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!
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Trip of a lifetime
Just returned from a 6 day safari with Bright African Safaris which started on the 1st September 2014. A truly memorable experience. Couldn't fault the service offered by Msangi and his team. Bright African Safaris were prompt and efficient at answering all our pre-safari queries and the service provided by our guide, Othman, whilst on safari was second to none.
Nothing was too much trouble throughout our trip and we felt very well looked after. We would definitely recommend to other travellers.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great travel service with excellent staff
We had a 4 weeks honeymoon with Tailor made safari. Everything was perfectly arranged. Started from the first contact when still planning the holiday untill the last day of our stay.
Would definitely travel with them again in the future!
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Wild Wings Safari plans our second fantastic safari vacation
Clare at wild Wings Safaris set up our second once-in-a-lifetime safari vacation. Once again, everything came together perfectly without any problems. Clare worked closely with us as we planned our safari trip. Her help and suggestions led to another fantastic safari vacation. This time we visited four camps in Botswana (Baines, Nxabega, and Little Kwara in the Okavango Delta and Lebala in the Kwando Reserve), spent three nights in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, then visited Little Makalolo in Zimbabwe's Hwange National Park. All the camps were wonderful and together provided a great mix of experiences.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Two week round trip from joburg up to Limpopo, through Kruger, Durban, zululand, draakensburg,return
Undoubtably the most memorable two week journey we've experienced. Cute loved up guides, Ryan knows his subject, Thale great bush cook. Personally tailored service from guys who love the job, plenty communication prior to setting out. Mostly camping ( cos that's what we asked for) with a few nights in cosy accommodation. Dawn to dusk game drives, plenty game, astounding scenery. God's own country. Particularly enjoyed arriving and leaving at the home of Ryan's folks who made us feel like we'd known them for years. Loved the whole experience and would do it again tomorrow.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Great hospitality and quality!
My safari was great and Mr Richards is a very nice person. Great hospitality and good quality safari were provided by him. I recomend World Tours & Safari Tanzania for those who want a nice experience.
Best regards.
Cassiano Cruz.
65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
truly a memorable fantastic experience
from the very first moment of landing at nairobi till the moment we left somak did everything possible to make this the holiday of a lifetime...our guide and mentor (joyce )took care of everything . the organisation and service were first class as were the lodges we stayed in...our driver made sure that we saw the big five and so much more... a wonderful holiday
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Friendly cost, very friendly tour guide/driver who is also very knowledgeable.
Our expectations were all met, The tour guide very knowledgeable and friendly and flexible.
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Gorilla Trek
This was a wonderful, once in a lifetime experience. I would highly recommend.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great Experience
Everything was amazing. Drivers were on time and the tour guides very knowledgeable. We had great guides. I noticed that they were much more engaging that other companies that I saw.