Reviews

Sort By: Date Most Helpful Rating 11-20 of 166 Reviews
Nafla   –  
Oman OM
Visited: August 2024 Reviewed: Aug 28, 2024

Email Nafla  |  65+ years of age  |  Experience level: 2-5 safaris

Ngoni has given us a wonderfully memorable trip of a lifetime.
5/5

Sedrick, the owner, was helpful and responsive to our every wish. He upgraded our hotels to ensure we were comfortable. And Amza our guide, was knowledgable, patient and supportive of us, ensuring we were comfortable, safe and enjoying everything in Rwanda. We are already planning another trip with Ngoni, this time to Uganda. I highly recommend Ngoni.

Mike   –  
Canada CA
Visited: August 2024 Reviewed: Aug 26, 2024

Email Mike  |  50-65 years of age  |  Experience level: first safari

Ngoni Safaris provides the ultimate Uganda Safari experience!
5/5

From the moment we were picked up at the airport until the end of our 10 day Uganda Safari, our trip with Ngoni Safaris was nothing short of amazing.

Our guide Allan was awesome. He knows so much about Uganda, and the various animals and birds you may encounter along the trip. He loves what he does and his passion for the Uganda Safari experience was inspiring. Allan may also have the best eyesight of anyone I've ever met which is helpful when spotting wildlife from the road. If you're lucky to go on Safari with Allan you will have a wonderful time.

We arrived in Entebbe a day early and we're thrilled that Ngoni planned an extra tour of Kampala with Allan during our free day.

Over the following 10 days we experienced everything we could have imagined and so much more. Sedrick Bwire and his team at Ngoni have curated a perfect mix of wildlife safari experiences, cultural and historical tours and a few other fun stops along the way. The lodges ranged from rustic to luxurious but always had incredible staff, amenities, service and security. The delicious local food, along with other international offerings were some of the best I've ever had.

It's hard to believe we coordinated this entire journey with Sedrick over WhatsApp. He answered dozens of our questions and even came to meet us before we left Kampala.

We will be sharing our itinerary with all of our friends and highly recommend Ngoni Safaris for your African adventure.

Giuseppe   –  
Italy IT
Visited: August 2024 Reviewed: Aug 26, 2024

Email Giuseppe  |  35-50 years of age  |  Experience level: first safari

Excellent! Unforgettable trip
5/5

After many researches on internet, we decided to book our trip with Ngoni Safari. In particular, thanks to their reviews and their post on social medias. Sedrick, the TO owner, is very responsive on Whatsapp since the very beginning providing you a draft itinerary and allowing you to personalize it, if necessary. The price is in line with main competitors but I positively highlight that include entrance fees to all the parks included in the itinerary. It's worth mentioning that all the proposed lodges were located near the main parks/trekking entrance (no more than 5 minutes from the Chimps and Gorillas trekking), with a good value for money.
After booking confirmation, you will receive support directly from Sedrick with all the tips you need to be prepared for your trip.
A special thanks goes to the Allan, our driver, who made our 8-day trip in Uganda unforgettable. His passion for wildlife and nature, other than his excellent driving skills, made our journey even more memorable. Thanks to Allan we had also the chance to taste local street food (Ugandian rolex) and local fruits. During our trip, he was very flexible in rearranging the daily schedule to suit our wishes and allowing us to see as much as possible.

We highly recommend Ngoni Safari for anyone seeking a genuine Uganda trip.

TW CHOO   –  
Singapore SG
Visited: August 2024 Reviewed: Aug 24, 2024

Email TW CHOO  |  20-35 years of age  |  Experience level: first safari

A Perfect Holiday In The Pearl Of Africa
5/5

My first trip to the continent spanned about 9 days and I would say it was one of the best trips I have ever been on.

Ngoni Safaris provided a wonderful guide, James, who is very knowledgeable and skilled with past experience working in the national parks as well. He knew how to locate animals and spent time to educate me on the behaviors and adaptations of the various wildlife spotted during the trip. He was also always very helpful and took very good care of me. It was a joy to have been able to travel with him while I was in Uganda. James' capabilities and service alone warrants this experience the "Excellent" rating it has received from me.

The accommodation was all quite comfortable and enjoyable with nice food. The vehicle was spacious and comfortable. Overall, I felt quite safe with the travel arrangements.

Uganda is a beautiful country. I cannot wait to visit it again someday.

Giuseppe Maraziti   –  
Italy IT
Visited: August 2024 Reviewed: Aug 23, 2024

Email Giuseppe Maraziti  |  50-65 years of age  |  Experience level: 2-5 safaris

A very serious and professional company
5/5

I spent 1 week around Uganda parks, and NGONI organized all things perfectly! Scheduling was arranged in the better way, and accomodations were always amazing and very confortable. Our guide and driver David managed in excelent way all situations, and he was very helpful in many occasions!
During the planning of the tour, Sedrick, the Ngoni Safaris owner, was always quick to answer any questions and provide any clarifications requested.
If I will be back to Uganda, I surely will contact again NGONI!
And I surely recommend NGONI to everyone wants to explore Uganda!
I think that NGONI Safaris and its personnel are They are a guarantee of seriousness, professionalism and attention to the customer!
Thank you NGONI!

Ángel B.   –  
Spain ES
Visited: August 2024 Reviewed: Aug 15, 2024

Email Ángel B.  |  50-65 years of age  |  Experience level: over 5 safaris

18 Uganda trip with Ngoni. Excellent
5/5

After many search, we decided to to our trip in Uganda with ngoni. Excellent choose. Very profesional, good car, excellent guide (Eli), managing very quick when we had to adapt the travel needs. In top of the most popular destinations (Queen, Gorillas, Murchison, sippi, Jinja rhinos,….) we went to visit karamonja in Moroto. It is a must!! Don’t loose! Lideró also, we far from tre traditional trip, is other destination we liked a lot. Ngoni helped us to fill Africa as never we had (and we have been traveling for 15 African countries. If you need any advise, contact me in private

VJ   –  
United States US
Visited: July 2024 Reviewed: Aug 1, 2024

Email VJ  |  20-35 years of age  |  Experience level: over 5 safaris

Incredible tour guide, unforgettable experiences
5/5

We spent 9 unforgettable days in Uganda, immersing ourselves in its incredible wildlife and natural beauty. The highlights of our trip were undoubtedly the tours to see the chimpanzees and gorillas. These encounters were awe-inspiring, providing us with a rare and intimate look at these magnificent creatures in their natural habitats. In addition to the primates, we also saw elephants, lions, leopards, and many other remarkable animals, making each day of our journey thrilling and memorable. We always felt safe and relaxed, allowing us to fully enjoy the experience.

What went really well:
* Eddy, our guide, was phenomenal. He was highly experienced, knowledgeable, organized, and extremely considerate. As a veteran in the industry, he remains to be enthuisatic about animals. In the park, he amazed us by spotting animals from great distances. Outside of the park, he arranged the trip seamlessly, ensuring there were no unnecessary surprises. Among the safari guides we've worked with in various countries, including Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, and Zimbabwe, Eddy provided the absolute best service. We could feel his passion on this job and he always strive for excellence. I highy suggest you reach out to him if you want to explore Uganda.
* The chimpanzee trekking and gorilla trekking in Kibale national park and Bwindi national park are incredible. The guides are professional and caring, providing a safe and exciting experiences. We did not need to hike for a long time before seeing the gentle giants. The silverback gorillas moved towards us and sat within 20 feet, eating and resting. The experience was phenominal.

What went good:
* The itinerary provided by Ngoni was overall reasonable. We opted for the mid-range accommodations listed on the website without much customization. Their pricing is very competitive compared to other agencies offering similar tours and accommodations.
* One highlight was the Turaco Treetops lodge in Kibale National Park, which was not initially on the itinerary but was offered as a free upgrade by Ngoni. The rooms were comfortable, and the food was delicious. The nature walk offered by the hotel exceeded our expectations, allowing us to see monkeys, numerous birds, and butterflies. The Buffalo Safari Lodge near Queen Elizabeth National Park was also top-notch.
* While some other lodges we stayed at were not as fantastic, they were adequate for the price. However, the lodge at Murchison Fort was quite far from the park, and the road to it was extremely rough. I recommend working with the agency to find an alternative, even at a higher price.
At Rushaga Gorilla Camp, which is a nice lodge overall, be cautious about charging devices in your room. We were alarmed to see smoke coming from our chargers due to the lodge generating its own power because of the unstable power grid in the area.
* Above all, you pay for what you get and I believe Ngoni offer better accomodations in general compared to other agencies I communicated with. If you value comfort more, do not hesitant to discuss with the agency to find better options.

What coul've been better:
* When we booked the trip, we specifically requested the Gorilla Habituation Program (4 hours and $1500 pps) and were assured by Ngoni that everything was reserved. However, a day before the trek, we were informed that only one permit had been secured and that they were unable to obtain the second one for some reason. Our disappointment was not due to the unavailability of the permit, as we understand how difficult it is to secure. Instead, it stemmed from the fact that Ngoni initially claimed everything was booked, only to later tell us otherwise. This inconsistency broke our trust and expectations. If they had been transparent from the beginning, informing us that only one permit was secured and they were trying their best to obtain the second, we would have been more understanding. The team sincerely apologized after it happened and refund the difference between the Habituation Program and normal one hour Gorilla trekking.
* Before making the payment, Ngoni responded to my emails very promptly. However, after paying the deposit, his responses became noticeably slower on both email and WhatsApp. This wasn't a major issue for me, but I wanted to mention it in case it's something you might care about.

The tour provided by Ngoni was almost perfect and offered great value for money. If we consider it as a 10-day Uganda tour with one hour of gorilla trekking, it truly exceeded expectations. You couldn't ask for more. I still recommend Ngoni as long as you are not too picky about the communications.

While Kenya and Tanzania frequently come to mind when discussing East African safaris, and Rwanda is renowned for its gorilla tours, Uganda remains underrepresented on social media. This makes Uganda a hidden gem for safari enthusiasts. I highly recommend visiting Uganda, especially for those interested in gorilla and chimpanzee tours, for a truly unique and extraordinary safari experience.

Luke and Lucia   –  
Australia AU
Visited: July 2024 Reviewed: Jul 29, 2024

Email Luke and Lucia

Incredibly organised, professional and beyond our expectations.
5/5

We recently completed an incredible 8-day tour with Ngoni Safari Company for our honeymoon, and it was an experience we’ll cherish forever. Every detail of the trip was thoughtfully arranged, making for a seamless and enjoyable adventure.

A standout feature of our journey was the gorilla trekking experience. Observing these majestic creatures up close, including a very new baby gorilla, was a once-in-a-lifetime event that left us in awe. Additionally, spotting a baby leopard was an exhilarating surprise that added to the excitement of our safari. This was all thanks to our guide David. It was actually the first time he has ever seen one in his 9 year experience and he went above and beyond to reach our want of seeing baby animals.

Our guide, David, was exceptional. His professionalism, deep knowledge, and passion for wildlife greatly enriched our experience. David’s expertise and attentive nature made our journey even more memorable, and his dedication to ensuring we had the best possible experience did not go unnoticed.

Ngoni Safari Company delivered outstanding service throughout our trip. The accommodations were comfortable and well-chosen, and the entire tour was expertly organised

We highly recommend Ngoni Safari Company for anyone seeking a genuine African safari experience in Uganda.

Peter and Biggi   –  
Germany DE
Visited: January 2024 Reviewed: Jul 22, 2024

Email Peter and Biggi  |  50-65 years of age  |  Experience level: over 5 safaris

Ngoni has our full recommendation for a safari in Uganda
5/5

Small travelogue Uganda January/February 2024
Almost punctually, it started on January 24th shortly after 11 a.m. at Nuremberg's Albrecht-Dürer Airport via Istanbul to Entebbe. Once there, we were welcomed by our two guides Elli and Joseph around 6 o'clock in the morning and first brought to the Seven Seasons Hotel to relax. In the afternoon the first trip to the botanical garden of Entebbe. It was founded in 1902 during the colonial period by the English and has a great variety of plants, shrubs and trees. We were also able to observe the first monkey species such as mantled monkeys and vervet monkeys.
The next day we started early in the morning to the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. In this great park we were able to admire 13 rhinos while tracking with a local ranger. Simply indescribable this sight, we came up to about 20m to these magnificent animals. After a short night at the Bomah Hotel in Gulu, we went on to the Zebra Lodge in the Kidepo Valley National Park for 2 nights.
This park is located in the drier north of Uganda on the borders with Kenya and South Sudan. On the game drives we could see huge herds of buffalo, a lot of elephants, bumbas (warthogs), some giraffes and various impala species. This savannah landscape there is simply indescribably beautiful. A highlight was the visit to Idi Amin's former residence in the park of the Katurum Lodge.
After another night in the Bomah Hotel, due to the longer distance, we went to the Murchison Falls National Park. Here the Pakuba Safari Lodge was our accommodation for 2 days. This is located in the middle of the park with a small waterhole and a wonderful pool, which gave us the first slight sunburn. On our game drives we had a lot of animal sightings, saw our first lions in Uganda and as a highlight a leopard in its tree hideout. We ended the evening at the campfire with guitar music and singing by our new Canadian friends Beggi and Tom.
It can actually go on like this!! The next day, after the morning game drive and lunch at the lodge, we went to the Nile for a boat trip upstream to Murchison Falls. Along the Nile we could see buffalo, elephants, monitor lizards and also some large crocodiles in addition to many bird species. But the sight of the waterfall from below was already very impressive, but it should get even better.
The trip directly to the falls was not planned until the next day, but Elli, our guide, had a feeling and we arrived at the top of the waterfall after a short drive and a small footpath. The rushing and raging, the spray, the play of light until sunset, just awesome, fantastic and indescribably beautiful. An impression that will last forever!!
Early in the morning when we left the Pakuba Lodge, a herd of elephants stood almost directly in front of our room, which leisurely made its rounds through the grounds and our departure was delayed a bit. But we reached Kibale Forest Camp in time for lunch. In the afternoon we went on an excursion "country and people" incl . Medicine man, coffee roastery, basket weaving art and banana beer brewery. A must if you want to get to know the culture of these great people. In addition to the beer tasting, there was also a great home-distilled banana schnapps. The way back to the camp took a little longer!!
The next morning we set off for a wonderful walk in the forest before we went to the chimpanzee trekking in the Kibale National Park in the afternoon. After a few mud holes, wet shoes and dripping pants, there they were, the chimpanzees. Wonderful to be able to watch our closest relatives up close, unforgettable moments simply!!
On the 10th day of our round trip through Uganda, we continued across the equator into the Queen Elizabeth National Park. Here we were accommodated in the Buffalo Safari Lodge. During the game drives we could observe a lioness with her 4 cubs, but the absolute hammer was a bull elephant who visited us while bathing in the pool of the lodge and drank a few liters of water from the pool with his trunk. Again a highlight that you won't forget!!
The next day we went on a boat trip on the Kazinga Channel, which connects the Edouard with Lake George. Here, too, we were able to observe a lot of elephants, buffaloes, many bird species and hippos. Crocodiles only came in front of our lens this time. But such a boat trip is just awesome, simply recommendable!!
After 2 nights in the Buffalo Lodge, we went to the highlands, to the rainforest of the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park to the Rushaga Gorilla Camp. The temperature difference was really big, in the evening hot water bottles were put in bed so it was cozy and warm for us. After breakfast and a very short drive, the lodge is located about 300m away from the starting point of the gorilla trekking. We were greeted by a dance group and after a detailed briefing we started. In total, we were on the road for almost three and a half hours, uphill and downhill, through the thicket, over small streams and mud holes, but after about 80 minutes of extreme conditions we could see them. A mountain gorilla family, the silverback with about 14 family members, we were sometimes only about 2 meters next to these great creatures. Unfortunately, after 10 minutes it started to rain very heavily and the animals crawled under a large bush. Quickly threw on a ponch and followed the family. Overlooking the fact that the poncho is large up to the feet and thus a mud hole is taken upside down. After about 30 minutes of heavy rain, the gorillas came out of their hiding place again and we got some encore to take pictures during the normal hour of stay before we went back to the starting point. A small detour was necessary because our path crossed with an elephant. After handing over our gorilla certificate, we went back to Rushaga Camp to shower and change before we reviewed our experiences at the campfire in the evening. Day 14 of our trip came, we went to Lake Bunyonyi with tremendously heavy legs and sore muscles. There we were transferred by boat to a small island called Habuhdro Iceland. A wonderful gem to relax, here you could simply unwind with a good cool Nile beer. A dream of an island that could be circumnavigated on foot in just under 15 minutes. The next morning, after a good night's sleep, we took the boat back to civilization and on to Lake Mburo National Park. Here, too, we had a wonderful lodge with a view of the wide valley of the park, the Kigarama Wilderness Lodge. On our last game drive in the park we saw a lot of giraffes, buffaloes, antelopes and also some hippos. We were also able to leave our jeep and came within about 4 meters of the giraffes, which were watching us curiously. But unfortunately our adventure slowly came to an end the next day, we stayed at the Seven Seasons for a few hours and then drove to the airport the next morning at 3 a.m. where we took Turkish Airlines back home to Nuremberg via Istenbul. A special thank you goes to our two guides Joseph and Elli!! We had a lot of fun with the two of them during the 16 days, they brought us safely and reliably across Uganda and brought us much closer to the wildlife, nature and culture through their knowledge. In addition, Sedrick the boss of Ngoni Safaris who planned this unique tour for us as well as all the staff of the hotels and lodges, we were warmly welcomed and entertained everywhere, we will definitely travel to this great country again!!
Freely adapted from Hemingway:
„If I´ve ever seen Magic, it was in Africa“

Korte   –  
United States US
Visited: July 2024 Reviewed: Jul 20, 2024

Email Korte  |  20-35 years of age  |  Experience level: 2-5 safaris

Expert-level insights, delivered in an upbeat, fun way.
5/5

Expertly planned. Charming guide. Clear communication. Saw 4 of the Big 5 in 4 hours. Ngoni Safari is the company to use. Eddy was our guide, and we couldn’t have asked for a better experience. Eddy was upbeat, insightful, informative, and seemed to know every other park ranger and tour guide we came across. Eddy is the best. Our group of 5 loved the accommodations Ngoni Safari put together for us in Murchinson Falls Park, staying at Tilenga Safari Lodge, for our 3-day Safari (2 days in the park, and 1 travel day round trip to Entebbe). I recommend you make the best tour decision for you, and go with Eddy at Ngoni. It was overall great value for the money.

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