Water experiment at the Equator -Uganda
Katona Tours & Travel
- Located In:
- Size:
- 20-50 employees (Founded in 2002)
- Member Of:
- AUTO - Association Of Uganda Tour Operators, UWA - Uganda Wild life Authority & UTB - Uganda Tourism Board
- Tour Types:
- Customizable private tours and fixed group tours
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $70 to $700 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
NL
Email Karen + Godert | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Excellent organization to experience a great safari/trip in beautiful Uganda!
We experienced a great trip with Katona end december 2015 to Bwindi and Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Our friendly and reliable driver/guide Richard picked us up at Entebbe airport for a day of relaxation in Cassia Lodge in Kampala (great view).
From the Katona office Jackie is a super liaison officer, with her we organised our trip via internet/E-mail, her communication skills are outstanding, also during the trip.
We visited Bwindi and encountered the mountain gorilla's and Richard aligned us with a children's orphanage near the Trekkers Tavern, a basic and wonderful place to stay. In QE Nat Park we stayed in Twin Lake Lodge, very recommendable due to its nice setting. The boat trip in QE has been one of the highlights of the trip.
Overall we'll recommend Katona Tours & Travel, and particularly the services from Jackie and Richard!
US
Email Katheryn | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Fantastic trip!!
My friend and I (2 single females) booked a 7 day gorilla trekking trip with Katona in December 2015. Our guide was Jack and I cannot say enough great things about him! He has worked all over Uganda so everywhere you go, he will know the people working there as he once worked there himself (including Queen Elizabeth, chimp tracking and gorilla trekking). So we were basically extremely well cared for:) On safari in Queen Elizabeth, he was in constant communication with people working there to know where all the lions were hanging out each day. He went above and beyond in making sure we had a great time, felt safe at all times, and were 110% satisfied. I would have no hesitation at all sending anyone to hang out with Jack for a week:)
Jackie was also phenomenal. I've never experienced having emails answered so promptly, she really must be at her computer at all hours of the day! She also called during our week of traveling to make sure that everything was going well with our tour.
The deposit has to be wire transferred, which is a bit different than how companies operate in the U.S. but it is just how things are done in Uganda. Everything was completely on the up and up, Jackie emailed me when she received the funds, and even provided a scanned copy of our gorilla trekking permits as soon as they were processed (the deposit is used primarily to immediately ensure you have permits for the day you are trekking).
In summary, Katona is a really really great company and allowed us to have a phenomenal experience in Uganda!!
FI
Email Paavo | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Fantastic tour company for your Ugandan safari
We arranged a 6-day safari with Katona to cover (some of) the highlights of Uganda: Bwindi for gorillas, Queen Elizabeth for lions and Kibale for chimpanzees. We couldn't have been happier with choosing Jackie and her guides as the trip exceeded even our quite high expectations.
Jackie was very helpful and super responsive in setting up the itinerary. She had perfect recommendations for where to stay (I would go back to any of the lodges in a heart beat) as well as what to do. Deposit and final payments were done as a bank transfer, which is common, and there were no problems.
Our guide, Richard, must be the most positive man on the planet! He's super friendly, nice to talk with, always making sure everything is well for us and - on top of that and perhaps most importantly - he was superb guide both in terms of explaining what we are seeing as well as arranging things you wouldn't expect to be possible. You know, like seeing a leopard in Queen Elizabeth from 10 meters for 15 minutes ("patience, it will come out of the bush and we are at the ringside").
I have only good things to say about Katona Tours and Travel. Highly recommended!
US
Email Arnold M | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Katona Tours delivered as promised, on time and in a professional manner.
They were easy to deal with. Responded to questions in a timely manner. Flexible----No problems whatsoever.
Email Raj | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
One of the Best Tour
One of the most wonderful and memorable holiday we had. A group of 11 of us had a fantastic trip in Uganda.
Jackie had arranged everything in detail as per our instructions. Hotels were all very good. All the safaris and visit to Murchison Falls will stay in our memories for a long time. Our tour manager, guide Jack was fantastic. A very helpful and knowledgeable person. He would do anything for you. I would recommend Katona Tours & Travel to anybody without any hesitation.
Email Julia | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Effecient booking, reliable service, excellent driver/guide - would recommend & use them again
Everything went very smoothly and we had an incredible and exciting holiday. The mid range hotels were charming and in excellent locations. Gorilla trekking is SO worth the money and we loved the chimpanzee trek too and all experiences suggested by the company. We were well looked after by our driver/guide who was intelligent, amusing and very keen for us to experience much that Uganda has to offer. My only negative comment is that he ate all our meals with us so he was with us all day, every day. Perhaps Katona should allow guests breakfast and dinner without the guide.
CZ
Email Jiri Sana | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
we got exactly what was agreed
We experienced 11 days travelling with Katona Tours and Travel. Our guide was Richard. We can recommend their services. Our first plan was for 7 days and we were so satisfied, that we extended our trip by another 3 days. Richard was great guide, very helpful and kind. Jackie planned everything as we had required. Having a guided tour is reasonable solution in places like Uganda and Katona is definitely trustworthy choice. Ask for Richard as your guide:-)
Jiri Sana, CZE
IL
Email Gali | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Wonderful Safari in Uganda
My husband and I booked a 16 days (budget) safari with Katona, and we had a great time on these days. The accommodations were in great locations, and everything went according to plan. The price was the best price we got from 50 (!!) deferent tour companies (and we had a full board every day).
Our driver, Jack, made sure that everything will go on the best side, and even more. He was just wonderful, he was our driver, our friend, our guide, our photographer, our everything we needed! We can't be more grateful for all that he has done for us! (I can keep writing about him but I don't think you want 4 pages why he IS the best driver).
We really enjoyed Uganda, I guess it is The Pearl of Africa.
SI
Email Matjaž and Anja | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Bwindi gorilla tracking, chimpanzees tracking and splendid bunyonyi lake
We were really lucky to choose Katona. First of all we want to give compliments to Jackie who was astonishing fast in replaying on all our requests about journey and managed to schedule splendid safaris (4x) with chimpanzee/gorilla tracking in less than 14 days. Our guide Richard was the great implementor of the plan. Who would resisted a divine bush breakfast in NP made by him? Boat trip to Pygmies, Punishment island and Upside down island was just the icing on the cake.
Anja and Matjaž from Slovenia
Email Andrew Monaghan | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Wonderful Safari of Uganda and Gorilla's in Rwanda
My wife and I have just returned from an absolutely amazing 16 day tour of Uganda and then to see the gorilla's in Rwanda. This has been the best experience of our lives and cant wait to come back and see more!
I was, initially, nervous about booking with a non Uk based company but Jackie at Katona was wonderful, answering all of our questions and helping us develop our tour. When we arrived to meet our absolutely brilliant guide, Caesar, at the airport we were immediately reassured and felt secure in the knowledge that we were with a company that would look after us and make our trip the best it could be.
Our tour was busy, but thats what we wanted as there is so much to see. Our view of Uganda is cemented as one of the best places to visit, the people, wildlife and scenery is all spectacular.
We opted for the "luxury" range of accommodation and were, in general, thankful of this as after a long day of seeing the wonders of the area you are in a bit of comfort goes a long way! Some of the places we chose were more mid-range by European standards but there is limited choice and overall we are very happy.
I would recommend Katona Tours to all and will happily share our experience with you should you wish to contact us.