Encounter Africa Safaris
- Located In:
- Size:
- 5-10 employees (Founded in 2009)
- Member Of:
- Association of Uganda Tour Operators
- Tour Types:
- Custom budget tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $50 to $300 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
Wonderful experience
Our driver Jason was incredibly helpful during our two days with him. He changed money for us, walked us through the chaos at the Rwandan-Ugandan border (we entered Uganda from Rwanda) and back again. We had not realized our visa for 30 days to Rwanda was a single entry visa so it expired as soon as we crossed the border and we did not have enough dollars to pay the reentry visa. Jason changed Rwandan francs for us and went to the bank at the border to pay for our visa get our papers stamped. The hike up the mountain was strenuous but well worth it. Bring waterproof trousers and rubber boots—that’s what the park ranger, the soldier and the policeman accompanying us all wore. And bring a change of clothes and shoes. You will get wet and muddy! Also hire a porter (all women). They are experienced climbers and will haul you up the vertical mud and carry your back pack for you! Well worth the money! We saw 8 gorillas from one family including two silverbacks and a curious one-year old that curled itself around my husband’s and then my leg looking in our pockets for souvenirs! Encounter Africa met our budget and we stayed in a lodge on top of a mountain with gorgeous views after driving up narrow mud tracks with steep drops. But Jason was a great driver, never took unnecessary risks when overtaking other vehicles and despite the lack of seatbelt in the back of the van (one was broken) we felt quite safe with him driving.
TH
Email Will | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Truly awesome experience
We chose Encounter Africa to help us fulfill a life long dream to see Gorillas in the wild as part of our honeymoon and I have to say, they delivered!
Before the trip, communication was excellent and Encounter organised our park permits and everything else seamlessly. For the 3 days, Talbot looked after us very well, and we always felt safe, relaxed and able to enjoy the views of the stunning Ugandan countryside whilst he negotiated some tricky conditions on the ling drive, especially on the latter, unpaved section of the route.
Our accommodation at Nkuringo Lodge was really homely. The staff were excellent, we were very well fed, and really enjoyed the views of the Virunga mountains.
The Trek itself was really special. We had the 4 hour habituation experience which for us was well worth the extra. Note that the time actually starts when you reach the point where the group were tracked on the previous day but luckily for us they hadn't moved far, meaning that we got nearly the full 4 hours with them. That extra time allows you to get closer and closer as the gorillas become more and more relaxed. Of course, the adrenalin is running and do expect to get charged a few times as we did. One time the silverback was literally within 2m and letting us know that he wasn't entirely happy but soon enough he was on his back, rolling around and very, very chilled in our presence. An incredible, intimate and unique experience.
Email Bettina | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
professional knowledgeable great company!
The communication services and the tour itself was amazing ... coming back again but will fly to the mountains next time... would have liked to spend more time in the mountain s and less time driving... otherwise spectacular.
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Email Lindsay Marie | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fantastic 13 Day Honeymoon Adventure
I started planning our trip to Uganda well over a year ahead of time – it was for my husband and I’s honeymoon as well as our first time we had the chance to visit the African continent. After thoroughly looking at the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) website for credible companies, I emailed several Ugandan owned/run companies to see what itineraries they could offer us. Out of all of the responses, by far the most professional and timely reply came from Chris at Encounter Africa Safaris. He made it incredibly easy to put together an itinerary which fit our budget, time frame, and encompassed all the highlights we were hoping to see. Between our correspondences and looking over reviews I knew this was the right company for us. As this was our first trip to Africa I was a little shocked/nervous about the large deposit and payment 6 weeks in advance, but I can promise anyone reading this you can trust Chris. Please feel free to message me on here with any questions.
Our flight landed late and we were absolutely exhausted upon arrival. I was still nervous we would walk outside and find no one there, but then right in the front of the group awaiting travelers was a gentleman holding a sign with my name on it and a huge smile on his face. Joseph was to be our guide for the next 13 days and the trip could not possibly have gotten off to a better start.
Joseph is truly a wonderful human being with a booming laugh and a true love for his country, it’s people, and it’s wildlife. He is quite the social butterfly and knows someone everywhere you go – which I can tell you from experience is super helpful when it comes to pulling strings to get the best out of an activity. Joseph cares so much that his guests have a good time – if you are lucky enough to have him he will put so much effort into making sure you are happy. I cannot recommend him enough.
We spent a short night in Entebbe before Joseph whisked us away North to Murchison Falls National Park (NP) – I will warn you it is a long drive with variable road conditions. Joseph is a very safe driver though and takes care to make the ride as comfortable as possible. If you are concerned about the roads, he did mention Chris can assist in setting up regional flights to certain destinations which will also save you on time as well. If you do drive, you will have the privilege of seeing how gorgeous the country of Uganda is and have a better understanding of how people live outside the parks. And you also get to enjoy the “African Massage”.
Ok back to the itinerary – Murchison Falls is a gorgeous park I believe everyone should visit if you have the time. Distance seems to deter people, but it personally was my favorite park in Uganda for the scenery and multitude of wildlife. I will not go into a ton of detail because Chris can help you with all that! We next drove to Kibale NP for our Chimpanzee Habituation which I would highly recommend. The habituation lasts 4 hours and the trek is an hour – I cannot stress how much more comfortable the chimps were once all the trek groups were gone. We got so much closer and their behavior was much more natural/relaxed. They brought their babies on the ground – I would be shocked if people have that experience on a trek unless they are really lucky. Next we were on to Queen Elizabeth NP and opted for the Experiential Lion Tracking with a researcher from the park. Our group consisted of 4 vehicles and the use a radio collar to finds the lions – had we not done this I do not think we would have found them. It is amazing how easily such a large animal can hide so well. Joseph then brought us to Bwindi NP – certainly the highlight of most people’s trips to Uganda. UWA does offer a 4 hour habituation out of Buhoma, but we opted to do 2 days of gorilla trekking (1 hour-ish) in the Ruhija sector instead because you just never know what you’ll see. Joseph made sure we arrived early at check in so he could work his magic at getting the gorilla group he felt best matched what we wanted to see. We ended up getting 2 fantastic treks which were vastly different in regards to family dynamics and how they interacted in the presence of humans. If you can afford 2 treks I would suggest it. We then spent a night at the picturesque Lake Bunyoni before heading off to Lake Mburo NP for a night – this is the only part of our trip I would change. I’ll elaborate below. We ended our trip in Jinja, the Source of the Nile, and some wonderful artwork/souvenirs. I’d personally save my shopping for here – you’ll find some gorgeous and authentic things here which also will not break the bank.
All of the accommodations booked for us were wonderful – we went with midrange eco-lodges mostly and never had any issues. The only bummer was not all of the hotels we were in provided housing for Joseph – we did not know that beforehand and may have affected our choices had we known. They were all so different and offer unique perspectives of their areas within Uganda. Our favorites were Murchison River Lodge and Broadbill Forest Camp.
What I would do differently: If we did this itinerary again in the same time frame I would skip Lake Bunyoni simply because I did not feel like we had enough time to enjoy it properly and instead add an extra day at Lake Mburo NP instead. Lake Mburo has so many animals and is known for their high population of leopards which is best seen at night. Which leads me to my next point – do contact Chris and get a general itinerary for the time frame/budget you’re looking at. Then I highly encourage you to look at the UWA website at their list of extra activities within the parks you’re visiting (ie. Experiential Lion Tracking or Night Games Drive in Lake Mburo) to really customize what is important to you. I will warn you the list is extensive which is why I suggest you have an idea of which parks you’ll be in before you look, but it is so worth it to know what is on offer. These activities will cost you a little more – some can be booked while you’re there, but most seem to work best to book ahead of time. I can promise they will be worth it – especially if you have Joseph as your guide.
In all – book with Encounter and ask for Joseph. You will be so glad you did!
Email Gary | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Gorilla and Chimp trekking in Uganda. Incredible sights, sounds and service. A fantastic experience.
Firstly, Uganda is a wonderful place to go to. Safe, secure and you are treated wonderfully by everyone.
Read lots of reviews in deciding who to go with and incredibly happy with our choice of Encounter Africa Safaris.
Chris was superb in answering all of my emails and responding very quickly. It really helps the doubts you have when going to somewhere like Central Africa where there have always been concerns from a Western perspective.
Read all the information they send you when booking and if you have questions, ask. Lots of useful things such as how to obtain a visa (at the airport), what you need to bring for the treks and information on tips etc are all useful to have. Your guide will also help you out when in the country, such as advice on tipping and what foods to try.
Patrick was our guide and we could not be more complimentary. Spending 5 days in a car with someone you've just met could be hard but Patrick is incredibly smart, funny and charismatic making it a joy.
Throughout our time Patrick was fantastic in being around when we needed it and always available and keen for us to advise any concerns for him to sort immediately. His driving - especially on the last day when heavy rain had made the uphill mud roads almost impassable - was great.
Always time to stop for photos, gifts and looking out for wildlife on the drive - spotted elephants, antelope, baboons and various birds and other animals on the trip. Patrick was clear on what we were doing, what time it would be, and what clothes would be best suited for the activity. This advice was invaluable and arguably prevented many an ant bite!
We had a jeep for just myself and my partner with Patrick driving us through Uganda on the variety of difficult roads.
A 6 to 8 hour journey from the Entebbe hotel we booked to our Chimpanzee Forest Guest House in Kibale Forest was punctuated with stops for snacks, toilets and lunch at superbly chosen times and placed.
Great accommodation with staff greeting us with fresh passion fruit juice, great attitudes and incredible views. Superb food and service throughout our two day stay. The electricity grid was down so their back up generator was in use so no wifi was available on our trip (and limited electric and wifi at the later accommodation of Broadbill Forest Camp as it's in a forest). Bring some battery chargers if you can. Failing that, enjoy being 'off-grid' from news and social media as it really enlightens you to your surroundings.
The Crater Lake walk was a particular highlight of our stay as we got to walk around with a guide and see the locals while taking in spectacular views. As Patrick advised, experiencing treks other than pre-organised ones can really enhance your experience of Uganda and we would definitely recommend it!
The chimpanzee trek was fun and informative with about 12 chimps hanging out in the trees. Unfortunately, it was raining heavily so none came to ground but we got some good views still. Coming from a country where chimps are predominately in captivity, it was a treat in itself to see them in the wild, albeit a wet-wild.
The swamp walk was also great and we saw many free-roaming colubus monkeys in the trees along with lots of other animals too in this lovely walk.
Our next destination was Broadbill Forest Camp which is in the middle of the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and near the gorillas. You can hear wild chimps talking much of the time and the sights and sounds of the forest. As it is a forest there are lots of animals nearby so be aware they could try and enter your tent if you leave bananas and snacks lying around.
The accommodation was secure tents with a lovely bathroom in a hut. The heavy winds and rain meant that at night the velcro zips did open a tiny amount causing noises to wake me up thinking animals had entered, as I'm a light sleeper. A mouse and some spiders were the only animals that entered - half a banana was eaten overnight by a 'big mouse'! We were advised about hiding food away due to this happening, but unfortunately my other half forgot to do this, hence our midnight 'intruder'.
Nice simple food, good service and great people again.
Highlight of the trip (and any trip ever) was the gorilla trek in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.
Tracking can take up to 4 hours but Patrick managed to get us in the 'easy' group due to my girlfriend's injuries at the time. It only took us 10 minutes to find the troop of gorillas and then we spent the best 1 hour of our lives with these sensational animals.
Being within 5m of such powerful, majestic creatures was insane and scary when they 'fake' charged you (which you are warned about not to run from).
The trackers and guides were, once again, so helpful and informative it made you feel so safe. A unique experience and one I implore you to take with Encounter Africa Safaris.
Final day was driving back to Entebbe airport with Patrick making stops for food, gifts and photo opportunities. We had time to stop at Lake Victoria in Entebbe - the largest Great Lake in Africa - for a beach dinner and beautiful, relaxed end to our journey.
Can't say enough good things about Encounter Africa Safaris for making our trip the best ever from start to finish. From clear communication, to Patrick making our trip more memorable - thank you.
FR
Email Maryline | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Wonderful trip !
The stay was up to my expectations or beyond. The encounter with the gorillas was amazing. A big thank you to Tolbert, our guide, a great kindness and listening to these customers. He shared his love for his country. The cottages, the traditional meal, the walk in the marsh are all elements of an unforgettable trip.
DE
Email Brigitte | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Talbert is an excellent and with tourists patient tour guide and the best cardriver I have seen.
The advise of the staff was very good . I enjoyed the lodge and the safari tour , also the boot trips.
DE
Email Ilona | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
We booked several tours and were very satisfied
Whether Queen Elizabeth Park, Jinja, Mgamba Island or the Swams - we enjoyed all the excursions.
Talbert is an excellent tour guide - Thank you
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Email Mahendra Sagar | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Excellent Staff and Arrangements, Responds to eMails, Highly Recommended
I planned the entire trip with Chris over the email. He responded promptly to all questions. To reduce my cost, I paid in cash (a mix of $s, Rwanda Francs, and Uganda Shillings) at the start of the 3D/2N Gorilla Safari. I was picked up promptly from Kigali and brought over to the border where my guide/driver Steven picked me up and we continued to the Rushaga Gorilla Heaven Lodge where I stayed for 2 nights. First day was relaxation. Second day we started early and left for Bwindi NP where Steven arranged the easiest trek for me. The trek was [still] arduous [for me] and would have been better to have a porter who can carry your stuff as well as assist on the rough terrain. All of us slipped and fell several times over but that was part of the fun too! However, to their credit, all the staff on the trek were very helpful. Seeing Gorillas in their natural habitat was a magical experience. Since we were given the easiest trek, we were back by 11:30 AM, while many other groups hadn't even reached their assigned Gorilla family. Rest of that day was relaxation and on the final day, we started early and after lunch and stopover at Equator, we were in Kampala by 5 PM. Steven was very helpful, professional, and well-known to all. He answered all my questions and was knowledgeable.
This was a very enjoyable, relaxed and slow-paced safari. I highly recommend Encounter Africa Safaris to all - they did a great job!
One improvement suggestion: please include coffee as well as cold-drink as part of the lunch on the third day.
US
Email George | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Superb time!
My colleague and I completed our immersive time in Rwanda by seeing the mountain gorillas in Uganda (Uganda permit << Rwanda permit in terms of cost, $600 vs $1500 USD). Jason, Alex, and Chris were fantastic. We were picked up from our hotel in Kigali, taken across the border into Uganda and stayed at a lovely base camp (breakfast/dinner included, packed lunch provided for day of trek). The morning of the trek Alex/Jason accompanied us to Bwindi and ensured we were set up on an appropriate level hike for us. Spending the hour with the gorilla family was an inspiring time. As if straight from National Geographic. Jason safely delivered us back home to Kigali the third day of our 3-day excursion. On the way Jason/Chris were very flexible and allowed for several stop offs we were interested in ahead of time to be made during the drive to Bwindi and during the drive back. This is top class client experience and we wouldn't hesitate to recommend Encounter to anyone else interested. And cost wise, it simply makes sense to go to Uganda over Rwanda for the purpose of spending time with these beautiful animals.
