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
Fabulous Rwanda - A must-see destination !
Overall it was a very nice and enjoyable solo tailored trip. I found Rwanda to be a beautiful lush green country with amazing scenery at every turn but mostly it’s the people, they are very warm, friendly, open and curious. Have always felt welcomed, very safe and the few kinyarwandan words I learned, well wow! It had a great positive impact when making contact with locals. If you have never been to Africa, this country is a great option for a first-time experience.
Kigali
Vibrant city and so clean! Felt instantly comfortable and at ease.
Interesting visits: Inewa art gallery, Ikerezi Bookshop, dodo lunch (delicious!), Cards for Africa, Kigali and Nyamata Genocide Memorials.
Hôtel des Mille Collines : grounds are nice, pool not very clean, very good breakfast but room quite ordinary with stained carpets but comfortable bed, in need of renovations, pool meals ok, very good service all-aound. First room had nice view and always had hot water. Still enjoyed mostly because of history of this landmark hotel. WIFI in room is a plus.
Akagera National Park
The drive between Kigali and Akagera is absolutely beautiful and worth it.
Safari game drives: Few animals but I did get to see all of those I wanted except lion: elephant, giraffes, buffalo, impala, hippos, alligator, baboons, etc. The scenery is beautiful and very different from what I expected, not flat at all, plenty of hills. Our guide Vetuste was a wonderful, curious, knowledgeable young man. While driving aimlessly at some point, we were lucky enough to quickly spot a rhino, they are new to the park and not yet accustomed to people. PM boat ride was nice, lots of birds and buffalos. Knowledgable guide.
Community Cultural Experiences:
In collaboration with the community and the park, the Community Freelance Guides have developed some cultural experiences to share with park guests. Revenue is shared with the community members visited.
Banana-beer maker: probably one of the highlights of this trip, it was amazing to be hands-on in a local community and in someone’s home.
Honey cooperative: delicious! I am allergic to bees and I must say that they went out of their way to make sure I was safe. They adapted the visit accordingly.
Ruzizi tented lodge: Fabulous experience! Beautiful grounds and tents. Quite an experience to sleep at night with so much nature noise. Food ok, excellent service. Hot water issue, none for a day but was resolved. I would easily have stayed an extra night. Cons: the need to choose in advance your meal and meal time did not please me and no WIFI.
Huye
National ethnographic museum: Nice visit, interesting to see the women make baskets and plates in the training quarters in the garden area. Warm welcome. Delicious lunch at local buffet style restaurant.
Nyungwe National Park
Chimpanzee tracking: Really enjoyed it but was a difficult treck, demanding and off the beaten track.
Tea plantation visit: Spent an hour walking around the fields with knowledgeable guide. Interesting.
Waterfall hike: Very enjoyable but few birds. Easy treck.
Top View Hill Hotel: Excellent service. Good food. Hot water issues resolved. WIFI in main building only. Amazing views. Room a bit sad looking and empty but clean, large with fireplace and terrace. Main building is awfully depressing and sad. Cons: No spirit, no light, no music, no life it's just plain dead.
Kibuye - Lake Kivu
Majestic lake that looks like an ocean in some areas. Nice scenery but less impressive and green. Nice stop to relax a few days.
Cormoran Lodge: Waterfront and away from town, good food, great views, pretty warm and no fan, WIFI in room, simple, clean rooms but very little or no hot water. Very steep climb to cabins, might not be convenient to anyone with walking issues. Excellent service.
Swimming and kayaking to see sunset over the water was beautiful.
Short boat trip to island where you hike to the top, beautiful views but too expensive for what it was.
Rubavu
Excellent lunch at Serena hotel by the beach. Fabulous location and great city.
Imbabazi visit: For anyone you loved reading Land of a thousand hills: My life in Rwanda by Rosamond Healsey Carr, visiting her house, grounds, school is a must. Emmanuel, my guide had the privilege of working with her for many years. Touching.
Volcano National Park
Park entrance: Intore dancing à 7:00am: a real treat, enjoyed it very much. Colorful and energetic.
Gorilla tracking: Quite an experience, quiet and calm small group. Beautiful creatures. Interesting to watch interactions. Gloves came in handy, no need for gaiters in dry season but walking pants are not enough, needed my yoga pants under so that it was thicker, helps with nettles. Easy enough treck.
Golden monkeys tracking: Up close and personal, so many of them everywhere and very active. Enjoyed it very much. Easy short treck.
Short nature walk: easy 90 min walk in the forest before heading out to Kigali for return flight. Nice scenery. First female guide I had, interesting conversations, she was curious and not shy to ask many questions, I liked.
Lake Ruhondo: drive to Virunga Lodge for fabulous view
Mountain Gorilla View lodge: Great volcano views, nice grounds, nice large room with fireplace and hot water bottle. Good meals, packed lunch/wine expensive, better to stock up at breakfast and bring snacks for trackers. Bathroom needs renovations. Plenty of hot water, WIFI in main building only. Excellent service.
Gorilla Guardians Village Visit : lifestyles, activities, artifacts and traditions of local people. Interesting.
Special thanks to Lionel, sales consultant at Matoke:
I cannot comment this trip without mentioning the excellent service provided before and during my trip. He has been a gem and I thank him for all his work, patience and insight, it has been greatly appreciated.
Special thanks to Confidence, driver/guide for Matoke:
He was safe, punctual, patient and excellent driver. Respectful, professional, smiling, calm, easygoing, warm and easy to get along with excellent birding knowledge. Travelling with an African native makes contact with others easier as he knows how to approach and communicate with everyone. Ate great local food in places I might not have went on my own. Could work on his overall knowledge of Rwanda.
Tips:
If you are curious, crave information, fun-facts and knowledge about your destination, I strongly suggest that you read-up beforehand. Rwanda Bradt guide is a must.
Before a visit or activity, find out what to wear. It makes the visit more interesting and comfortable if you are wearing the proper clothing.
If your tour starts in Kigali, ask to be picked-up at the airport by your driver/guide to make sure you are on the same page for activities and visits itinerary the day after. More efficient timewise if short stay.
Good to know:
Food: Varied, Rwanda grows fruits and veggies. Also meats and delicious fish. Veggie options easy to find.
Toilets: On the road, mostly basic hole in the ground and while tracking, in the bush.
Insects: Tse Tse flies are a nuisance in Akagera but no worries if bitten. Saw little to no mosquitos during my 2 week stay.
Weather: Perfect, no rain and not too hot. Warm temperate and cool in mountains.
Altitude: Make sure to bring proper medication just in case your body does not have the time to acclimatize.
Safety: No worries at all.
Children: Sooo adorable! But do not take pictures without permission and do not give money.
Souvenirs: Beautiful wood jewellery, local organic coffee and tea, delicious!
Do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions. It will be a pleasure!
Sophie
The gorilla trip was great and all the transport was organized perfect incl our last minute changes
Communiations was very well, thanks to all support, accommodation great, beautiful place and the gorilla trip was amazing
Email Robert | 65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
8 day luxury safari
A safari which will live long in the memory. Chimps at Kibale were great - suggest you pay extra for habituation walk. need to start early at Swamp Walk (9a.m.) if you are to get to QENP for game drive. Saw tree climbing lions at Ishsha and gorillas at Bwindi were wonderful with one even visiting us at our verandah in Bwindi Lodge!. Over 70 bird species seen in total. Accommodation first class. Driver could have been a bit more enthusiastic but he was very careful and safe on the roads and 4WD vehicle very comfortable for two. Expensive but worth it!
CA
Email Nigel | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
A Challenge..worth taking!
Lional. at Matoke, Uganda was a great agent and organized my 8-day tour very well. Andrew, my tour guide was an ornithologist extraordinaire, a good safari guide and knew the roadways very well. He made an effort to ensure I saw what I wanted to see. However, the terrain when tracking chimpanzees and more so, Gorillas, was a challenge. It was a marvelous experience I would not have missed but I believe Matoke Tours should ensure that their clients are aware that a certain level of fitness is required for those searching for primates in the dense forests, the walkways erected some years back are in serious decline and crossing streams is achieved by taking your socks and shoes off. All this adds up to a level of 'risk' so I believe health insurance is more of a 'must do' and should be suggested at the time of booking. Due diligence! The Ugandans are very friendly, helpful and pleasant and at the lodges more so. Had a great time I shall always remember.
A good Matoke Safari Tour experience
It was within one (1) month from our arrival date, that we were able to arrange our Queen Elizabeth National Park Safari tour. An example of good service.
With a polite, knowledgeable chauffeur/ guide with lots of patience it has been a wonderful experience.
The selected lodge accommodation with full breakfast, lunch and dinner provisions was good!!!
It was unfortunate, that our lunch on our return trip was not up to standard. No comparison with our lunch break on the way to the park. To conclude this brief description of our experience with Matoke Tours, we honestly can say, that it has been a good experience.
nice trip and nice guide (Dunn)
little "rustique" but full of views... matérial (car) a little to "old" (tree "accidents")... all in English, a little sad for french people...
Good
Went to Uganda with Matoke, 10 day tour. Wim provided many details during the planning of the trip regarding travel times (very difficult without local knowledge), camp and food accommodations, and activities. I was able to tailor the whole trip to my desires, and everything went beautifully. My guide was Musa, a long time guide, with lots of local insight to the culture, landscape, flora and fauna of Uganda. He clearly takes pride in being Ugandan, and travelling alone with him for 10 days was informative and always pleasurable. Our schedule included many long days, and Musa endured them all with a smile. I would not hesitate to recommend Matoke to anyone considering African travel, and would ask for Musa specifically if I return to the area.
CA
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Overall, it was great, and our guide, Dan, was wonderful. The vehicle was a bit old though.
The experience lived up to our expectation, and Dan was informed and flexible to our needs. The accommodations were first class, food good, and we saw all the animals we had hoped to. The customized trip to a Water School project in Nebbi District went according to plan, and was a lot of fun.
The only criticism was that the original vehicle we were given had seat belts which didn't work. Roads are dangerous in Uganda, and I considered this a serious lapse. We were given a replacement vehicle with working seat belts, but it was pretty old, and struggled up some hills. You could use newer vehicles!
ES
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Very nice trip!
We had a lot of expectations about the trip (and all were fulfilled pretty nice) and about the accommodation but there were some troubles in two lodges, but Matoke Tours fixed them well.
We have a very good and professional guide and driver!
CH
Good organized 13-day private safari
We enjoyed our stay in Uganda - thank you very much for the part you contributed to the experience.
With Albert Henry we had a very friendly and reliable driver and guide. Especially impressive his knowledge about birds.
The Gorilla Trekking was an absolute highlight but also the other places impressed with the variety of landscapes and wildlife.
The lodges and hotels you suggested / provided were mostly a good choice:
Especially to mention Mihingo and Kyaninga Lodge which were among the nicest places we have been in Africa.
The only a little disappointing place was Paraa Lodge where we missed privacy and atmosphere (to big with negative side effects - especially in high season).