Samuel representing us at the WTM London Expo 2015
Prime Safaris & Tours
- Located In:
- Size:
- 10-20 employees (Founded in 2012)
- Member Of:
- AUTO, ATO, UTB, UWA & UCF
- Tour Types:
- Custom budget & mid-range tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $180 to $800 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
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Email Patrizia | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
If you want to visit Uganda go with Prime Safaris!!!
I checked several tour programs and several different Companies, and we decided to go with Prime Safaris because:
1) Cate was really flexible and organized a taylor-made tour for the 2 of us
2) Cate always answered immediately to my e-mails (and thay were a lot)
3) The price of Prime Safaris was one of the less expensive of the market
and at the end we were very happy, since the organization was absolutely perfect, and Joseph, our guide (he is definetely not just a driver) was a true problem-solving man; he is a very good person, and we loved every minute with him.
We decided to pay for the Gorilla Habituation Permit, which costs more than the double of a normal permit, but allows you to stay with the gorillas for 4 hours instead of only 1.
Well, I would suggest everybody to make this experience: it's true, it costed the half of our budget, but to be so close to the gorilla is such an amazing experience that, if after 1 hour I should have gone, I would have cried.... :-)
Thanks Joseph, Cate and Simon for this unforgettable experience!!!!
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Email Calvin | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Incredible adventure, everything we wanted!
Prime Safaris was absolutely incredible, even from the initial communication. They were prompt in responses were willing to change things time and time again while we were deciding what to do. They were patient and were helpful with recommendations. My own 2 favorite parts of the trip were the things they recommended that I did not even know about!
The trip started with Denis (our guide) picking us up from a friends home in a residential part of Makindye. He was friendly and on-time and we really enjoyed our time with him. He was interested in getting to know us and was always giving us great information on the things we saw. He kept us fed and was really a lot of fun!
Prime Safaris recommended we do the Chimpanzee sanctuary in Budongo Forest as well as the Rhino sanctuary in Ziwa. Both were absolutely incredible on foot up close experiences that I will never forget. They were incredible neat locations and both had a good cause worth our support. Primes Safari's also honored our request to do multiple and to take boat ride on the Nile up to Murchison Falls. They organized everything. We just had to show up and take pictures!
Sleeping accommodation options were given and we chose what we though best fit our budget and it was phenomenal. we just picked one and they handled everything else.
One thing I want to really express is just how easy Prime Safari's made the trip for us. I originally had planned to not use a company (since I had lived in Uganda for about 2 years prior to our trip), I planned to plan everything myself, Then I started to learn about wildlife permits other things that if I had missed may have put a huge whole in our tip. So I elected to use a company and they took care of everything. I just showed up to enjoy. So fun so great!
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Email Katie | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Exceeded Expectations!
We had such an incredible experience with Prime Safaris! Both of our guides were so knowledgeable and friendly and went above and beyond for our group. Vincent and Mark felt like they became part of our family and we were so sad to say goodbye. Our safari experience at Bwindi was out of this world spectacular and we also loved our trips to Chimp Island and Jinja. Wow. Thank you so much Prime Safari for your planning, communication, service and all fun! I will be recommending your company to every person I hear travelling to Uganda!
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Email Brad | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Best tour guides
Prime Safari made our vacation the most memorable one to date. They took care of us from Uganda all the way to Tanzania. Every step of the way, with our own guide. Very polite, friendly, and informative. They made everything about the trip smooth and easy. We also knew what to expect next, and they were always on time for pickups, drop-offs, you name it. Highly recommend this company to any traveling through Africa. We saw all of the big 5 and then some in Tanzania. Also got to hang out with the gorilla families in Uganda. Best vacation experience I've ever had.
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Email DonnaMM | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Personal service great trip
The guide picked me up at my hotel about an hours drive from the embarkation point. We had a wonderful conversation about life in Uganda, its history, current conditions etc. I really enjoyed the personal service. The boat staff were also very friendly and informative. I enjoyed my time at the chimpanzee sanctuary. Then the Prime Safari guide picked me up and had a most enjoyable trip back to my hotel with a stop to purchase crafts. I really appreciated all the personal attention.
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Email Ann C. | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
The Best
My sister and I were guided by Joseph Nyanzi through Uganda to see the chimps and the gorillas. I cannot recommend this company highly enough. My sister had traveled with them in 2018 so it was automatic to use Prime Safaris again. The experience that Cate Makanga planned for us was exactly as we had requested and a great value. The accommodations were the very best; location, comfort, service, security, food.
The experience with the chimps and gorillas was awesome. I never imagined we would be so close to the animals and that we would see so many. I had dreamed of this trip for so long and it did not disappoint.
If you plan a trip with Prime Safaris, request Joseph Nyanzi as your guide. Joseph is very experienced. He seems to know everyone in Uganda and is eager to share his knowledge and patiently answered our endless questions. Everyone we met was warm, friendly and proud of their country and of the nature that they protect.
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Email Sakthivel | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Prime Safari's Excellent Customer Service and Tour Planning at Very Short Notice
Thanks a lot to Ms.Cate (Co-Owner of Prime Safari) for putting together schedule and itinerary for our 12 day Uganda trip within very short time of 3 weeks and executing it perfectly. ( I started the conversation with Ms.Cate on 25th May for 17th June Journey) . Thanks to Ms.Cate for the very good selection of Resorts throughout the 12 day trip across 8 locations and reserving them and also reserving Gorilla & Chimpanzee treks within a very short time of 2 to 3 weeks. Gorilla trekking reservation was the crucial part of our vacation. Thanks to Ms.Cate’s wonderful team including our Guide cum Safari Driver Mr.Joseph (aka Mr.SilverBack !!) for his excellent driving skills and excellent knowledge of all the forests and wildlife/birds. Mr.Joseph is a very patient and very social person and makes sure that we all very comfortable throughout the trip. Mr.Joseph due to his vast experience knew most of the various safari park team and resorts team members thereby enabling better overall tour experience. Uganda as a country is very much open to tourists with very friendly and helpful people and has various security mechanisms in place to protect the tourists.
Ms.Cate made sure that my Birthday was celebrated in a grand manner starting with the Safari vehicle sporting “Birthday Boy On Board” special cover on the back spare tyres and also making sure that in resorts and in community tour birthday events were organised with cakes and decoration. Thanks to Ms.Cate and Mr.Joseph for making my birthday memorable in Uganda. Ms.Cate personally came to meet me on first day of the tour to wish me birthday and also visited us on the last day as well for a debrief meeting despite her tight personal and official schedule. Ms.Cate provided us with the Colorful Tour Book with detailed plan and schedule and write up on the places that we were supposed to visit. Also she had provided with environment friendly water bottles with our names on it.
Regarding the uniqueness of Uganda vs other African countries that we have visited (like Kenya & South Africa) is the fact that Uganda is one of very few African countries where decently priced Gorilla Trekking and Chimpanzee Trekking for tourist is allowed with advance reservation in small groups (provided with armed Rangers and porters). These treks are very excellently organised by Uganda Wildlife authorities in a safe and enjoyable manner and we were able to see about 11 Gorilla family members including Head Silverback and Baby Gorilla in Nouringo Sector of Bwindi Gorilla National Park. We were able to spend about 1 hour with them observing their eating and relaxing and family bonding habits in the wild. Similarly we were able to see about 4 to 5 Chimpanzee family in Kibale National Park. The walking treks in mountain area last about 3 to 4 hours overall.
Apart from the above treks, Uganda has Walking Rhino Treks on the way to Lake Muchirson, Walking Treks in Lake Mubaro National park where we were able to spend one hour with Giraffee family and see herd of antelopes.
Three Boat tours in Nile River, Queen Elizabeth Lakes, Lake Mubaro were excellent. Particularly in Queen Elizabeth Lake George/Edward we saw more than 30 elephants and tons of Hippos apart from many big Nile Crocodiles and many birds such as Fish Eagle, varieties of endangered birds.
Also the boat trip of about 30 minutes to enter and exit Lake Bunyoni Rock Resort was amazing across many islands and beautiful scenery. One island had zebras/antelopes/water Buck etc.
About Resorts - Thanks to all the management team of the resorts who hosted us. The management team and the overall team in these resorts were mostly friendly and smiling and were working as a team. Thanks to teams of Lake Bunyoni Rock Resort, Enjojo Lodge/Resort, Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge, Chimpanzee Forest Lodge/Guest House, Pakuba Resorts, Boma Hotel, Rwakobo Rock Resort etc.
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Email Nancy | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Needs to be rated as a 10 star not just a 5 star
I wish I could give a 10!
From the start with the
communication from Cate planning the trip and organizing the 11 of us comming from 8 different locations in the US. Each lodge we stayed in got better and better. This was a trip of a lifetime for me. We traveled with 5 college friends and family.
We bonded even more during our adventure. Our guides Charles and Ananias have now become part of our family. As we ended the trip some of us were crying. Who cries as a trip comes to an end??? Our guides got us from one end of Uganda to the other and back with precision time and lots of extras.
Happy hour, banana hooch, jack fruit, craft shopping, and drum music. The food on the tour was amazing. Who knew Uganda has so much to offer. Felt safe the whole time. Already planning our trip back to explore the eastern side of Uganda
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Email Michelle | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Our tour exceeded expectations in every regard!
Prime Safaris was a pleasure to work with from our first contact with Cate in the office to saying goodbye to Annais and Charles after a fabulous 9 days! We started in Murchison Falls and made our way down the west of Uganda, including incredible game drives, chimpanzee and gorilla trekking and stunning river cruises! I highly recommend this Ugandan owned safari company to anyone interested in experiencing the lovely hospitality of the Uganda people and the diverse and beautiful national parks of this very special country. My group of 11 are well-travelled people and we agreed this adventure was the best of all of our travels!
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Email Derwin | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
One of our best tours ever
Everything about this company was first-rate. Cate was exceptionally patient, kind, and professional in helping us plan our 7-day trip (chimps, safari, gorillas, fishing, horseback riding, boating). Ananias was a great guide - very helpful, knowledgeable, funny, and personable. He took great care of us throughout our time there. The van was comfortable, clean, and well-maintained. Our accommodations were clean, comfortable, and as advertised (if not better). Food along the way and at the hotels was very tasty. Uganda itself is an amazing and safe country to visit. The people are kind and friendly. The flora and fauna is breathtaking. And the opportunity to see the gorillas and chimps was special for our family of 4 (2 teenagers). We all agreed that this is one of our best trips ever.