Tech Kindred

Walter’s Boda Boda Tours - A Review

It’s taken me a while to finally write a review of Walter’s Boda Boda Tours (WBBT), one of the well known tour operators in Kampala, Uganda.  Last April, I had the exceptional opportunity to visit the ThoughtWorks Kampala office, and since my trip included a weekend stay, I used the time to tour the city. (This review is only for WBBT’s Kampala Tour - I wish I had more time to see other parts of Uganda). 

First off, I was a bit nervous about touring the city on a boda boda.  For the uninitiated, boda bodas are essentially motorcycle taxis with enough room for you and the driver.  Just like taxis everywhere, you can hail a boda boda from the street.  Before going on the tour with Walter’s crew, let’s just say my first couple rides were harrowing experiences.  Taking potholes, at high speed, while you’re barely holding on to the back of an unfamiliar motorcycle, without a helmet, is nerve racking at best; especially for a privileged American used to cushy Ubers and such.  Walter’s Boda Boda Kampla Tour, however, is an oasis in the boda boda desert - it’s excellent. 

The biggest difference, as you can see above, is WBBT takes safety seriously.  I had an actual helmet that was in good condition.  The drivers aren’t slow, but they aren’t speed demons either, striking a good balance.  They don’t hit every pothole with gusto. Most importantly, your drivers are with you for the whole experience, showing you the town while making sure no one else takes you for a ride.  They are knowledgeable, flexible, and simultaneously not overbearing.

The whole experience from start to finish is set up well.  Walter promptly responded to my email and scheduled my day tour.  The options and prices were clear.  At no point was I worried about hidden costs or upsells.  Essentially, Walter’s a good business man.  You feel like he’s on it, like he’s hustling, like he’s there to give you a good time, while taking care of his crew. At the end of my core tour, I had the option of grabbing some good local eats with my driver.  We had a great time - it’s the only time I’ve had real engaging conversation with a tour guide.

I also was able to take some solid photos.  If you’re a photog, the Kampala tour will bring you to many of the well-known sites. I had with me my old Panasonic GF2 with a 14mm F 2.5 lens (28mm in full-frame terms) - great for wide angle city-views, and discrete enough for street-shooting from the back of a moving bike. The majority of my shooting was from the hip.  Below are some highlights, including the Bahá’i temple, Gaddafi Mosque, and Idi Amin’s torture chambers (which are a deep experience) :

Overall, I highly recommend WBBT.  The only minor thing that I wish, in retrospect, is that the Kampala tour would include the city’s large churches (Anglican and Catholic). From a distance, the cathedrals look like they are worth seeing and a majority of Ugandans are Christian, but the tour shows you everything but. If you are a foreigner in Kampala, Walter’s Boda Boda Tours are a must try.

Update:  Here’s the photo album on Flickr.