The Matoke Tours Team
Matoke Tours
- Located In:
-
Netherlands
- Size:
- 20-50 employees (Founded in 2002)
- Member Of:
- ATTA, AUTO, SGR, UTB & UCF
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range & luxury tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $300 to $750 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
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Email Melissa Faith Klar | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Perfect Midrange trip to Uganda/Tanzania
I am super impressed with Matoke, that is why I am writing about them. I have been a travel consultant and freelance travel writer for over 37 years and have booked with countless operators for my clients and my friends. To start the communication was Outstanding. I worked with Manager Ilse and she was very clear in every thing she stated. She replied immediately and always in great depth with extreme clarity . This is important when you are working with a local operator and especially when there is limited Skype access....I trusted her every word and she was right with everything. The trip I booked was a "midrange" trip and it felt more like a Luxury high range trip. They work on a tiered program, so if you wanted to upgrade you could do it where you wanted to. I also have been to 22 countries in Africa through the last 44 years and I have booked and stayed in luxury, not my choice for a Safari and certainly NOT necessary, give those extra funds to the various NGO's empowering people's lives there.. Maktoke offers such quaint, cozy and clean well run properties, that they scout themselves. Their vehicles are clean, and well maintained. They partner with Easy Travel in Tanzania, a top notch operation in itself. The "Pearl of Africa" is Uganda, and the driving was perfect including offering Chimp and Gorilla tracking that anyone can do even disabled, they need to pay for a chair to be bring up and it is so worth the experience. The prices that most tour companies in the US offer for Africa are double the price. With Maktoke you can book directly and save about half the price, this makes Africa affordable. Also dealing with a Dutch company comes with organization and no stone unturned. Their tiered system of bookings is state of the art for Travel. Only a company that knows all of the properties can offer this. They are now offering trips to the Congo and to Madagascar. I am looking forward to putting my next group together for Madagascar.
DE
Email Astrid Kaiser | 65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
best service, organization, friendly staff, good locations,
I did the three days tour to Bwindi with Matoke Tours, it was great. In advance I always received soon detailed answers, the tour was excellent. Especially because they selected a wonderful location to sleep twice at the Lake Mutanda, so it was not too much far from Bwindi to be in time for the briefing for the Gorilla tracking. during the long trip to the east we stopped always at clean locations.
NL
Email Hans en Rogier | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Gorilla's and Kidepo: extremes in many ways
We had a spectacular tailor-made trip through Uganda, thanks to the top class service of Matoke (cheers Ilse). In an 8 day span we went to Bwindi to watch the gorilla's (no recommendation necessary) and Kidepo (better kept a secret) by mini bus. It was challenging but worth every second. We saw the whole country, literarily. Dramatic changes of landscape all day, views, smells, sounds. We asked for an enthusiastic, passionate guide who would not be intimidated by our many, many questions. And so we did get a walking encyclopaedia with telescopic eyes who happened to be the nicest companion you could wish for. We want him for ourselves and cannot disclose his name (cheers Geoffrey). Uganda is not a problem free zone in East Africa. Thank you Geoffrey for taking time with us to learn more about the events that took place in Northern Uganda and influenced the communities but also the wildlife in Kidepo. Tourists from abroad should do so.
We'll be back.
Email Neil | 65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
From my first contact with Ilse they were incredible.
The accommodation at Flame tree village in Kigali and our stay at Lake Mutanda . One of the most beautiful places on earth. The whole experience far excelled expectations. The staff were easy to contact to take care of a few problems in connections. It all went like clockwork . I had researched this trip 5 weeks in Africa for 18 months and Matoke was by far the best value. It was an experience of a life time. If I was to do it again they would be my first call.
Email Emma | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
An excellent experience
The staff were incredibly helpful, responsive and accommodating whilst booking the trip from Australia. Once we arrived everything ran smoothly and on time, we did the one day gorilla tour in Uganda which was incredible however a very tough and long hike so be prepared. It was an experience of a lifetime and would highly redommwnd
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Email Connie | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
My dream trip come true !!
Everyone involved with Matoke Tours was very friendly and helpful.
I chose the trip that included seeing the gorillas three times over the span of 9 or 10 days..... in Rwanda, Congo and Uganda. I could not have had a better time. The gorillas were up close and personal, to a degree. They did not touch us, but they were fun to watch esp. the babies. I highly recommend this trip if you are a gorilla fan. Also the accommodations and meals were very interesting.
Professional and hassle free with great service
Everything was organised well. The guide was a real charmer but very service minded. We enjoyed the lodges, that were basic but great. The tour operator could have been clear on what to pack as we went trekking in trainers (very wet). Brilliant country to visit!
Fantastic trip - brilliantly organised by Matoke
We had an absolutely great trip to Uganda with Matoke. Edwin was a fantastic guide and driver. Both the gorillas and Lake Bunyonyi were absolute highlights of our visit to Uganda and we’re already looking for an excuse for our next visit!
Many thanks for your assistance with planning and organising the various aspects.
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Email Laura | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Amazing adventures thanks to Matoke Tours!
I spent months creating the perfect solo trip to Uganda, Rwanda and Tanzania and Ilse from Matoke Tours was with me every step of the way. She was there to answer my many many many emails almost daily for months! She helped me create the perfect tour! Her patience was very much appreciated. She even checked in and helped with a few things during the tour! Every detail from the lodges, meals, transfers, gorilla trekking, chimp trekking, golden monkeys and park entrance fees where all taken care of! The tour it self was amazing. Musa was my personal guide in Uganda and Rwanda and he was awesome. I love Musa!! So sweet and humble, very professional, informative and made sure I had the best experience! Each lodge/tent Ilse and I picked out turned out to be great and I was very happy with each place. I felt safe with Musa and in each lodge. No issues! Next I went to Tanzania where Hamdani was my personal guide. Hamdami was also great and very informative!
I very much enjoyed my experience in planning my tour and experiencing every wonderful moment. I will definitely use Matoke Tours again for my next trip to Africa!
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Email Josh | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Tremendous trip, zero problems
My friend and I took a 7-day safari in Uganda and Rwanda. On our first day, our driver, Big Sam, picked us up from our hotel in Entebbe and gave us a briefing on the trip. He explained that sometimes, things would not go smoothly, but it was important to be patient. "T.I.A." he said (This Is Africa). Sam could not have been more wrong. The entire trip from start to finish ran like clockwork. The chimpanzee habituation experience in Kibale, the gorilla trekking in Bwindi, the golden monkey trekking in Mgahinga, and the Dian Fossey hike in Volanoes NP (warning - extremely muddy!) were each, independently, among the most exciting excursions of our lives. Having just finished a safari in Kenya and Tanzania on which the tour company flubbed the bookings for two of our four accommodations (!), I was prepared for mishaps, but Matoke was precise, professional, and extremely organized. I also requested quotes from a few different companies, and Matoke's price was more than fair. Really, we could not be happier. Thank you Matoke for an amazing experience!