Empirical Tour and Travel
- Located In:
- Size:
- 1-5 employees (Founded in 2018)
- Tour Types:
- Custom budget & mid-range tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $50 to $2,000 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
BE
Email Katherine | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
totally recommended it
We booked our tour months prior our trip last September, I won't denied in the beginning I was scared since it was my first time in Central Africa and I didn't know what to expect, neither I was sure to who was I sending my full payment to. I can say all my fears disappear soon enough due to the great communication the company provide during the quote of the trip as well the days prior to the trip. The team (guide and driver) were always on time and available to any questions we may had. The chosen hotels were fantastic, the activities amazing (it can't be described on how awesome was to see all the animals in the game drive) and I can say that absolutely everyone was friendly and welcoming. We travel to Rwanda and Uganda, but Rwanda definitely stole our hearts, the beauty, cleanliness and security of the place was not expected and we can't wait to go back. Absolutely recommend it!
PT
Email Antonio Fonseca | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Wonderful time in Burundi, DRC and Ruanda
I recently booked a vacation through Empirical, and I couldn’t be happier with the experience! From the moment I reached out to inquire about a trip to se the low land gorillas in DRC, their team was incredibly helpful, knowledgeable, and responsive. They listened carefully to what I was looking for and tailored a perfect itinerary that met all my expectations and more.
The booking process was smooth and hassle-free. They took care of every detail, from flights to accommodations and excursions, ensuring everything ran like clockwork. What really stood out to me was their attention to detail and the personalized service. They even provided some excellent recommendations for local restaurants and hidden gems that made the trip truly unforgettable.
Throughout the trip, they were available for any questions or concerns, which provided peace of mind. Everything from airport transfers to tours was well-coordinated, and I never felt stressed or unsure about any part of the journey. Overall, I highly recommend Empirical for anyone looking to plan a seamless and enjoyable travel experience. Their professionalism, expertise, and personal touch truly made a world of difference. I will definitely be using their services for my next adventure!
CA
Email John Key | 65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
High quality small group tour operator for Central Africa
The tour company arranged a 1 week tour for myself from Rwanda to DR Congo and back. Email communication was excellent and the tour owner (Eraste) personally accompanied me on the tour and arranged the drivers and other transportation and facilitated the visa approval and border crossings at Bukavu and Goma.
Everything on the itinerary was provided and there was flexibility to make changes as requested(such as staying in the National Park) or required. Accommodation was very good and all meals were good. Eraste speaks fluent English (and French) and was well-informed, totally professional and kind and made good company on the tour.
The tour was good value for money for a private tour and I would thoroughly recommend this company and this tour to anyone.
ML
Email Hervé L. | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Exceptional tour operator, with unforgettable and meticulously planned travel
Joseph our guide is a kind person, wanted for us to be as much as possible relaxed, only for us to enjoy the Safari. We saw eraste the first day of the safari, communication was smooth and clear, this was the best service we had from a tour operator for the last 5 years. Thanks to Joseph for the exeptional 3 days in Akagera park. We got to see the Big 5. Also for your kindness and attention.
BE
Email Moritz | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Just Excellent!
I spent 6 days in Rwanda & DRC and enjoyed every moment of the trip! Eraste was extremely helpful during the whole planning process. The activities were well organized and the hotels were the perfect places to relax. Highly recommended! I am already planning the next trip with Empirical Tour and Travel!
RU
Email Pavel | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
reliable and responsible
our tour with Eraste to Rwanda-Congo-Uganda:
everything is very good and on schedule. very nice people. you can trust them. I recommend them 100% from my experience
US
Email Courtney | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Empirical Tour and Travel is a perfect fit for adventurous and personal travel in East Africa
You absolutely must travel with Empirical Tour and Travel! I was so impressed with our trip and recommend Eraste and the company to anyone traveling to East Africa. Our three week trip to Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania was absolutely incredible and all that credit is due to our tour company.
When comparing tour companies, I was most attracted to Empirical Tour and Travel because of the ability to create our own plan and not feel caught up in a large Tour group. The communication prior to the trip was clear and easy to manage and Eraste was very flexible to accommodate our travel preferences. He went above and beyond to ensure that we had a special experience each day that was catered to our interests in exposed us to a variety of activities, including multiple safari, gorilla, trekking, cultural tours, banana beer making, and so much more. The accommodations and restaurants selected for our tour were fantastic with a very comfortable amenities and stunning views. Empirical Tour and Travel brings a high-level of professionalism and reliability and managed every detail so we could enjoy being present on our vacation. The package was absolutely a great value for the price. 10/10 recommend for a trip of a lifetime!
RU
Email Aleksandr Zubkov | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
The guide Eraste perfect men an best guide ever
We travel through Uganda, Kongo, Rwanda
There was some troubles: sometime dangerous, sometime funny, sometimes interesting but always a lot of humor and really
Good impression. Kindly promise to try trip likours with Eraste
US
Email Matt Clapp | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Rich and diverse memories of East Africa for a lifetime
Empirical Tour and Travel led an incredibly rich and rewarding custom trip through East Africa for my fiancee and I for 3.5 weeks. We were both in between jobs and wanted to do something really big. We researched a large number of different safari services and for various reasons, none of them were a good match for us. I stumbled across Empirical's profile and was intrigued by their focus on Rwanda, Burundi, and Congo. I had never really thought about these countries before, but I reached out to them to ask for more info. Eraste (the owner and head guide) was very responsive and provided good info. We discussed a custom trip based off a standard trip they offer. Within 2 days, Eraste provided me with a custom itinerary based on a large number of things I was interested in. We agreed to a 23 day trip across Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania.
I requested a few last changes (removed DRC and added a horse safari in Kenya), which he accommodated. The itinerary we finally agreed on was very exciting. We paid Eraste via a mix of credit card (which had to be paid in batches of less than $2000 due to limitations on the Rwanda bank) and wire transfer.
Eraste met us at the airport in Kigali after midnight, as the flight arrives late at night, and took us to our hotel. We slept and then the trip began. Over the next 3.5 weeks we really got a taste of East Africa:
Rwanda was a true hidden gem. The entire country is impossibly clean and looks landscaped; a photo at any random location in the country looked like it had to be a park or something, but it wasn't, it was just the landscape. The Genocide Memorial Center was really a good experience. Rwanda has a painful past (the genocide was in 1994), but to walk around the country you don't feel it. Everyone is very kind (though street vendors are still trying to sell stuff). Other highlights included a canopy walk, golden monkey trek, a stay at a great beautiful lodge on tranquil Lake Kivu (where my fiancee and I got engaged!) and a visit to islands in the lake, Dian Fossey museum, banana beer making, and cultural dancing.
Burundi provided a great cultural experience at the Gishora Drum Sanctuary. This was amazing. You could feel the drum resonate through your chest. We also visited a waterfall park.
Uganda gave us the highlight of our trip - the gorilla trek. We hiked off trail in the jungle to spend an hour with a gorilla family of 8. The gorillas are habituated to humans (which takes years of daily exposure to trackers), so they basically ignore you. You're in no danger. We stood a short distance from a silverback while he munched on leaves. Our hearts were racing. Over the next hour we got to watch different members of the gorilla family eat ants, relax in trees, beat their chests (to impress us, according to the trackers), and liver their daily lives. In Uganda, we also visited several parks and got to see lions (male, female, and cubs), cheetahs, giraffes, antelopes, elephants, hippos, and several species of antelope and primates. We crossed the equator and saw a demonstration of water spinning clockwise and counter-clockwise and falling straight down. The crazy thing was, these were only 10 meters apart. We also did a really nice boat ride to Merchison Falls and saw more elephants and hippos.
Kenya provided an experience of a walking safari with members of a Maasai tribe in Maasai Mara. We saw elephants and antelope. We also got to visit their village, meet young warriors in training, and see their jumping contest and dancing. In a separate location, we did a horse safari which was was incredible. I highly recommend doing this. We were able to see giraffes from a distance and wart hogs and impala up close. We visited a rhino sanctuary and got see them up close grazing from a short distance while we walked around on foot. We also visited a giraffe park and got to feed and pet giraffes. So wonderful.
Tanzania was the end of our trip and we spent a few days snorkeling in the crystal blue waters of the Indian Ocean off Zanzibar. We also explored Stone Town and visited a slavery memorial location that was very educational.
Throughout the trip we stayed very good accommodations. Some were good, some were really good, and some were absolutely top notch. We were perfectly happy with this mix. Most hotels were gated, and we never felt unsafe.
The food ranged from local (which was really tasty) to specific to westerners. The quality varied by location. Sometimes the meat was tough, which really shouldn't be surprising, as the way food is stored in those areas is very different than back home. But sometimes it really was like eating at a nice restaurant. Again, it's travel, so we expected this mix. We chose to avoid vegetables that weren't peeled so we missed out on some stuff, but if felt like a good choice for us. We both got traveler's diarrhea once on the trip, though it was minor and passed in a few days. (Mine came from eating some berries for sale on the roadside in Burundi. I should have known better.)
The drivers were really on the ball and a did a good job covering long distances while ensuring we were safe and got to our destinations on time. They also did a great job in the game parks helping to get us to animal sitings, which may not last long.
Overall, I have to say the trip was INCREDIBLE. Seriously, nearly every day we experienced something incredible, and the whole time we kept thinking, and there's still a lot more amazing stuff to come! It felt like we packed months of experiences in a short time.
Eraste is a very kind and caring guide and went to a lot of trouble to give us the best experience possible, including adding a last minute trip to the giraffe park after he learned my fiancee liked giraffes and arranging with hotel staff to leave floral decorations on our bed to celebrate our recent engagement. Eraste also has great staff and we really enjoyed interacting with all of them.
I'd strongly recommend you bring a large amount of small currency for tipping and some extra money for visas and anything you want to buy. We brought a bunch of (USD) 1's, 5's, and 20's as well as several 100's. For 23 days, we each spent about $1200, though we didn't buy a lot of stuff. It was mostly tipping, the occasional beverage (alcohol is not included in the price), and visas. (Many of the activities are run by people at the specific location, not by Empirical, so you will need ample cash for tipping. So in addition to tipping your Empirical guides and drivers, you will also be tipping local staff.)
I can strongly recommend Empirical. We had a great time across a very broad and rich set of experiences. I can't say enough good things about the trip and I'm still smiling, days after returning home.
NL
Email Eline | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Amazing experience to Burundi
On our 3 days trip to Burundi we had an amazing experience in this wonderful country. The communication was very smooth and in good english and therefore helped us a lot. The guide was very grateful with the tour and about the country and loved to share his experience with us. For us the last day of the tour was a little to long and maybe better to take a small lunch break so that you have some time to stretch your legs. Leaving a little earlier in the morning gives you already this time for a lunch break. We really can recommend taking a tour and we had an amazing experience!