Edris the MD poses with two of our safari jeeps.
Uzuri Uganda Safaris
- Office In:
- Size:
- 1-5 employees (Founded in 2016)
- Member Of:
- AUTO & FDSA
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range & luxury tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $55 to $600 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
for a custom tour
Your request will be sent directly to the operator
If preferred, you can contact the operator directly
Reviews
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Email Michael | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Outstanding tour operator in Uganda for birding and general wildlife trips!
Had a great trip with Uzuri Safaris and will definitely use them them again when (not if) we return to Uganda. Have travelled to a lot of African countries and used many different operators - local and international ones. Uzuri definitely ranks among the very best of them - quick and thorough communications, great value for money, lots of local knowledge and very, very friendly.
Edris who was in charge of our trip is just a pleasure to deal with. He patiently answered each and every question (and there were lots of them) very quickly and always straight to the point. Due to COVID we were unsure if the trip would be possible at all. Edris was extremely flexible - we agreed to just decide less than two weeks before departure dates, and pay only then. He assured us should the trip have to be cancelled (because of travel regulations changes, a positive COVID test or similar stuff) our money would be safe, we could simply postpone. That gave us peace of mind. Also before and during the trip Edris always assisted if we had any questions regarding COVID regulations. When we arrived at the airport we were (pleasantly) surprised that he had hired somebody to walk us through the different airport desks (COVID test, Visa et al). At the end of the trip Edris met with us in person - appreciated that a lot as well. The price was very fair - much lower rates than you would get with booking an international (European/American) operator.
We had a pretty extensive itinerary covering many of Uganda´s well-known attractions. It was a birding-focused tour, and Edris completely understood what we were looking for - different habitats, good guides, great photo opportunities and comfortable (not luxurious) accommodations. He went to great lengths to ensure we had the best possible trip. Just a few days before departure he said he´d like to change something (include the Kazinga Channel in QENP) after discussion with our guide. He then had to rebook most of our nights at the very last minute to make that possile - really a lot of work for him. That shows that Uzuri really make their customers best interest a priority.
Our guide Emma Baturaine was outstanding, everything you could ask for. Knowledgeful, funny, hard-working, an excellent driver and very friendly - he really made our trip so much better. We asked a lot of him, Emma had to put in long hours on our behalf, and never once lost his good spirit.
The accommodations were very good to excellent, with only one exception. COVID certainly had an awful impact on Uganda tourism, and some places apparently simply ran out of money to afford the necessary staff and repair costs. That was the case for us in Ruhija even though the location itself was excellent, and we could definitely see that that particular lodge must have been fine before the pandemic hit. When we were not totally happy with the type of accomodation in QUEN Uzuri quickly stepped in and had us upgraded without extra cost.
We covered Mabamba Swamp (for Shoebill), Budongo Forest (the Royal Mile), Murchison Falls NP, Semliki Forest, Kibale NP, Queen Elizabeth NP (Kazinga Channel and Ishasha), Bwindi Impenetrable Forest NP (Buhoma and Ruhija) and Lake Mburo. Uzuri hired local specialised birding guides for most of these locations. All were excellent and made sure we could rack up a lot of species. Gorilla trekking in Ruhija was just magical, and the Chimp trekking in Kibale also a great experience. Shoebill was a priority for us, and we really could not have asked for a better sighting than we had in Mabamba. During the trip we saw a lot of wildlife, more than 400 bird species and enjoyed the varied activities - general game drives, a lot of walking/hiking and four boat trips (Mabamba, Murchison, QUENP and Mburo).
Uganda is a wonderful country any wildlife lover will love - we certainly did. Most friendly people anywhere in Africa - no matter where we went we only met open, friendly and smiling people.
So all in all a thoroughly enjoyable trip, and we have to thank Uzuri for that. Highly recommended!
Email Bhavin Prajapati | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Awesome review
It was good experience.they staff is very good we us . good supporting staff & services
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Email Danijel | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Absolutely amazing!
We are a couple living in Austria and we decided to travel to Uganda in June 2020. First we thought about to book via an agency in Austria or Germany but as it was very expensive we tried to find an agency in Entebbe or Kampala. We wrote to 5-10 agencies and then we chose the best option for us which was Uzuri Uganda Safari and Edris.
The communication with Edris was from the beginning very simple and he responded to all the questions (and we had many of them) very well and fast (within 24h).
As it was a bit strange for us not to book with an Austrian or German agency we were a bit afraid that we would arrive and no one would be waiting for us. But we paid the gorilla and chimpanzee permits in advance and we told Edris we would pay the remaining balance on arrival. This was no problem so it was kind of security for us that it would go well because we just paid the permits in advance and Edris sent us immediately the permits with our names.
Due to COVID we had to postpone our trip 2 times and also this was no problem and everything was well organized by Edris (changing the permits and also the accomodations).
After 1 1/2 year waiting finally we arrived in Entebbe and surprise surprise Edris and our guide Ronnie were waiting for us at the airport to pick us up and start our journey.
Our car was a 4x4 LandRover which I would also prefer the next time (the other option was a mini-van). The car was in a very good condition with a roof for game drives and enough space for 2 people. Smaller issues with the car (flat tire) during the journey were well managed by our guide so we almost didn‘t notice there were any problems.
The lodges Edris suggested and we finally booked were all nice and clean with a good standard and the food was really good. Only the last stay in Entebbe before departure was very loud in the morning.
Our guide Ronnie was very good. He knew very much about culture and animals and was able to answer almost all questions we had. He is also a very good and safe driver. Sometimes we just had smaller communication problems but this is almost not worth mention it.
We had an itinerary which was fixed before the journey but we were able to discuss some points during our stay so we were flexible to change some smaller things like game drives and walking safaris.
Altogether we can highly recommend Uzuri Uganda Safari for trips in Uganda because of professionalism, reliability and flexibility. If we come back some day again this will be our agency of choice.
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Email Lea | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Incredibly helpful, flexible, forthcoming and accommodating!
Due to Covid-19 I had to postpone my trip with Uzuri Safari from March 2020 to August 2021, but it was absolutely worth the wait! Edris was beyond helpful throughout the whole organisation of the trip, from providing covid-updates to being super flexible in changing dates, adding a friend to the trip, and giving recommendations beyond our booked trip - never experienced such 1st class customer care!!
Once picked up from our guide Vincent, the trip (it was two of us plus Vincent) was brilliant: Vincent was super helpful, easy to get along with and had a lot of knowledge. He put in heaps of effort for us to have a good time and we really enjoyed not only all our activities (Queen Elizabeth, Gorilla Trekking, Lake Bunyonyi, etc.), but also just having a good chat and laugh with him!
Highlight was the gorilla trekking, absolutely incredible and definitely worth it!!
All in all, Uzuri Safari was a great choice as they were helpful, flexible and incredibly accommodating from start to finish, and we always felt in very good hands, despite Covid making it all a lot more difficult! Thank you Edris & Vincent!
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Email Miquel Rafa | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
The best travel support for a private birding tour to Uganda
We had a wonderful experience with Uzuri Safaris in July 2021, for 14 days. The assistance from Edris in the preparation and development of our itinerary was very helpful and beyond what we were paying for. He sorted out all the changes of the Covid restrictions and the vehicle was perfect, including the loss of luggage at the arrival to Entebbe (which we recover on our way, at Murchinson). Our driver, John, was extremely helpful during the trip, facilitating all the logistics we needed along the route (accommodation, meals, entrance to parks, etc) and a reliable and passionate birder who was helping us all the time we were together. We recommend him with no doubt. Thank you for providing your excellent professional services and for the great time we had in Uganda!
Email Maurice Schneider | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Top Marks for the Uzuri team.
We arrived Entebbe at the un-godly hour of 3.00am aboard Turkish Airways, having been travelling for the better part of 2 days. On arrival, Edris came to pick us up and transferred us to our hotel for a few hours to freshen up and rest. At 8.00am, Edris was back to hand us over to our safari driver/guide Ronnie who we spent the next 8 days in his company. Our trip to Uganda was largely focused on the great apes – the chimpanzees and gorillas but nothing prepares you for what more Uganda has got to offer. We saw spectacular landscapes, met the hospitable Ugandans and enjoyed the great food. The lodges and camps that were selected during our stay were all wonderful. Our highlight was the Bush Lodge in Queen Elizabeth National Park where elephants were constant visitors. We were able to take in all the nocturnal sounds from the comfort of our banda.
During our drive to Bwindi we came across the lions that climb trees and we were told we were very lucky to see them. The main reason our trip will be hard to beat is our driver/guide Ronnie. We loved Ronnie! We enjoyed every moment with him. Courteous, polite, knowledgeable, a skillful driver in all conditions and an expert in flora and fauna. His smile and passion are infectious, and his ability to spot wildlife hidden in thickets from a long way away is remarkable. We saw the big 5, lots of birds, and the encounters with the gorillas was the very best. No words can explain this
encounter. You have to do it yourself! Edris called to say farewell at the end of the trip and wish me and my wife well. His service is personal, friendly and magnificent. I look forward to recommending his services to some of my other friends who plan to visit Uganda. Money well spent for memories that will last a lifetime.
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Email Jimmy Campbell | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
‘A fantastic 10-Day honeymoon safari in Uganda’
We had a wonderful honeymoon experience with Uzuri Uganda Safaris. From the outset, Edris was the most accommodating tour organizer that responded to our enquiries and together we came up with an itinerary that included the big ticket items that we wanted to see and suited our budget. During the tour itself once we arrived in the country, everything went like clockwork as we were very well taken care of. Even when we had a little issue with the hotel in Kidepo, he quickly resolved the issue together with our guide and we were given a better accommodation option. Joachim, who was our guide for the 10 days was knowledgeable and kind, so we really enjoyed his company. We spent 9 days between two spectacular parks and enjoyed every moment. We saw the big 5 and I have got to say Kidepo is a very spectacular park where you literally have the park to yourself given that few tourists visit this secluded national park. Edris called Joachim’s phone once in a while to check in with us if everything is alright, which was very thoughtful. Edris went over and beyond to make our honeymoon trip great. Uzuri Uganda Safaris is a very reliable company, and I would recommend to anyone thinking about a safari vacation in Uganda. We definitely will book with them in future when we decide to come back to Uganda.
Email Joshua Copeland | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Everything went perfect, encounter with chimps and gorillas WOW
Uzuri Safaris are an excellent tour company to deal with. Right from the get go, our communications with Fiona were easy and quick. It did not matter what time, Fiona was able to reply to our many questions, requests for changes in the program in no time. She had no problems modifying our tour to suit our needs better. Once we arrived in Uganda, our guide Ronnie was excellent. Right from the pick-up at the airport all through the trip to the end, Ronnie was able to meet all of our expectations and indeed exceeded them. He would stop anytime we asked to take pictures and also when he saw things that he thought we would be interested in. Things that were interesting to us and that we would have missed without him. Our first stop on this epic trip was Kibale Forest National Park – the home of the chimpanzees.
The sounds the chimpanzees make even before seeing them is super exciting and it still rings in my ears every time I remember the trip on look at our pictures from the trip. Having trekked for about an hour on largely flat terrain to find the chimpanzees, we came across this large troop with some of the members up in the trees while a few others were on the ground. One female with a baby came very close to where we were standing and it was just wow! It literally gave us a good opportunity to take as many pictures! The chimps up in the trees did not mind us as they
went about their day – enjoying some kind of fruit. The swamp/community walk in the afternoon is also a must if you are not too tired.
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Email Amy Andree | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Most organized professional safari company I’ve ever booked through.
Edris went above and beyond from start to finish with this trip. It exceeded all expectations and I had the time of my life in Uganda. He responded very quickly and was very accommodating when I requested to change the itinerary. Our guide, Ronnie, was excellent as well. He kept us safe and entertained! The experience on safari was like nothing I’ve ever witnessed and I’ve been on a few safaris!
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Email Molly Lawson | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Incredible experience
My friend and I booked through Uzuri and had nothing but wonderful experiences! Edris, the owner, was incredibly helpful throughout the entire scheduling journey as we added and changed our itinerary. When we arrived, our guide Ronnie picked us up at the airport and was with us the whole time, checking in daily to make sure we had the best experience possible. He even helped capture 15 poachers! And when coronavirus caused my flight to be canceled, Edris and Ronnie rescheduled our flights for us without compromising anything we had planned! This was my first safari, and I cannot recommend Uzuri strongly enough!
