Bella Africa safaris
- Located In:
- Size:
- 5-10 employees (Founded in 2015)
- Member Of:
- Association of Uganda Tour Operators, uganda wildlife association & licensed guide by uganda tourist board
- Tour Types:
- Custom budget & mid-range tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $40 to $500 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
Email Vanessa | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
DO NOT USE SHE STEALS YOUR MONEY
We visited Uganda in June on the celebration of my 50th Birthday. All started well until we got to see the gorillas and same as last review no permits paid for and we had two days to pay for and had to pay twice. Again as last review we paid her in January. Then went to see Chimps in Kibale and were staying in a lovely hotel close to chimps but had to move as this was not paid for either! The driver was not being paid and was hassling us for money too which we had no choice but to give him or be left stranded. Bella did come and meet us and gave us same story. We did consider going to the police but trusted her that she would refund us. To date we have received nothing! DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY
US
Email Roger | 65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
The Absolute Worst
AVOID. HIDE. RUN. My 11 day solo Uganda tour blew up after 5 days – money issues. I found out (too late) that Bella had financial difficulties. I paid in full before the tour but they kept asking me for money during the tour. Beware of her and guide Robin coming back into the business under a different company name.
Internet: “www.bellaafricasafaris.com Mailscanner has detected fraud in the website at docs.google.com. Do not trust this website”. www.inspirock.com Bella ... # 78 of 102 in Wildlife in Kampala “www.tourhq.com ... Bella ... ranked # 39 of 47 tour groups in Kampala”
Before the Tour: My repeated emails were typically returned days late. I had to ask for receipts after monies were paid. A “must have” list never came. I emailed the lodges on the tour itinerary a week before it started. Only one lodge said they had a reservation under my name or Bella’s. I emailed Bella, and guide Robin responded that"all reservations are confirmed" (liar).
The Tour: Substitutions were made for all of the lodges listed on the itinerary. I was picked up late every morning at my lodge, once 3 hours late. Guide Robin said that the van had repairs done that day, but the driver told me in the afternoon that Robin spent the morning trying to get money. They asked me for money on the second day … difficulties in Bella getting money to Robin (lie). We spent an entire morning trying to get into Murchison NP - Robin with Bella on the phone tried to talk the person at the gate into letting us in. Finally I paid (and was never reimbursed). A joke. The van was given gasoline 6 gallons at a time – never filled. Bottled water was purchased one bottle at a time. The tour blew apart on day 5 in Kibale NP. Bella never paid for my Chimp Habitation permit (surprise!) – she asked me to pay the 200 USD fee. Nope. The game warden said I could go on the habitation if Bella got the money to him before I returned at the end of the day. I went on the habitation but no money came. When Guide Robin arrived to pick me up (I was the last person to be picked up out of 25 people) they kept him, fortunately letting me go back to the lodge with the driver. The warden kept Robin in jail for the night because of lack of payment. He was let out the next day. I heard later that they were thinking of keeping me in jail, too! The driver got disgusted with everything and drove his van home – he had never been paid anything by Bella and had been using some of his own money to buy gas. I stayed on one more day – the wonderful lodge manager got me a ride back to Entebbe (200 USD) and I stayed in Entebbe until my plane left 5 days later. Believe it or not Bella came out to Kibale NP and apologized – too little too late. She said I would be completely reimbursed for the tour (I’m still waiting on the money that won’t come !). Bella and Robin wanted me to continue the tour! I was genuinely concerned about my safety as well as being outraged with the tour. When I got back to Entebbe the lodge people and other guides told me about Bella and her money problems. They were angry with her for giving Uganda tourism a bad name. I could tell more. DO NOT GO NEAR!
The bottom line is that Bella let me fly 19 hours in the air to Uganda (and back home), pay 1500 USD roundtrip air, and pay her about 5000 USD in full for a trip that she knew that she could not pull off. As low as you can get. Would have liked to give zero stars. Amazingly, she still has her website online and on Safari Bookings.
AE
Email Bj | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Most exciting fun filled family trip with the best guide ever.
We are an Arab family from Uea(Dubai) and we where so hesitant to travel to Africa (uganda) at first but when someone recommended Bella to us, and we saw our package and the way Bella drafted it out to suit and involve all of us for the activities, it was wow.Our three children didn't miss any of the activities..
We saw various animals all the big fives in mfnp.our favorites where the beautiful giraffes and elephants.
The waterfalls is so amazing.
Bella is so knowledgeable and passionate about her job, she kept on checking if we where comfortable and where having fun and if where enjoying the meals too.
She bought for us fresh fruits like bananas and really sweet pineapples.
The whole trip was so memorable.
Thank you so much Bella.
Bj
JO
Email Samar | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
BEST SAFARI EXPERIENCE WITH BELLA....
Despite the pandemic, as countries are slowly opening up, I took a solo trip to uganda to try and relax despite the chaos in the world, so I needed a safari company that works with women in particular, a friend of mine recommended Bella Africa Safaris, so I checked them out and I was kinda put off by some of the negative reviews, either way I decided to contact them and right from the start our back and forth email exchange with Bella herself was really great and efficient, I decided to book with her though I was abit skeptical at first but she really out did herself. She gave me value for my money, my 15 days in Uganda were really the best, we visited the great murchison falls, amazing magnificent falls, Queen Elizabeth park, Kidepo park, lake mburo and above all the highlight was the Gorillas for me... maintaining the guidelines for covid was key right from the airport, Uganda is really beautiful with very friendly happy people and am glad to have ticked it off my bucket list. Thank you Bella Africa Safaris for making my trip a memorable one, I sure will come back with you next time. It's an amazing experience being driven and guided by a woman. I recommend you to all female travelers. Thank you again Bella!!
