Field photo setting off for rhino tracking
Karumuna Safaris
- Located 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)
Reviews
CH
Email Carola | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
It was a amazing, varied time wirh a very good symatic driver Richard.
We got really spontain organized a perfect tour around the mount elgon. Our guide heard about our wishes what to do and to see and everithing was great with various guides. The locations and the food were very good. And we felt very safe during our travel with the van. Thanks again!
BE
Email Manuel Silva | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
They need to improve certain areas
I did a 7 day tour with Karumuna Safaris as solo traveller. The good points:
- The cost was much lower compared to other agencies... But be aware that you get what you pay for. They delivered, but the accommodation was quite basic most of the times, and the guide and driver quite young and unexperienced
- They managed to organize everything in a very short notice. Richard went the extra mile to make sure I did not miss a thing, even though a lot of the attractions were fully booked. I missed the chimps during the chimpanzee tracking, but it's not their fault
- Flexibility with payment methods
The bad points:
- Henry, the guide, was quite unexperienced and he lacks customer service skills. There was a constant lack of communication, he was late (90min late on one ocassion) and disaorganized quite often (not even aware of the plan for next day). I communicated with him to find a solution together and he simply did not care and became even more aloof. He even got quite arrogant, i.e. I asked him why we were stopping so often when actually we were late to reach our destination, and he said "all the stops are strictly necessary". Truth is, some of the stops were for them to buy food for their families... Should not be a problem if you communicate it in a different way.
- Driving issues: we were driving quite fast in many occasions, to the point that we run once into a bumper without braking off and I literally went flying towards the front. They were stopped by the police and got a fine (not sure why) and also the van had mechanical issues which forced us to stop to get it repaired
- Trying to save money on silly things: for example, refusing to use the A/C in the car when it was quite hot and opening windows instead (so you are breathing fumes be getting dust inside) saying that the airco consumes too much petrol, or stopping to get bananas as a snack and asking you to pay 1000 ugx out of total cost of 2000, when 7 out of the 10 bananas were eaten by the guide and the driver
I personally found the experience a bit unfortunate, because with little effort it could have been much better... But I got the impression that they did not care anymore at some point (I haven't heard again from anyone in the agency, even though I'm still around in Kampala). The trip was quite ok but those small things sometimes can make a big difference... You might think I may sound picky, but I have worked and travelled in many countries in Africa, so my standards are quite low compared to the classic Western tourist. To summarize, go for them if you are in a very low budget but if you can pay more, I recommend you look for other options
Email Julian | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great first safari!
I took the 5 day gorillas and chimps safari.
Communication prior to the trip was very good, and Richard kept on top of things.
While in Uganda, I spent my time predominantly with Richard and his trainee guide Jonah. They were attentive and very pleasant. The same applies to everyone I was introduced to.
The trip was well managed with Richard being punctual and organised. Two of the planned accommodations differed, but their substitutes still gave me a good night's rest.
I was unfortunately not able to see the chimpanzees, but I had many other amazing animal encounters. Great care was taken to ensure I was not disappointed. Additionally, I also had the opportunity to visit the communities with guides.
It was my first time in Africa and I was kept busy while safe and comfortable. I'm very pleased I chose Karumuna Safaris and would recommend them to anyone wanting to visit Uganda.
DK
Email Rasmus | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Worst Tour Operator Ever
NEVER PICK THIS TOUR OPERATOR.
We had ordered 11 days round-trip to Uganda. We met with the owner Richard who brought an itinerary and a contract stating that everything we payed for in the trip was based on the itinerary. However, during the trip, half of the nights the accommodation was changed last minute. The worst thing was that the accommodation change was often for the worse, and some nights we stayed in so filthy and bad accommodation we rather wanted to leave and pay for accommodation elsewhere by ourselves. In the trip we had also booked Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale as the big highlight. We arrived in a town near Kibale at around 3 pm the day before the trekking, where the tour operator (Richard) calls us to let us know that we are not able to make the Kibale chimpanzee trekking because he failed to get the permits, THE DAY BEFORE WE HAD TO GO. Additionally, the itinerary stated that lunch and drinking water would be included all days which we rarely got.
Besides these problems, there were a lot of other issues about Richard miscommunication with the driver/guide and confusing us and our guide several times. Richard does not care about his customers, he just wants their money and will thereafter ensure that you have a completely disorganized trip. We managed to get the money back from the chimpanzee trekking permits, but honestly, with all the change in accommodation and all the last minute changes he put us through, he should have compensated us a lot more money for a failed trip in many regards.
If I could, I would NEVER book this tour again and would AT ANY TIME pick another tour operator. Its one of the most stressful trips and dysfunctional tours I have ever been on even though we payed to have all inclusive in order to relax and not mind anything. Even though I go on vacation 4 times a year and have been pretty much everywhere in the world, I have never tried anything like this.
Luckily, the driver and guide Paddy was an extremely polite and nice young man. We had a very nice time with him, and we felt bad for him that he had to endure the constant miscommunication and our anger about the trip due to Richards incompetence.
LASTLY, there we some parts of the itinerary which was completely wrong and falsely stated. One of the days it was stated that you get to the park, go inside (which cost 40 dollars per day per person) and go for safari. This was not the case, and Richard would not pay to let us stay inside the park and go for safari even though he acknowledged that it was wrongly stated on the itinerary, so we ended up paying ourselves.
Lastly but not least, it got so bad at one time we went to the police in order to charge Richard and make him pay some of our money back for the failed experiences. We found out it was a very long process and did not want to spend vacation time on it, but I would wish now that we would have filed a complaint and charged him so he would hopefully learn that you cannot take tourists money and then piss on them afterwards.
I HOPE THAT NO ONE PICKS THIS COMPANY IF YOU WANT TO HAVE A GOOD NICE TIME AND RELAXING SAFARI.
Otherwise, Uganda is a lovely country and the nature and the parks a breathtaking.
Reply from Karumuna Safaris
Posted on Nov 1, 2019Dear Rasmus,
We are sorry to hear that you did not have a good experience on your trip with us.
Please note that you who booked two days to safari which did not provide ample time for us but we were okay with it because we really wanted you to go for it,
Secondly, you made the payment through bank transfer when you were already in the country and it was over the weekend of which the money took one week to be active on the account but we decided to use our own money to start your trip which was starting on Monday and additionally to that we openly told you when we met you at the hotel that it was peak season meaning that we might find some of the lodges fully booked therefore in case of any change in accommodation, be aware and you said you were okay with everything and we kindly explained about chimps permits that "WE HOPEFULLY TO GET THE CHIMPS PERMITS" which failed and later agreed to refund you the money for the permits at the end of your trip which is against our company terms and conditions BUT WE DID IT FOR YOU (WE REFUNDED YOU) as you stated it in the review.
As our other clients testify from the 5 star reviews, we pride ourselves in providing excellent services to all our clients to make their safari experience memorable.
Best regards
Jonah
Admin
Karumuna safaris
DE
Email Aniko | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Awesome
Absolutely awesome, perfect driver, nice accommodation. Love all the gorilla's. Big hug. Anikó
CA
Email Ashton | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The itinerary, guide, and accommodations were amazing.
Communication before and during the tour was really good. Richard answered all of my questions before the tour and followed up to see that everything was alright after the tour. The itinerary that Richard suggested was really well organized and included everything I wanted to see and the one accommodation change that I wanted to make. All accommodations were nice and well located. During our travels from one location to the next, Richard made some stops at different sites to show me things along the way. He was a very good and enthusiastic guide and I really enjoyed my tour with him.
Email Bettylee | 65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Kefer could not have looked after us better and made sure we saw and did everything promised
Every place my daughter and I stayed at provided excellent friendly service and very good vegan meals while Kefer kept us well supplied with water and information at all times. We saw and did all that was offered and as an 80 year old I felt perfectly safe at all times - gorilla and chimp tracking, rafting, canoeing .......
All the accommodation was good, some was excellent but my preference was for the smaller more personal, less luxurious places where we got to know the people.
I would definitely recommend this company for exceptional value, good service and excitement.
Email Suzanne Evans | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
5 Star Tour Company
I’ve just returned from a fantastic 2 week holiday in Uganda, with Karumuna making it the holiday of a lifetime.
Richard and his Team arranged a fabulous trip for us, with Kefar our guide making sure every day was perfect. His knowledge was amazing, plus he constantly went the extra mile to ensure our stay was amazing.
I can’t thank them enough for making the holiday so special.
Email perry roos | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Great guys and local operators
Richard was great to deal with from the start and helped plan out our trip from start to finish with all our requests and adjustments.
The accommodations were great and best thing was using local operators in place of overseas investors. Would much rather see our money go to the people and communities.
Price was more than competitive and worth every cent.
Colleb was our guide and Richard even joined us for part of the trip.
Colleb was great from start to finish, just such a nice guy and loved his job.
Would book with these guys again without a question.
Colleb and Richard keep up the great work and hope to see you again soon.
HU
Email Marta | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Great company
Well organized, on time. Everything ran very smoothly.