ES
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Kubwa Five Safaris is an excelent option for your safari, just watch out during booking and planning
KUBWA5 Safari Holiday Review
We booked our honeymoon safari in Uganda and Tanzania with KUBWA5 this year. Our trip lasted a little less two weeks and included several parks in both countries. Overall, the experience with them was great. Since a safari holiday has many components, I’ll try to review each part separately.
My main disclaimer is that this was our first safari, so we don’t have a direct reference to compare it with. With that said, here is our experience.
Value for Money – 4.5/5
Overall, we believe KUBWA5 offers very good value for money. When planning the trip we compared several safari operators, and many alternatives we found online were significantly more expensive for very similar itineraries.
Even though we experienced some setbacks during the booking and planning stages, mainly due to pricing and itinerary mistakes that required adjustments (including a flight change on our side), the overall safari experience itself was excellent. Once the trip started, the logistics, guides, vehicles, wildlife experiences, and overall organization were outstanding, and they made our honeymoon truly memorable.
For that reason we would still rate the overall value for money at 4.5/5. The only reason it is not a full 5/5 is because of the issues during booking and planning, which required extra attention from our side. However, during the trip itself everything worked smoothly.
Booking – 2.5/5
This was the main low point of the experience.
We decided to go with KUBWA5 after doing some research. Our main reasons were that they are a local company in Uganda (our main destination), they had good reviews, and their price was competitive.
We spent several months between our first quotation and the final version of the itinerary. During that time we asked for different options regarding destinations and plans. If you’re spending $20k+ on a trip, I think that’s fairly reasonable.
When we were finally happy with the quote and itinerary—and only after paying an $8,000 USD deposit—they realized they had made a mistake in the pricing and that the trip had been underquoted by nearly $12,000 USD.
That’s obviously a lot of money for a mistake. We even considered canceling everything, but we eventually decided to adjust the trip by changing some dates and hotels so we could stay closer to our original budget while still traveling with KUBWA5.
Our advice: double-check and confirm all pricing carefully before paying the deposit.
⸻
Planning – 2.5/5
KUBWA5 are very flexible during the planning stage. They send a comprehensive PDF for every quote detailing the itinerary, planning, and budget. We actually used that document as a reference even during our trip.
They are very open to adjusting the itinerary and usually respond relatively quickly to requests or changes.
However, mistakes can happen. For example, our initial itinerary included leaving a hotel at 2 a.m., which turned out to be unrealistic for that location. Because of this we had to adjust several parts of the itinerary, which forced us to change one of our flights and cancel our final airport transfer.
Some of these planning adjustments also ended up costing us extra money, particularly when we had to modify flight arrangements after the itinerary changed.
These were manageable issues, but my recommendation is to carefully review every step of the itinerary and confirm travel times beforehand. Don’t hesitate to ask questions or request changes—they are very open to making adjustments.
⸻
Logistics – 5/5
After the initial challenges during booking and planning, I have to say that the trip itself ran perfectly.
From the moment we landed until the end of our honeymoon, everything worked smoothly. Everyone was aware it was our honeymoon and we received many thoughtful touches along the way.
Every transfer was on time and well organized. We had several domestic flights during the trip, and KUBWA5 kept us updated with schedules and made sure everything was coordinated.
Once the trip started, the logistics were flawless.
⸻
Hotel Selection – 4/5
Hotels in Uganda and Tanzania usually fall into luxury or mid-range categories.
With luxury properties you will generally have a great experience. However, be careful with hotels labeled “mid-range,” because the quality can vary a lot. Some mid-range lodges were excellent, while others were a bit below our expectations despite having the same classification.
Overall we enjoyed most of the hotels, but I recommend double-checking specific properties beforehand if you want to avoid surprises.
Hotel staff in both Uganda and Tanzania were consistently excellent. Everyone was polite, attentive, and many places added small details to celebrate our honeymoon regardless of whether the hotel was luxury or mid-range.
I also recommend bringing some local currency for tips, which is appreciated by staff.
⸻
Guides – 5/5
The guides were the absolute highlight of our trip.
You should know that on safari you spend a lot of time with your guide, both during game drives and while traveling between destinations.
Our guide in Uganda, Charles (@kimbugwe.charles on Instagram), was fantastic. He made sure we were always happy and safe. He’s a great driver and incredibly knowledgeable about Uganda—animals, parks, culture, and local life.
He made sure we saw all the animals we hoped to see during game drives. He is also very well connected, which helped with different activities and arrangements during the trip. He even organized a picnic for us, bought us fresh fruit, and took us to some great places for shopping.
In Tanzania we had Bakari, another exceptional guide. He is an extremely talented tracker and driver. He always seemed to know where to go during game drives so we would be in the right place at the right time.
He knows the parks very well and always made sure we felt safe and were enjoying the experience.
I can’t stress enough how important a good guide is during a safari. Charles and Bakari are a big reason why our trip was so memorable.
⸻
Vehicles – 4.5/5
Vehicles are another important factor during a safari because you spend a lot of time in them.
KUBWA5 vehicles were excellent. We booked a private tour, so we had the vehicle to ourselves. They were large and comfortable, with fresh drinks and charging ports available.
The cars were in very good condition, which is important considering the long distances and rough terrain. It’s actually common to see safari vehicles with mechanical problems, but ours performed very well.
We were never completely sure if the air conditioning worked, but honestly we never needed it.
⸻
Wildlife & Parks – 6/5
The wildlife experience was outstanding and a huge part of that was thanks to our guides.
Thanks to Charles in Uganda and Bakari in Tanzania, we were able to see the Big Five, which was one of our goals for this trip. Charles even managed to spot a leopard, which we know can be very difficult to find.
The gorilla trekking experience in Uganda was one of the main reasons for our trip and it completely lived up to expectations. Charles helped ensure we had a great local guide and we were lucky to visit an amazing gorilla family. It was truly one of the highlights of our honeymoon.
In Tanzania, Bakari made sure we saw all the big cats. We saw lions, leopards, and cheetahs—including an incredible moment watching cheetahs hunting and lions eating.
From our experience, Tanzania is particularly good for big cats, especially in the Serengeti, where animals are easier to spot because of the open landscape. If you want the classic safari experience with lots of wildlife sightings, Serengeti is hard to beat.
Safaris in Uganda feel a bit different, but in a very special way. The highlights there are gorillas and chimpanzees, which are unique wildlife experiences. We also saw elephants and hippos very close, especially around River Station.
We also highly recommend doing a boat safari on the Nile in Uganda, which gives you a completely different perspective and great views of wildlife along the riverbanks.
Overall, the wildlife experiences far exceeded our expectations.
⸻
Food – 4/5
Overall the food was good, although the quality varied depending on the hotel.
Most lodges offer international-style cuisine, but there are usually local dishes available as well, which we recommend trying.
Because game drives can last many hours, sometimes meals are packed for you to eat on the go, which is a normal part of the safari experience.
Overall the food was enjoyable and there were always good options available.
⸻
Safety – 5/5
Safety was something we wondered about before traveling, but throughout the entire trip we always felt very safe.
This applied everywhere: in the hotels, during game drives, on the road, and while visiting parks. Our guides were excellent drivers and very attentive.
We also always felt comfortable regarding wildlife and general security.
Some lodges even escort guests to their rooms at night to make sure no animals are nearby, which shows how seriously safety is taken.
Final Thoughts
Overall, we had an amazing honeymoon safari with KUBWA5.
I would recommend booking with them, but I strongly suggest paying close attention during the booking and planning process, double-checking pricing, itineraries, and hotel selections beforehand.
Once the trip began, everything ran smoothly. The logistics, vehicles, wildlife experiences, and especially the guides made this a truly unforgettable trip.
IT
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Great company, too bad for our driver
$1700 per person, 6 days
We visited Masai Mara, Hell's Gate & Amboseli.
Cons:
- Scam(ish) behaviour
We were meant to pay $33 to visit Crescent Island and $30 to get there by boat. When we checked our gps, we found out that the boat hadn't taken us to the island, just 1km farther along the shore. We stayed there 10 mins then we were told to go back. I called our driver and told him we refused to pay 63 dollars per person for this, so he agreed to only make us pay for the boat ride. We had only agreed to the boat ride because he'd told me it was the only way to reach the island. We never got to visit the island because there was no more time left.
- Our driver was constantly on his phone.
Not only while driving, but even during safaris he wasn't really looking for animals cause he was staring at his phone. When we did find animals, we obviously tried to be quiet and listen to nature but he'd be watching videos on facebook or talking on the phone and ruin the moment (and the videos we took).
- He would tell us to wake up at 5.30am to leave very early, then show up 30mins late.
- He made a misogynistic comment at us about my friend being the one who should make decisions because I'm a woman, and shaming him for not doing so.
Pros:
- sufficiently trustworthy
- best price we found
- accomodation was GREAT. good food, very good rooms, it felt like we paid for the budget option but got the luxury one.
- we met another staff member, in charge of making us food one night, and he was very very kind and a great cook
- they reply to texts and emails very quickly
- they are readily available if you want to change the arranged schedule in any way.
- there really aren't any additional expenses whatsover except the optional ones that are specified within the program. food, water, car fuel and anything you can think of are included in the agreed price.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Lovely custom safari
Keny Bush Expeditions did us a great service by allowing us to dial up the safari we wanted and make it work for us. We spent 2 days in Amboseli and 1 day in Tsavo East to see the red elephants. Just marvelous! And our driver was a joy to spend the 4 days with. They even dropped us off in Diani when the safari was finished. It was truly an unforgettable experience.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Clear/consistent communication and jam packed itinerary!
There is no better way to describe this package as one that will leave you feeling like you got your moneys worth! I am still in awe do everything we were able to fit into our 4 days/3 nights.
The hotel choices provided some of the best views we have seen, their incredible driver Max knew how to navigate each park and the communication leading up to the program was swift and consistent which was important me when wanting to feel confident in planning overseas travel.
They are a smaller/newer program which is clear and I hope to see them mature/grow with time as they uplevel their offerings to compete with some of the larger companies out there.
DE
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Review about Ngorongoro Crater by Eberhard
Impressive suede and beautiful Landscape. Many tourists and the visit was rather short.
LV
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Better than I expected.
Safari in Tanzania was unforgettable. We visited Serengeti Park and Nogorongoro Crater. Three days in the car, but it was not boring. A lot of animals - especially zebras, wildebeest, giraffes, lions. In Ngoringoro Crater the same only more birds. Our tour operator was at a high level, as in Europe.
GR
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Perfect
The safari experience was truly incredible and something I would absolutely recommend to anyone considering it. We did a four-day safari and overall had a wonderful time. Our driver, Gifty, was excellent—very kind, cheerful, and always willing to help and show us as much as possible. I was completely satisfied with him, and he definitely contributed to making our experience even better.
The only aspect that could be improved is the food. Personally, I was not very satisfied with either the quantity or the quality, except for one dinner which was very good. Most of the time the portions were just barely enough, and sometimes it seemed like there wasn’t quite enough for everyone. Nevertheless, the safari itself was a unique experience and one that I would still highly recommend. 🦁🌿
IN
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Best in the business!
It was one of our most memorable trips. Axis Safari helped us curate the entire safari perfectly. They have packages for all budgets and great plans. Their tour guides are amazing and poses great knowledge about the entire reserve. Great communication and very friendly. Food options alone can be better in terms quantity in camps. Our guide khalifa was amazing and fun to be with, he gave lot of insights about the animals and culture. Overall it was an amazing safari.
Budget Safari but still a great experience
This was a budget trip, sleeping in canvas tents and a room with comfy bed one night. Only the one place had a warm shower but that did not worry us at all. Food was basic but delicious and ample. The 4x4 vehicle was comfortable considering road conditions with a pop up roof. Our driver was excellent in difficult road conditions and we saw everything, big five, hyenas and lions feeding and much more.
NL
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Beautiful experience
Our 5-day safari in the Serengeti was without a doubt one of the most beautiful travel experiences we've ever had. From the moment we drove into the park, it felt like we were in the middle of a nature documentary.
The vast plains of Serengeti National Park are impressive, and there's wildlife everywhere you look. During the game drives, we saw an incredible number of animals: lions lounging in the shade, giraffes strolling leisurely alongside the jeep, and huge herds of wildebeest and zebras roaming the savannah.
Our guide, Habibu, was fantastic. He knew exactly where we needed to be and told us so much about the animals and the ecosystem. Thanks to him, we saw a huge variety of wildlife in a short time.
Five days turned out to be just the right length: enough time to explore different parts of the park without feeling rushed.
In short: an unforgettable experience. The Serengeti is truly a place you have to see at least once in your life.
(automatic translation from Dutch)
