Some of the staff at Yala Safaris Uganda Office
Yala Safaris Uganda
- Located In:
- Size:
- 5-10 employees (Founded in 2016)
- Member Of:
- UTB & UWA
- Tour Types:
- Custom budget & mid-range tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $100 to $750 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
CH
Email Diana | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Complete, with great attention to detail to ensure an amazing experience.
Yala Safaris Uganda is a young but super organisation. The staff is wonderful, attentive and great with communication. The trip planning was super, although a few really long hard drives (it is a big country), we had a super time and did SO much during our 10 day road trip. We saw Gorillas (a MUST DO experience), saw amazing game in the Safari parks, saw the wondrous Murchison, had adventurous boat trips, and did a walking safari at a Rhino sanctuary. Uganda is in much need of better global exposure and marketing as it is such a unique and beautiful place to visit. We all highly recommend Uganda as a destination and would certainly recommend Yala Safaris. The trip was planned with stays at great lodges, delicious food, super service. Our driver, Moses, was amazing. We felt very much taken care of in his care and we had the most interesting discussions with him and learnt so much from him.
DK
Email Bayo Ojeleke | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A very professional set of people
I was really impressed with the services my friend and I received from the Yala Safari team. Everything was perfectly planned. No hiding charges of any sort.
They went out of their way to quickly arrange a city tour we didn't plan for in a timely and flexible manner because my friend and I made a mistake in the booking date.
To be honest, this is my best trip in a very very long time.
Let it also be on record that I have started recommending them all to my colleagues and friends in case anyone is interested in a trip to Uganda.
DE
Email Tobias | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
I took a short-noticed tour through Uganda and Yala took care of all my wishes!
I took a short-noticed tour through Uganda and Yala took care of my wishes and I could do everything I wanted - with a personal touch as I was the only passenger. ;)
One accommodation was not available as planned, but Yala made up for this with a stunning lodge the next night.
IN
Email VINAYAK LOYALKA | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent people for UGANDA SAFARI.
YALA TRAVELS WAS A PERFECT HOST FOR OUR SAFARI IN UGANDA, WE HAD A GREAT TIME.
US
Email Bruno | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Old decrepit vehicles and poor communication
I booked a 14-day safari with Yala – this was to cover safaris in both Uganda and Rwanda – the booking process went well and Yala was initially good in communicating promptly. When I arrived in Entebbe, they were a bit surprised as they had not seen the arrival announcement – the van that was to transport me to the hotel was an old decrepit van without an A/C (I should have seen this as a sign to come) – in any case I made it to the hotel and was told that the safari vehicle was to be another one in much better condition.
The next day, the driver showed up in another old decrepit vehicle and lo and behold, the A/C was not working in this one either (Note – most of the roads in Uganda are dirt roads so you need to keep the windows closed and wear dust masks). The driver did not speak much English, even though what was promised was an English-speaking tour guide. We decided to push on – about a couple of hours into the journey, the right rear tire developed a side bulge (this was a re-treaded tire that had developed a sidewall failure – re-treads are banned in the USA for just this reason). The jack that was in the vehicle did not work, so we had to limp back to town to get a shop to help us – this took about 3 hours in all. I contacted Yala and insisted they provide me with a better vehicle and they promised to do so. When we reached Murchison Falls, we were covered with red dust due to having to keep the windows open as the A/C did not work. All of my game drives were in this broken-down van which had a low clearance resulting in us scraping the bottom every time we went through a ditch.
Two days later, Yala had still not provided a replacement van, but they did change the driver to one who spoke better English – we made it back to the main town again on dirt roads with no A/C. I had asked for the replacement van to meet us there so we could continue on our journey – guess what – no van. We ended up leaving the decrepit van at the hotel and continued to our next stop (chimp trekking) in a small Toyota Corolla. Two days later, a replacement van showed up – guess what the windshield had a big crack in it along with pockmarked glass – it was an old van but the A/C worked. So, we continued onwards and got stuck on a mud-soaked road (the van did not have off-terrain tires and did not have a high clearance) – the villagers helped us and we resumed our sight-seeing when suddenly the engine stopped and would not start. After waiting for 2 hours for a local mechanic to show up, he discovered that is was a GPRS failure as the van was not permitted to go out of a certain area – the mechanic by-passed the GPRS device and we were able to start the engine and go on our way to the next stop. By this time, I had sent Yala about 6 emails none of which were replied to.
The next day, while climbing up a mountain road, the gear shuddered and then gave way with a loud bang – again we were stuck on a mountain dirt road for 2 hours before getting a ride to the gorilla lodge. Yala switched the gorilla lodge without my consent because it was closer to where the gear breakdown happened and did not return any of my emails on the subject.
Two days later, a different vehicle was provided – this time an SUV (which is what was agree to when I first accepted their contract), and an A/C that worked. I was told that we had to exchange this vehicle back for the one which had broken down in a couple of days when returning from Rwanda. Two days later on returning from Rwanda, we were to meet at a designated spot to exchange vehicles as the van had been repaired with a new transmission and drive shaft – at the last moment, we were told to continue onwards in the same SUV as before. Yala again changed the safari lodge I was to be staying at without informing me (this after confirming that all the lodges had been booked and that I could not change any dates given all of the issues I was having) – again no replies to any of my emails other than talking to the driver.
I finally made it back to Entebbe – no word from Yala, no apologies for all of the issues, no explanation for the 2 lodge changes (and both were terrible when compared to the original places) – nothing. Be careful when booking with this agency – they have terrible vehicles and very poor communication. I would not book with Yala again -the only reason for the 2 stars is because of the efforts of the drivers who were with me – they tried to do their best with little or no support from Yala
FR
Email CATHERINE AND DANIEL | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
A REAL NICE ADVENTURE
A really sympathetic and available team : always ready doing their best to make your trip an unforgettable adventure. Ambrose, our guide, is as good a driver as he is an excellent promoter of his country’s beauty: he knows wildlife, is a bird specialist and speaks passionately about Uganda’s customs.
We didn't book one visit, no problem, our guide arranged the issue to do it, and everything was really a nice memory.
If we return to Ouganda, sure we'll visit with them.
NL
Email Daphne | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Great quality and a fun and beautiful trip
Together with a friend, I booked a three day safari to Queen Elizabeth NP. Contact beforehand was very easy and quick, both via whatsapp and e-mail.
On the expected time of arrival we were picked up from our hostel in Kampala. This is were we met Stanley, our driver and guide for the entire tour. We have had an amazing time, thank you Stanley! The safari was beautiful and our stay at Pumba Safari cottage was excellent. I can recommend Yala safari's to everyone.
IT
Email Gabriela | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Yala Safari is a very good agent, they supported our group during all the trip, I trust them a lot.
We took 12 days trip with Yala Safari, our driver Moses and our contact Christofer were very good, we had a great experince in Uganda that was up to our expectation, in the next future for another adventure in Africa we surely contact them again !
Uganda adventure once in a life time adventure
Communications was excellent our guide Stanley was to us like and old friend we knew forever, friendly, clear, open to our needs and requests but making sure we dis not miss any of the wonders Uganda had to offer. The trip was well above our expectations, the lodges meet all expectations, the food was amazing. And the game drives were full of surprises, we saw the big five, but better than that was our Gorilla and chimpanzee trekking which totally met our expectations
IT
Email Cristina | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Memorable
All very good they are experts and very knowledgeable of the territory