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
BE
Email Marc & Hilde from Belgium | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Uganda and Matoke are in our hearts, with special thanks to Bella (our guide) and Alex (our driver)
We just got back from the 15 days roundtrip to Uganda with MATOKE (spotted at the travel exhibition centre in Antwerp). At booking, we were disappointed to hear this "short" trip has a native guide (not Dutch speaking). However, what an advantage it turned out to be, that we had a local guide (Bella) and driver (Alex), black and speaking the native language!!! including their enthusiasm, expertise and experience, never a dull moment. We were in an exceptionally small group (only 6, probably due to the rain season (allthough we mainly had rain at night and while we were on the road in the bus)) and she took us to places where would never have been able to / allowed to / dare to come with a Dutch (read: white "mzungu") guide: As per our suggestions for loose moments on the road, we have visited an open market, a small public school, a gospel church on a Sunday morning, the busy market in Kampala.
The (instructions for the) preparation, organisation, programm itself, timing, guidance, professional local guides and rangers, accomodation and follow-up were perfect! All hightlights visited, all wildlife spotted (the gorilla's even within the hour), all distances do-able, all meals in the hotels and the lunches on the road very nice, "lekker", and safe.
A few memorables:
Murchison Falls N.P.: We could get out of the bus to stretch our legs for a moment: Alex peels pineapple and hands us the juicy segments while we were watching hippo's and while a single male elephant just walked by! Adrenaline!
Bwindi impenetrable forest: Taking pictures of a big gorilla at 8m in front of us, hearing something from behind, happening to be a younger gorilla passing by at nearly 2m! Adrenaline!
Taking a shower at Bush Lodge, outside the wooden tent/lodge, in the rain, after the personnel brought 4 cans of hot water! Hilarious! Hearing the day after that the hippo's sometimes come for a walk near the lodges at night ... scary ... was that what I heard last night?
Traveller's warning: only small minus: really do check if the swimming pool is clean before taking a swim (KONTIKI). Buy an ointment for insect bites locally, because the Belgian version does not help. If you have shoe/leg protections ("getten"), use them, so no safari ants can get through your socks.
Thank you MATOKE and Bella for learning us so much about Uganda, its people, habits, nature, ...what a personal and correct service! You wish yourself such a guide on every trip!
And thank you to our 4 co-travellers for the nice company!
NL
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Super service for my last minute booking!
Thank you for the great service in booking my last minute flight-in to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest NP to track gorillas. I did not have time to go to their office, but everything was handled quickly on the phone and by e-mail. The Gorilla Tracking permit was even delivered at my office! The lodge (Lake Mutandwa Resort) was good value (with good service, excellent food and lodging) and everything was arranged well: the flight, the transport, the permit, the payment arrangement. I really can recommend Matoke Tours to everyone (I already did) and will certainly use their agency again. And of course the gorillas: it was quite a hike, but you can approach them until very close distance. One of us was even touched by a gorilla male crossing the path which caused some nervous giggling (on the part of the humans). Thank you!
An amazing, undescribable and exceptionally well-organised safari in North Tanzania !
We made a 11-days group safari to Northern Tanzania followed by one week in Zanzibar, with Matoke Tours from 11 till 30th of September 2014.
To resume this experience in a few words ?
An amazing, undescribable , wonderful and exceptionally well-organised trip !
Everything was perfectly arranged: a very good driver/guide Elias, comfortable and “good-memories-creating” special accommodations, unique game drives, very tasteful food and a very good 4x4 jeep.
We were very lucky during the game drives, with special thanks to our professional driver/guide Elias. We witnessed the following special situations during the safari:
· A couple of dating lions (oh yes) !
· A real catch: 4 female lions prepaired and attacked a group of buffels: they catched the little one…
· 2 fighting giraffes 5 meters away from our vehicle
· A female lion, carrying her 3 weeks old baby in her mouth, only 2 meters from our vehicle.
· 5 leopards, one crossing the “road” only 3 meters before our jeep
· A Serval Cat
· A group of elephants, enjoying themselves in a very small mudd pool a few meters away from the 4x4.
· A Rhino (although being very very far away)
· A thunderstorm on the Serengetti, early in the evening. This was an amazing show of colors from sun, rain, dust, ….
We travelled together with 2 other Belgian couples and this was a very nice experience.
We can strongly recomment Matoke Tours for travelling to Tanzania. From the beginning of our contacts and demands for information, till the end of the booking process, as well as just before departure, they were extremely well organised and replied within 24 hours (mostly within 4 hours) on all of your eventual questions. They provided honest, realistic and to the point information. If you have special requests, they take them into consideration wherever possible.
It is also good to know that in Tanzania, Matoke Tours works together with Easy Travel. Just take a look at the rating of Easy Travel on Tripadvisor: they are number 2 in safari’s in Tanzania ! In case of problems onsite, you can also trust on them.
Something very professional too was the debriefing at the end of the safari at the Easy Travel office in Arusha.
If you have plans to go on safari, don’t hesitate and get in contact with Matoke Tours !
You won’t be disappointed ….
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Murchison Falls National Park and Budungo Forest
Our tour was very well organized. The accommodation was of high quality and excellent service all round. The rangers were very knowledgeable, pleasant and helpful. The Matoke Tours guide/driver, Geoffrey, made the whole trip - even the long drive - enjoyable and interesting. We shall definitely recommend Matoke tours to friends and relatives.
NL
Email Eric de Bruijn | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Southern Tanzania
Through Matoke Tours Netherlands we booked the southern part of Tanzania.
From the beginning till the end it was great. Deo, our guide and driver was perfect. Always in time, helpful, great eyes for spotting animals. Safe driver.
The lodges were good and after a long day of safari it was perfect to end with a Kilimanjaro beer.
Selous was wunderful, but Ruaha was great. So much wild we spotted. A lot of lions, elephants. giraffes, etc. And Mufindi was a good spot to relax in the Highlands. And later Udzungwa Mountains and relaxing in Bagamoyo.
One word: a holiday never to forget.
BE
Email Daniel and Janique | 50-65 years of age
Unforgettable journey through Uganda
We have made the journey of our live in Uganda. The nature was more rich and beautiful than elsewhere in Africa. Lots of birds! Sometimes, we had to struggle with the nature. Every day heavy rains. But at the end of the day, we were more than satisfied with the things we have seen.
The meeting with the Bweza gorilla family was unique and unforgettable, what an emotions!!!
The lodges were cosy and beautiful. We think about the Rwakobo Rock lodge in M'Buro, Ihamba Safari lodge in Queen Elizabeth NP. In Cuckooland, we had to order hot water for the shower...very special, funny and ecologic 100%!
We thank Matoke Tours to have given us the time of our live!
There is so much to tell about animals and wildlife in Uganda, therefor I need more place and time to write it down ;o)
I recommand people to get themselves to Uganda with Matoke, the Uganda Experience.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Honeymoon in Uganda, Tanzania and Zanzibar
We had an excellent experience overall with Matoke; from the arranging of the honeymoon, all our questions were answered and they were very patient with our requests! We had a fantastic guide (Dan) in Uganda, and a great experience trekking with the gorillas which was a once-in-a-lifetime event. We absolutely loved Uganda, and would perhaps liked to have done one other activity there, because we were not aware of all the different activities that were available, so if something else had been suggested that would have been great, because we did have a couple of days just waiting in Kampala. In Tanzania, we had a great time; having a private tour for just myself and my husband was a great experience, it felt very personal and our guide was very knowledgeable. All the accommodation we stayed in was lovely, customer service was obviously a very high priority here! We were very lucky on safari and saw all the animals we had hoped to see, and again, having a private tour meant we had great views of the animals. The Ngorongoro Farm House was a particularly wonderful place to stay, especially after getting back from safari! Our accommodation in Zanzibar (Unguja Lodge) was fantastic - the staff were attentive without being overbearing, there were plenty of activities to occupy us if we wanted, and we felt thoroughly relaxed after our time there!
NL
Email Sonja, Hans, Bianca en Jeroen | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Our experience with Matoke Tours are great!
We went with four people on a 12 day safari-tour in Tanzania by Matoke Tours. We visited Lake Manyara, the Serengetti and the Ngorogorocrater. We saw lots of wild animals. Our guide/chauffeur Gerald showed us de most beautiful spots and told us much about it. After that we went for een few days to Zanzibar. The whole trip was above our expectations. I am sitting in a wheelchair, but I can walk a few steps with crutches. With a little bit of help you can make this trip for sure. The people of Tanzania are very kindly en helpfully. The hole team of Matoke Tours as well in Holland and Tanzania created the journey of our life.
NL
Email Henny en Leo Smink | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Tanzania and Zanzibar with Matoke Tours
Our safari to Tanzania (and Zanzibar) with Matoke Tours
13 oktober 2014……At last……..we departed!
More than a year ago we visited an information day in (with Bosscher bol) in Utrecht and actually booked the safari at once.
At the airport in Kilimanjaro were picked up by our guide for the coming 11 days, Gilbert Mariki, and we drove in the pitch dark to our first lodge, where we got a warm welcome with a nice drink. Besides…..that was repeated in every next lodge we arrived .
We visited the most beautiful parks and saw so many beautiful things! Specially because of ‘our’ Gilbert,. He really had the eyes of a hawk! It is incredible how he saw animals from a great distance and had to convince us that and where the animals that he saw, were.
So if there is a possibility…..ask for Gilbert Mariki! ;-)) He takes you to the most beautiful places (also to the Masai) and he can tell you very much about the nature and the animals!
All lodges satisfied our expectations! In contradiction with what we had read about het food in Tanzania, it was very good! Good choice with breakfast, such as fruit, eggs prepared in different ways, bread and pancakes.
Lunch was mostly a lunchbox, because we were on safari of course and the box was rich filled with all kinds of goods, such as cake, fruit, drinks, chocolat and a piece of chicken.
Diner was always a 3-course diner, , in short, we thought at first that this time our weight would not grow, but the opposite was true!
The safari a complete package tour! The temperature was between 21 and 30 degrees, so very pleasant.
Afterwards we understood also why the trip is rather expensive! It is a very expensive country with high petrol prices and entrance fees for the National Parks. Also in our little ‘supermarket’ where we bought water, biscuits, 6 tins of beer, 4 peacesof Mars, 1 bottle of Fanta, 1 sack peanuts en 1 tablet of chocolat,, we were surprised by the amount of $93 we had to pay. Our tip: take a little more with you than the advised $ 400, we would say between $ 400 and $600 p.p. Of course it depends on your own consumption use, but you can change at home what is left.
Finally we were for 6 days at Zanzibar, (average temperature during our stay 32 degrees)and we liked that very munch, because you get many impressions during the safari and than the rest on Zanzibar is very welcome to let all impressions land. Also on Zanzibar we had en very nice stay at Langi Langi, with very kind local people. We had a sea safari and saw many nice things! The domestic flighs and transfers were excellent arranged by Matoke Tours.
We were in Stonetown for 1 day with a guide. You have to get used on the activity ont he street and the market , but we are very glad that we dit it!
In short…..we had a fantastic holiday en when we have plans to make a tour like this we surely approach Matoke Tours to see what they can offer!
NL
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Profesional and flexible
The groups have a maximum size of twelve travellers spread over two cars, you always have a spacious window seat. Both the drivers and the tour leader are well prepared and try to avoid any delays. They are also informed/educated about the country, culture, roads, parks and animals. We had nice accommodations, vehicles and in the parks we always had a ranger. The tour was very complete (without extra costs). Overall we had an excellent tour through Uganda.