Classic Africa Safaris
Classic Africa Safaris is a long-established DMC, exclusively working with the travel trade and specializing in tailor-made FITs, custom safaris, and group travel in Rwanda and Uganda, plus fly-ins for gorilla extensions in both countries. Their team of local experts provides a thoughtful, unbiased approach to designing each itinerary to ensure it is the best fit for your clients. With CAS, every adventure is different and each safari unique. They strive to connect your travelers with the people, wildlife, and places they love!
Rwanda
Rwanda
Rwanda is a flourishing country of fertile and lush mountainous terrain. This small country bears the title ‘Land of a Thousand Hills.’ Rwanda is also home to ‘Virungas’ – great old volcanoes that tower above the landscape to almost 15,000 feet and are covered with rich, green rainforest. A beautiful country to explore!
Uganda
Uganda
Uganda is described as ‘the pearl of Africa’ and it is easy to see why! Nestled in the Great Rift Valley, Uganda is situated where East African savannah meets West African jungle. This harmonious situation provides a very special and unique opportunities for safaris that can include primates and a vast array of game and birdlife.
Gorilla Trekking
Gorilla Trekking
Just over 1,000 mountain gorillas remain on our fragile planet, of which 604 are located in the Virunga Massif (Rwanda/Uganda/ DRC), and 459 are located in Uganda’s Bwindi NP. Setting off to track gorillas is a once-in-a-lifetime experience and takes thoughtful planning. CAS is here to help every step of the way!
What Makes Classic Africa Safaris Unique?
- 40+ Years of Expertise: A proven track record in designing seamless and authentic tailor-made journeys with profound regional knowledge as an independent DMC.
- Unbiased Itinerary Design: Operating independently allows them to select from a diverse, carefully curated number of camps and lodges across Uganda and Rwanda to find the absolute best fit for your guests.
- Expert Team of Guides: CAS guides are an extraordinary group of enthusiastic professionals who bring years of on-the-road experience, continuous wildlife training, and deep historical knowledge to every safari—all while feeling like family.
- In-House Vehicle Fabrication & Maintenance: Their custom-built safari vehicles are built to unmatched standards, maintained by a dedicated team of skilled workshop mechanics to ensure peak performance for remote East African terrain.
- Pioneering Sustainability & Carbon Neutrality: As the very first safari company in Uganda and Rwanda to achieve carbon-neutral status, CAS offsets its annual carbon footprint through Trees for Global Benefits, a cooperative carbon offsetting project that combines rural livelihood improvement with carbon sequestration through disadvantaged smallholder-led agro-forestry initiatives in Uganda.
Meet Phil, Mel and the CAS team!
CAS founders/owners Phil Ward and Mel Gormley have a collective 75 years of experience in the East Africa safari business. They founded Classic in 2001 and are based in Entebbe, Uganda, and offer services in both Uganda and Rwanda. Want proof of their long history in the safari industry? Have a look at this Instagram post featuring a young Mel and this Instagram post featuring a young Phil! Mel heads the vehicle workshop and is based in Entebbe. Phil focuses on the accounts side these days and supports sales from time to time, as needed.
Community and Conservation
Classic Africa Safaris are ardent supporters of eco-friendly, sustainable, and community-based tourism. They are the first safari company in Uganda and Rwanda to become carbon neutral and are proud to support programs such as Entebbe Primary School and their mountain porters. Read more about various other community and conservation programs here.Â
