Leslie and Kevin - Owners of Experience Uganda
Experience Uganda
- Located In:
- Size:
- 1-5 employees (Founded in 2015)
- Member Of:
- Association of Uganda Tour Operators
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range & luxury tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $300 to $600 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
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Email Paul | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Everything we hoped for and more!
This was our first trip to Africa and traveling with 4 children (ages 13-22) and my wife, I wanted to make sure that I found a company what could meet some very important criteria in putting together a two-week trip to Uganda. Writing an email to someone thousands of miles away and trusting them to put together a package was a leap of faith and it so happens that my leap was well worth it!
I wanted to make sure that first and foremost my family would be safe. I also did NOT want a package that was also sold to many other people and just be crammed in with several others. I wanted a private experience with my family but realized I couldn't go it alone. I also wanted to understand the culture, animals, have some flexibility if we wanted to stop somewhere and see something and not always feel like I was on a schedule.
I wrote several companies I found on the web but immediately felt drawn to Kevin at Experience Uganda! He was very responsive to my requests and endless revisions to schedules and accommodations. He would not just answer my questions in a timely manner but his responses also indicated that he understood Uganda well but also understood the western world standard of living, customs and expectations (having grown up in New Zealand) and did very well at explaining what the expedition would entail and guided me through the whole process of putting together this incredible adventure.
Kevin even called me to help answer my questions and calm my concerns about a trip of this sort. When he realized that my 13 year old would not be able to trek Chimps in a certain area he had planned, he quickly found another location which would allow my 13 year old to go. He was very accommodating and very pleasant and patient to work with.
Kevin's place, Karibu, is very welcoming and clean and well run with a great staff. His wife Leslie is very charming and I loved speaking a bit of French with her and experiencing a bit of French influence in the very delicious and well-prepared meals. They were very attentive to our needs. Kevin arranged an amazing driver and guide for our family who was with us the whole time in a very comfortable Land Cruiser. Patrick, our driver, understood Uganda well - history, animal behavior, geography, all the bird species, politics, and seemed to be well connected with people everywhere we went. It was clear as we would see other guides and drivers that we had someone above and beyond the ordinary! It was a great learning experience for the entire family. Patrick took the time to connect with our family including the children and when he found out that one son really wanted to see a Leopard, Patrick went the extra mile and with some patience found us a leopard in the evening and watched him for about 90 minutes as he scoped out his prey.
I can't imagine this trip working out any better and I have no regrets about my decision to work with Kevin and Experience Uganda and would do it again in a heartbeat! It was a trip of a lifetime and met all of the expectations we had for it.
QA
Email Cynthia and group | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Unique Uganda
Being the first trip to Africa, we didn't know what to expect.
Kevin from Experience Uganda was however very helpful and quick to not only respond but also accommodate our groups requirement and every changing plans. He ensured that we were well taken care off in Entebbe where he is based but also in Kisoro. All and all a very pleasant experience dealing with Experience Uganda......definitely recommended.
DE
Email Katja and Steffen | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Everything was perfect perfect perfect!
We loved the trip !!! Everything was planned so well we couldn't have dreamt of anything else!
Let's start from the beginning. Kevin called back immediatelyafter me contacting him through the website to ask about our ideas and what we like and how we are and what we expect the trip is going to be like. We talked for 45 minutes, after this he sent through an itinerary. It was great - but still we wanted some adjustments and had a few different ideas which he immediately took in, even a couple of times until we ware happy :) Kevin is extremely responsive and tries everything to make his customers happy. Even though they may seem to be a bit more expensive it is really worth every dollar. We travelled for 2,5 weeks in Uganda with Emma, who is a great guide and his car Freddo - which was almost a friend after that time :) and you learn a lot of the different cultures and the country itself. Emma is also really sensitive to give you your own time if you want this but if you want to do another game drive or have more questions, he is there for you!
We met so many people not being happy with their tour and organization but paid a bit less than we did, but really? It is YOUR holiday and maybe a once in a lifetime experience and Experience Uganda really makes a difference in treating their customers. We had so many nice litte extras which made us feel very special and it also made the trip special - we even had a few people being jealous of what we got compared to what they got. We loved that :)
If you want to travel to Uganda, which is by all means not cheap in any way, do it with Experience Uganda. We can recommend this 100%. Being in their hands you can lean back and relax and enjoy! Also I can recommend to start with one or two nights in Entebbe - Lake Victoria is beautiful - and enjoy the guesthouse Kevin and his wife have there. Great food. Great staff. Nice pool and rooms. And it was the perfect start for a trip in Uganda.
Email Kathy Karia | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
An absolutely magical tour of Uganda with Experience Uganda who were truly professional in every way
Communication right from the first contact was superb. Emails were always answered within a few hours and all questions and concerns were answered every step of the way.
The service from Experience Uganda was exceptional from the planning of our trip and pulling together an itinerary to cover all the places, sights and wildlife that we wanted to see, within the budget that we had.
We were met at the airport as promised and stayed one night at Karibu which is owned by Experience Uganda, this is an lovely well run establishment with such helpful staff.
Our guide for the 14 night adventure was a star and became an integral part of our group, we had such a laugh.
Accommodation in the lodges and tented camps was perfect.
Every day would bring so many surprises if not from the wildlife which was outstanding (especially seeing the gorillas) then it was the marvellous breakfast we had laid out on the savanna, with even a toilet tent provided. or the G and T's at sunset with a perfect viewing vista after seeing a leopard !! It could not get any better.
This was an amazing trip through Uganda which far exceed our expectations and will never be forgotten. This was with thanks to the wonderful high standard of organisation from Experience Uganda who we now like to call our friends.
Email Veda and Mike | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fabulous service and experience
We had the most amazing trip with Experience Uganda, the service and our whole holiday was truly fabulous.
Kevin was brilliant at answering all our emails promptly and providing us with all the information we needed.
We would definitely use Experience Uganda again! Thank you again for the most wonderful holiday.
Email Sharad | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Exceeded Expectations!
My wife booked this trip with Experience Uganda for a special birthday treat for herself, so she set the standards high and chose the operator carefully. Communication with them (Kevin) was faultless, all queries addressed very quickly. The itinerary was customised with expertise, taking into consideration our time and budget requirements.
Airport transfers, game drives and travel between lodges were always punctual, thanks to Michael – our guide. He became a part of our team during our safari, it would not have been the same without him. There wouldn’t have been breakfast on the savanna or drinks at dusk on the hill top for a start.
The lodges we stayed at were brilliant, but with no disrespect to the others, Kyambura Gorge and Bakers deserve a special mention.
All the wildlife we saw was fascinating and the gorilla trekking was the highlight, better than I had imagined.
As I said earlier, my wife had set the standards high, but Experience Uganda exceeded them! Thank you for a great safari.
Email Ash Bradshaw | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Most wonderful experience with an amazing company
My partner and i recently had an 8 day tour with Experience Uganda and we could not be happier with our decision to come to Uganda and see the country with the team at Experience Uganda.
Communication with Kevin from the beginning was fantastic, quick and informative. All my nerves and queries were settled and answered quick smart.
Upon arriving in Uganda transfers were all organized and accomodation was beautiful. Our tour was sensational and we had a fantastic guide Emma, who was just brilliant. Fun, knowledgeable and entertaining. Emma showed us some amazing sites and wildlife.
The accommodation was 5star and so unique. Nowhere else in the world can you sleep on the banks of the nile and hear hippo and hyena. Amazing.
Overall i would highly reccomend Experience Uganda to anybody who wants to experience an amazing country, meet fabulous people and see some incredible wildlife. Their service, friendliness and amazing tour could not be faulted.
Thank you very much Kevin, Leslie and Emma for the most amazing Experience.
Ash & Victoria
Email Christabel Moseley | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Exceeded all our expectations - and we had set them high!
I have just come back from a 14 day tour with Experience Uganda including Murchison Falls, Entebbe, Ishasha (Queen Elizabeth National Park), Bwindi to see the Mountain Gorillas, and Jinja to chill out for a few days at the end. The trip was a special birthday present for my mother, as I promised her 22 years ago (when I came back from seeing the gorillas in the then Zaire), that I would take her to see the Mountain Gorillas one day. My last trip was amazing, but truth be told was done on a bit of a shoestring, and included about a week of not washing, which I obviously could not expect my 74 year old mother to contend with. So I decided to contact Experience Uganda for a slightly more upmarket trip. I could not have been more impressed with Kevin - right from the moment I contacted him online, his communications were informative, swift and personable. This continued throughout the period leading up to our trip, and was evident throughout our time in Uganda. The itinerary Kevin came up with was absolutely perfect for my mother and I - it included all the places I wanted to show my Mum and the lodges that Kevin chose for us were spectacular. The friendliness and hospitality throughout surpassed all of our expectations, and the experiences will stay with us for the rest of our lives - something very special that my Mum and I could share. I have only known my mother to be speechless twice in my life - once was when my sister and I surprised her and Dad with a 25th wedding anniversary party (almost 25 years ago) and the other was when our guide Fred surprised us with a bush breakfast - the view was breathtaking and the look on my mother's face was priceless!! I went to Uganda expecting to be wowed by the wildlife, which I certainly was, but I was even more impressed by the people we met, the extremely positive attitude towards conservation and supporting local communities, and the undeniable warmth and friendliness of the Ugandans. Every place which we stayed at was a small piece of paradise. Kevin and Leslie's beautiful Karibu Guest house was no exception, and we cannot thank them enough for looking after us (thank you Leslie for your 'special tea' for Mum's cough) and for providing us with memories that will never leave us. I finally managed to fulfil my promise to my mother, and the trip surpassed even my own very high expectations. Thank you so much Experience Uganda, and please keep doing what you are doing - because you do it so darn well!! Christabel (and Sigrun) Moseley
Email Tracy and Bob | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Easy, stress free and perfectly organised to our needs.
Kevin and his whole team of Experience Uganda were excellent. We basically found Experience Uganda on the internet and from first correspondence decided to book with them because of their immediate response to our enquiry and also the fact the trip was tailor made for us. There was no hard selling, just good old excellent customer service and he liaised with us over everything. Nothing was too much trouble.
He helped us so much get prepared for the trip , from helping us apply for visas to sending us notes of what to pack etc. Brilliant advice.
From arrival in Entebbe, he had us collected from the airport so we could freshen up and have a short brief before dropping us back at the airport a few hours later for our flight to Kihihi. We were picked up by a pre arranged guide who was basically allocated to us for our whole stay, making sure we arrived safely and at the right place as required for the Gorilla Trekking. He wasn't over bearing, he was just always there when you needed him. Thank you Sulla.
The Buhoma lodge was perfect for us. The actual 2 day Gorilla Trekking was 2 of the best days of my life and well worth it.
Experience Uganda were again there to meet us on our arrival back in Entebbe and kindly looked after us at their beautiful Guesthouse Karibu until our evening flight. Kevin and Leslie and their staff were brilliant and very welcoming.
I cannot recommend Experience Uganda enough. I would definitely use again.
A perfect trip and a huge thank you for an amazing experience.
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Email Debbie Gordon | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
It was above and beyond our expectations!!
Experience Uganda (and especially Kevin & Jodi) made this trip unforgettable. I would recommend them to everyone who is visiting this beautiful country! I am so very grateful for all of the work you put in to making my dreams come true! The largest details down to the smallest details were so much appreciated! Thank you Jodi for showing us a side of the city we wouldn’t have been able to see without you!
