards to the trip itself, I had the opportunity to pair up with guide Richard, who is the guide-to-go when it comes to female solo traveller as he had the resemblance of a father figure. Richard made sure that all my needs were well accommodated and was also a great driver when it comes to arriving at the destination safe and on time. Richard is also a guide with big personality and his own points of view, certainly conducive to informative conservations. Overall, communications can help ensure that both of us are on the same page.
I had been able to successfully track the chimps, gorilla, and golden monkey, as well as visiting the local communities. This cannot be done without the assistance of Ann and Richard. One tip will be to opt for road trip as opposed to aircrafts (despite the relatively long travels), that way one can see more of the local life and culture on the way, and view Uganda from a perspective that is not normally available to tourists.
If you want a taste of the local life and indulge in the local lifestyle, choose Gazelle.