Your hosts
Buffalo Safari Camps
- Located In:
- Size:
- 5-10 employees (Founded in 2012)
- Member Of:
- AUTO, UTB & Fairtrade Tourism
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $80 to $3,000 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
Email Phoebe | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great experience, we saw loads of animals, but accommodation and food were very average and limited.
Overall I had a nice time and was able to see many of the animals which live in Uganda I thought that the range of activities were great and your guides were very knowledgeable. The campsites were very good and the fact that we did not have to carry tents made things much easier. However, there are a few points of issue which I would like to raise.
Firstly, we were only offered one small bottle of water throughout the entire trip which was not an issue when we were at the campsites, but was an issue during the long journeys. This became such an issue on the first day that after the walk up the waterfall - which was extremely hot and sweaty - one of my friends became ill with dehydration. One bottle of water was not enough to sustain us from 6am through to 7pm when we were served dinner and had access to a Jerry can.
Secondly, there was not enough food. The chefs made delicious food, but there was not enough - one girl in my group did not have lunch on the second day because there was not enough. On trips like this in a group of my size (which was 22), there should be more than enough food. Moreover, we were told on day one that we would not need any money for food as a packed breakfast and lunch would be provided. Instead, however, we stopped at a petrol station after 3 hours of driving and were told to pick up something from the shops. This would have been fine had we been told beforehand, but we were expecting a packed breakfast. Then, lunch was simply a wrap - delicious as it was, that and a banana was not enough to sustain us from midday to 7pm. I expected more in this packed lunch.
And finally, I have never been so frightened in a car before. Our driver drove ridiculously fast over potholes and puddles which was incredibly uncomfortable and nauseating. One of my friends was sick because of his driving. Furthermore, he would chase both animals and children to get them off the roads. This was unnecessary and frightening for us passengers. We would rather have gone slower and taken an hour longer to get to our destination than have to consider the prospect of our driver being imprisoned for manslaughter caused by reckless driving.
I hope that these comments will help you to improve your safari in future.
US
Email Ann | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
It was great!
We were picked up promptly in Kampala and driven to Murchison. The stops and lunch along the way was great. Emma was very knowledgeable about Uganda and the animals in the park. The trip was exactly the right amount of time with as many activities in it that could fit! We saw lions and other animals that made it really fun. The car hand a pop up top which allowed for great viewing but lacked ac so sometimes it was a bit hot. Overall, great experience.
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Email Hillary Smith | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An epic and circular journey through Uganda
My 18 year old son and I went on a 17-day tailor-made trip with Buffalo Safari Camps, visiting Lake Bunyoni, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Lake Mutanda, Queen Elizabeth Park, Murchison Falls NP, Kidepo Valley and Sipi Falls. We also visited the Ik and Karamoja tribes.
Rogers our guide is well-liked wherever he goes and has a pleasing personality, and most importantly, a good ethical stance in regards to the wildlife. He lingers long enough for you to have great looks and photos, but not so long that the animals are hindered by our presence. He has a lot of knowledge of both the wildlife and finding his way around the crazy, dusty, bumpy and largely unmarked roads. Halfway through our tour we started bush camping, and our cook - David - joined us. Great with flavors, he was also an amiable presence. I think they are both talented, intelligent and right-minded men.
I will be dreaming of giraffes, hippos, elephants and lions for many months to come. And all of the gorgeous people of Uganda.
Email Liane | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Great fun, a good budget safari option in a beautiful park
This is a really good option if you are on a budget. I did a trip with them to Kidepo NP and it was an amazing park and so much fun. Be aware that the trips leave from Kampala and so involve a lot of driving, but the vehicle is comfortable enough and also perfect for safaris as the roof raises up. The cooking was always very good and substantial, and our driver Rogers was great – he had some very long drive days and coped really well with it all. It was the cheapest option I could find to Kidepo and the 5-day trip means there is time for 2 game drives as well as the nature walk. I was very impressed with the drives as they lasted for about 5 or 6 hours each, so there was a lot of time to see many different animals! We were also the only car in the park which is very unusual in East Africa, but makes for a special experience.
Email Ria | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Amazing and Unforgettable
I just want to say a big THANK YOU, for this amazing and unforgettable holiday.
-The 24/7 customer support was a great comfort
-The scenary took my breath away - we managed to see ALL the big 5 and the Great Migration
-The drivers were punctual, very knowledgeable and professional
-The accommodation was great &
-The food .. we put on weight!
We loved it and we are now thinking of next year.
Thanks again!!!!
DE
Email Lothar | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
7 days safari: QENP, Ishasha Sector, Bwindi FNP, Lake Mutanda, Lake Mburo, incl Gorilla trecking
Perfect organization, great lodges, wunderfull landscape and nature. Our Guide "Sunday" is a experienced and safe driver. He knows his stuff perfectly and responds to all personal wishes. Thank you Sunday for the wonderfullt time and thank you Tim for the perfect organization. We would do it again at any time :-)
Email Kim | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Outstanding Uganda trip organised by true professionals!
Just returned from two incredible weeks in Uganda. It was meant to be a family trip but ended up as a solo trip.
Tim, the owner was so flexible and communicative in putting together the perfect itinerary. Happily responded to all changes and completely understood my budget and planned it accordingly.
The driver/guide, Emma, was exceptional with his knowledge and driving abilities. He has a sunny, upbeat attitude which made every day just so much better.
We were in an older Land Rover that had a pop up roof that made game viewing so much easier and fun.
I would recommend Buffalo Safari Camps to all my friends and family.
Followed the itinerary perfectly and was always in safe hands
Initially we chose Buffalo Safari because they offered a budget option. This was available because we stayed in tents each night but we still had the luxury of the restaurants of the lodges, but at a lower cost we could afford. Camping was an amazing experience I wouldnt have had it any other way.
We were able to squeeze in everything in our action packed tour itinerary and it did not disapoint. I was also impressed with their knowledge and experience of each place they took us. They have many relationships with people and hotels all across the country which they use to give you a wonderful experience
I would recommend my friends and family on going with Buffalo Safari Camps if they are lucky enough to find themselves in Uganda
US
Email Melody | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Emma the great Lion/leopard finder!!!
We were picked up and greeted warmly by our driver/Safari guide in Kampala and traveled a long 7 hour ride to Murchison park and Emma encouraged us to go into the park that afternoon for our first gaming tour where he was able to find a large lion asleep as well as a leopard with lots of giraffes and other wild life which made the long drive worth while!! Emma was very accommodating and made lots of recommendations and we had a lovely night at the Murchison River lodge with very friendly staff making sure we were safe from the Hippos that came up from the water through the camp. Emma then took us on another early morning drive and we got to see more lions both male and females using his friendly ways with the local park rangers to find out where they had been spotted. He is truly a wise Ugandan guide we would recommend to all as we talked with others that night at the lodge who had not seen what we had seen that day!! Emma was able to get us safely back on our long trek back to Entebbe for our flight out!! Thanks Emma well done!!
DE
Email Andreas | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Friendly & professional rental 4wd operator, good value, going extra mile to accommodate requests
I rented a Land Rover with driver for 1 month in May and June 2021; Western Uganda, Eastern Uganda, Kenya.
Individual set-up of the route by me, including off-the-beaten-track destinations. Accommodation booking done by me along the way.
Party of 1 German, 1 Kenyan, and up to 3 Ugandan friends.
Owner/manager Tim was very attentive and provided timely and valuable feedback before the trip, including flexibility in the light of ever changing Covid related rules.
The vehicle (1993 Land Rover, 6 seater incl driver) was reasonably spacious, comfortable, and very reliable; a few technical issues occuring along the route (several 1000 kilometers) were quickly resolved by the knowledgeable driver, accepting a little assistance by my Kenyan companion while we were in Kenya. Expect real go-anywhere 4wd capability and a roof that can be opened for game viewing, but no modern-age luxury like AC or radio. Dysfunctional fuel gauge meant that we refueled more frequently, which was no problem.
No extra costs incurred along the way apart from diesel fuel, and national park fees for the driver (while in Kenya) and the vehicle, and mandatory border-crossing Covid test expenses for the driver.
Driver Ronald, called "Emma", was very professional and doubled as a guide, especially in Uganda where he knew most of the places we visited. Friendly, courteous, very good English, safe driving style, excellent knowledge of the vehicle and how to fix it. I would certainly request to go with him again during my next trip.
After the end of the original 1 month rental and our trip extension by air to the Kenyan coast (the driver drove the car back to Uganda alone), my Ugandan friend had to return home during a newly declared tight lockdown with cessation of all public and most private transport in Uganda. Tim professionally arranged for a transfer from Entebbe airport to my friend's village, going the extra mile to get him home safely. Very good job, other operators may not have been able to accomplish this.
Overall: Professional and friendly operator, good value for money, accommodating individual requests; I would certainly book with them again.