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
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Amazing! Great communication!
I talked with several safari agencies, but decided to go with Matoke due to its competitive pricing and the great reviews I saw on this website. I'm glad I did. Despite the time difference between the US and Uganda, the agency, especially its manager Ilse, were extremely communicative and walked me through the whole planning process. Together, we created a Tanzanian safari that met my family's needs. Our experience last month was exactly as planned. I would like give a special thanks to our driver and tour guide Edward (in partnership with Easy Travel in Arusha) for his unparalleled expertise. We not only saw the Big 5, but other animals we didn't even know existed. He toured us through the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Manyara. He took great care to make sure we had a great time and most of all that we were safe always. Thank you Edward!!!!
IL
Email Emanuella | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
The trip was wonderful. Rwanda is a beautiful place. The chimpanzee tracking was rather difficult fo
The trip was wonderful. Rwanda is a beautiful place.
The chimpanzee tracking was rather difficult for me, but i have managed to make it.
The hotels/lodges were excellent. Thank you for that.
Confidence (my driver guide) was very good. I am very happy that he was my driver/guide.
Thank you for handling the situation with Flame tree hotel in Kigali (the fact that no one came to take me from the airport), quickly to my satisfaction.
I will recommend Matoke tours to others
DK
Email Mariane | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
An exiting trip and a very good guide
We are very happy and trilled after the 4 day tour, Matoke Tours, organized for me and my two daugthers (age 13 and 17) in July.
The tour started out from Kampala and went to the Murchison Falls National Park. Our driver and guide, Richard, was very pleasant and informative and with a good humour.
It was impressive how he could spot the animals.
The Rhino Sanctuary and all of Murchison Falls National Park was a wonderful experience and we got to watch a lot of animals at very close range. Also the communication during the planing phase was very easy and effective.
I can highly recommend Matoke Tours to others wishing to visit Uganda.
An unforgettable safari and beach holiday in Tanzania
We traveled to Tanzania with my two adult children and my daughter's boyfriend. We all really enjoyed our trip and had a wonderful holiday in Tanzania. Our guide was outstanding and did his utmost to ensure we saw everything there was to see, with excellent views always close to the action. He was also fun to be with and he got on well with all of us. The safari itself was amazing and unforgettable. Our accommodation was excellent and we especially loved the Tortillis camp which, although tented, was gloriously comfortable and exotic.
Thank you for all your hard work on our behalf and for helping to provide a once-in-a-lifetime holiday.
US
Email Dina | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
My experience with Matoke tours was straightforward and highly satisfactory.
We had a wonderful time. We were able to see gorillas up close and it was incredible. The lodge was beautiful and we had a really peaceful time there. The staff was incredibly friendly and accommodating as well. The flights went well too and gave us a lot of extra time to just relax and enjoy the beauty of the lodge. It truly was an unforgettable experience.
US
Email Maria | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An Once In A Lifetime Experience
The accommodations were great and the location was beautiful. The
staff was very friendly and helpful. The gorilla trek was an amazing
experience and one I would recommend to anyone traveling to Uganda. I am so glad I made the decision to do this tour, because
this is definitely an once in a lifetime experience that I will always remember.
AT
Email Monika | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
tour with individual touch
At first we had nice email contact with Sven who was very sensitive about our wishes. We did not want to visit all parcs in a few days, just wanted to see the gorillas and to come in contact with the local community. He composed a trip for us and we really enjoyed it. We did a walking tour in Kampala with a young Ugandan woman and another great tour in the lake Bunyoni area. It was absolutly fabulous. Our driver Moses was a nice guy, but not talkative. In Lake Mburo NP we made a stoppover in Eagels Nest ( amazing!) and during safari Moses showed enthusiasm and we had a lot of fun with him. Here we also did a Mountainbike tour. At first we were disappointwd because we did not go into the parc and stayed outside but later we realised that we had good luck. We were just we two and had a great young guide who showed us animals, his home, an orphants house ... Another group (23 people!) had gone to the parc and swallowed the dust...
Sven also organised the pick up from the airport and the guesthouses in Entebbe and Kampala. They were both well situated and comfortable.
At least Sven wanted to get feedback and visited us in our guesthouse in Kampala. This was great and we really would recommend him as your travel consultant.
We had a dream holiday, got to see every animal possible up close and in their own environment.
Our guide in Uganda was excellent, so enthusiastic and proud of his beautiful country. We started with visiting a Rhino reserve, which was wonderful! We got to walk through the place to find them which was very exciting. The guides there were very informative. We got to see so much on the game drive at Murchison Falls, elephants, giraffes, lion, antilope, plus all the animals we saw on the river when we took a boat ride, and not forgetting the most amazing array of bird life we have ever seen! A high lite to us was at Queen Elizabeth Bush Lodge, where we had a great view across the river from our veranda, and not long after arriving a big herd of 20 or more elephants came to bathe just about 30 metres away from us, what a buzz! The biggest thrill was tracking to see the Mountain Gorillas! That was absolutely breath taking! It was very emotional to be in their territory and not feeling scared. Tanzania was equally beautiful, with another excellent guide! We loved the lodges especially Manyara Wildlife Lodge and Tortillis Camp, we felt very well looked after on their hands! The game drives were stunning, I don't think there is an animal that we didn't see! We saw heaps of lions, a pride with around Fifteen Cubs, walked in front of our car! We also saw a kill involving a zebra, with four lions on it, a bit confronting but very natural. The Ngorogoro Crater was breath taking and also amazing for the wild life! This whole trip was more than we could ever imagine, we were blown away by all we got to experience!
It was an experience we will never forget and want to share with all the people interested in Uganda
The trip was beyond our expectations in all aspects. Besides the beautiful country-sights of Uganda, Matoke had arranged excellent lodges for us and a good variety of game drives, river safaris , walking safaris and of course the Gorilla track. We had a very good and experienced driver / guide, able to tell us a lot about the country, history and nature. We are looking forward to let Matoke Tours arrange our next trip to Africa.