Field photo setting off for rhino tracking
Karumuna Safaris
- Offices In:
-
Australia
- Size:
- 5-10 employees (Founded in 2010)
- Member Of:
- Uganda Tourism Board
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range & luxury tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $70 to $600 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
for a custom tour
Your request will be sent directly to the operator
If preferred, you can contact the operator directly
Reviews
ES
Email Javier | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Stress, lies and nature
I booked (and paid) a Safari in 2019, which would happen in 2020, for 5 days including: chimps in Kibale, gorillas, climbing lions safari, and birding in Mabamba Swamp.
Obviously, COVID came and we couldn't make the trip in 2020. Richard (the owner), said that it was OK and that we could postpone everything to 2021, but he wasn't able to return the money. 2021 arrived, and we were not yet vaccinated, so at first, we decided to go but then we postponed again. Richard said that it was okay, with no penalties for postponing to 2022.
2022 arrives and around April I start moving everything for July of that year. We fix the dates, I buy the planes and everything seems to be okey. A couple of weeks later, the first unpleasant surprise, Richard tells me that the gorilla permits have expired, and we need to pay again. Even though he was explicit on the opposite a year before. We were angry, but what could we do, we paid again. Starting from that date, I asked like 6 times during the coming months for an official itinerary of the Safari, with the specific dates and what was included. Richard didn't send anything. A week before going to Uganda, he sends me the itinerary, and it was wrong!! The gorillas were booked for the day I was supposed to leave the country. Imagine my stress, ONE WEEK EARLIER with no gorillas, because Richard told me even in April that we should book the gorillas right away because it gets sold out very very quickly.
He said a couple of days later that everything was ok with the gorillas, but the chimps were not going to be in Kibale, but in Kalinzu. I paid 150$ for Kibale and the fee for Kalinzu was 45$. I didn't receive back any money.
We arrive in the country. The planning (roughly) was:
1-. Arriving + Transfer to Chimps zone
2-. Chimps + boat trip
3-. Safari + transfer to gorillas
4-. Gorillas
5-. Birding + departure flight
First day, everything OK.
Second day, chimps. We were alone in Kalinzu, I suppose because it's way worse than Kibale. Terrible surprise, Richard ask me on Whatsapp to borrow him 500$!!! Something about his mother. WTF I thought. Very angry, I answer him that no, I would not give him any money and he ask again for 100$! At that point, I was equally upset and surprised.
Third day. We arrive at Ishasha, and the guide tells us that the national park is closed because of an injured animal. I tell him that then what about the money that I paid for the entrance and how is it possible that an entire park closes without prior notification causing inconveniences to all the visitors. After insisting a couple of times, he said that we could try on the other entrance. We go to the other entrance, and after a couple of minutes of speaking with the people in the park, the guide comes out of the reception tent of the park with a soldier, and the soldier tells us that it was some elephant in the middle of the road that the veterinaries were healing. Big lie, and the soldier was for increasing credibility, I suppose. We arrive at the end of the day at Bwindi. The accommodation was super amazing, and because of that I was a little bit disappointed because we were supposed to start our day at 8 AM, but the guide eventually changed it to 9, and that hour in the balcony of the accommodation would have been amazing.
When we were having dinner, another terrible moment. Richard WhatsApp me, telling me that we were not going to make it to the Birding because watching the gorillas + transfer to Entebbe is too much for one day. Obviously, I was mad again. I asked about the money, and he refused to give anything back. The only option we had is to drive a long long time during the night for arriving on time. This was a bad option because the driving in Uganda is crazy, and even worse at 2 AM with a guide that has driven for 10 hours already.
Forth day. The guides make sure that we were with the group that would arrive quicker to the gorillas. Luckily, we saw the gorillas early and we started heading to Entebbe. We arrived at our very late in the night and we woke up at 04:30 to make it to the birding.
Fifth day. Woken up at 04:30, went to the birding and then to the airport. End of the trip.
The guides made everything that was on their hands to make our trip comfortable, they drove uncountless hours and were very nice to us, but the owner is a very unprofessional person that made our trip very unpleasant for moments, so I can't recommend him.
DE
Email Asia | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Christmas was exceptional with Karumuna Safaris
We spent our Christmas in the untouched Kidepo National Park.
Me and my family members enjoyed the ostriches, cheetahs, and more wildlife species.
It was an exceptional experience.
Email Priya | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
DO NOT TRUST. SCAMMER. TRAVEL AGENT FROM HELL
•Cancelled tour 1 day before flight from London and we PAID OVER $1000 USD to reschedule flights and accommodation, because he did not disclose that he failed to get the permit
•Booked SUBPAR accommodation and transport, from what was agreed.
•Still OWES US MONEY (waiting 6 months) for the disorganisation and troubles.
•Lack of communication and updates
•CHANGED OUR INTERNAL FLIGHTS without telling us resulting in stopovers and delays.
I have email proof of all of this for anyone who still wants to book with them.
OVERALL A REALLY NEGATIVE AND HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE OF OUR FIRST IN UGANDA.
Reply from Karumuna Safaris
Posted on Jan 3, 2023Thanks Priya for the review but be informed that changes came in due to permits sold out we informed the company paid extra costs on your domestic flights, paid extra money on the accommodation and rescheduled your gorilla permits to make sure your trip is done accordingly we sorry for what happened but we give services even paid more money to make sure your trip is done in proper way and you do not owes us money. you did your successful trip in September but you talking of six months
Email DJ Darlion | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
he was a nice guy, he knew what he was always talking about. he was so welcoming and always on time
They have good customer care and i highly recommend them for any one willing to travel or go for a road trip
Can’t wait for another adventure with you guys this year.
Email Jim | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Extraordinary
It was my best day ,I enjoyed my money, sincerely speaking you people are best,with professional driver and the best tour guides ,,
Email Owiny | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Excellent and professional
They have good customer care and clientele
I highly recommend them for any one willing to travel or go for a road trip
Can’t wait my next road trip with them
Email Jeffgets | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
A well versed with what he does, friendly to all people.
Its a trip that is worthy your money, just from the beginning of the journey, the sites we visited , the food we ate and the friendly people who took us through. I will recommend anyone anytime to try Karumuna Safaris for the fast experience.
Email Hudson | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Successful Trip
I had a 2 night and 3day Murchison Falls NP trip with Karumuna Safaris, I really enjoyed each and everything about the tour. I can say that I really felt the value of my money, enjoyed quality services, tour guide and the driver are so professional, Accommodation was so conducive. Thank you Karumuna Safaris, see you soon!
Email Agaba Dalson | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Extraordinary services
I travelled with Karumuna safaris on a Christmas holiday with my friends but guess what the services were beyond our expectations.
Our guide Richard made it very possible for us to get what we never even expected from our 4 days safari to murchison falls national park and Ziwa rhino sanctuary via masindi town.
How sweet, terrifying was murchison falls which happens to be the world's strongest waterfall, how sweet was wildlife!!!!!! The boat cruise on the Victoria Nile it was wonderful
Ooooh
LV
Email DZINTRIS | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Be careful with this company
It's very sad because previously travelling with Karumuna (we did it three times) had no big problems. This time, however, the unpleasantness overcame everything. A number of services were not paid. So we had to pay for a second time in several places for accommodation and food. There were also no paid hikes for chimpanzees and gorillas. The owner of the Karumuna kept promising that the money issues would settle. Right away. An hour later. Two hours later. Tomorrow. Even now that we are already returning home, it is still promising that the money will be returned. We don't believe it anymore. It is a great pity that the visions of many travelers of the beautiful country, Uganda- Pearl of Africa, have been ruined.It's not exactly a clear reason why our money was missing. The most unpleasant, though, are the empty promises. I now i will travel Uganda again. Becose of very beauty and nice country and friendly people. But not with Karumuna. Never.
Reply from Karumuna Safaris
Posted on Nov 30, 2021Yes it true Karumuna safaris could not reach your expectations but we also believe it was not our first time working together. As a company we experienced scum which i tried to explain and i hope you also understand the situation which was in the country due to covid19.
we had worked together three (3) consecutive safaris without experiencing hardships but as we said the company always do refunds in incase of such experiences and we are looking forward to refund.
we are really sorry for the bad experience but we promise it will never happen again.
Thank you.