Team Amakula African Safaris
Amakula African Safaris
- Office In:
- Size:
- 5-10 employees (Founded in 2019)
- Member Of:
- TUGATA, USAGA & UTB
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range & luxury tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $250 to $1,500 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
PL
Email Vianne | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
10 Great Days of Uganda with Amakula
We recently completed a 10-day trip in Uganda with Amakula and while there were a few hiccups along the way, it would be unfair to give anything less than 5 stars – all thanks to our amazing guide, Winter. What We Loved: Winter made the trip truly enjoyable. Despite unexpected changes to our accommodations and gorilla trekking location of which this was done foe the better, he remained calm, professional, and quick to resolve issues as they came up. His driving skills kept us safe and entertained. Given that long car rides are a big part of traveling through Uganda, this really made a difference. We genuinely enjoyed every conversation with Winter. His deep knowledge of Uganda’s wildlife, culture, and geography enriched our trip so much. He was always eager to share and made the journey even more engaging. The accommodations arranged by Amakula were generally great – comfortable, well-located, and with good food. What Could Be Improved: As mentioned in other reviews, pre-trip communication could have been more proactive. A simple acknowledgement of payments and clear timelines for next steps would have saved us some unnecessary worry. There was a mismatch in our final itinerary. We had made a few changes more than six months before the trip to better fit our departure flight, but our guide only received the original version. This led to some confusion, and a few lodges we were looking forward to were unexpectedly swapped out. We were informed only the night before that our gorilla trekking location had changed from Bwindi to Mgahinga. While we understand that Mgahinga can offer an easier gorilla sighting journey (and we did enjoy it!), it was disappointing not to visit Bwindi as we had hoped. Early communication would have helped set expectations better. The packing list provided was too generic. It didn’t include key items like face masks, which are mandatory for chimp and gorilla trekking. We only knew this from our own research online. A more tailored list based on the actual itinerary would have been helpful. Final Thoughts: We truly believe Amakula African safaris team is sincere and passionate about giving their guests the best experience. This came through clearly in the effort and care from Winter. As the company grows, we hope they put more focus on strengthening their communication and administrative processes – because with that in place, they have everything it takes to be an outstanding travel provider.Lastly but not least we would like to thank Simon the CEO who loves addressing him as the team leader at Amakula. He is a young man. So knowledgeable, rich at heart and loves his work. Thank you so much for the great organization and we cNt wait to recommend you guys.
Email Primadonna Shimba | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
The best 18 Days Rwanda and Uganda
Amazing 18 days of Rwamda and Uganda
We used Amakula African Safari for an 18-day Uganda trip starting and ending in Entebbe, and overall the experience was very good. The itinerary was well structured and covered all the key wildlife and nature highlights: Murchison Falls National Park, Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kibale National Forest, and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. The planning allowed us to see a wide variety of animals and landscapes without feeling rushed. Game drives in Murchison Falls and Queen Elizabeth were rewarding, and the Nile River cruise was a standout experience. The major highlights of the trip were gorilla trekking in Bwindi and chimpanzee trekking in Kibale. Both experiences were exceptionally well coordinated, and Amakula African Safari handled permits, timings, and logistics smoothly, which made these once-in-a-lifetime activities stress-free. Our guide, Julius was a major strength of the trip. He was knowledgeable, calm, punctual, and made everything easy for us throughout the 15days. From long drives to park entries and daily schedules, he managed everything professionally and was always attentive to our needs. We chose the mid-range accommodation option. While some lodges were comfortable and well located, a few did not meet expectations in terms of quality and consistency. Based on this, we would recommend considering the luxury option if budget allows, as it would likely improve the overall comfort level significantly. We managed to spot all the big cats on this trip, which was amazing, with wildlife travel and gives us a strong reason to return. Overall, Amakula African Safari delivered a well-organized, reliable, and memorable Uganda and Rwanda experience, supported by an excellent guide and a strong itinerary. We would recommend them to anyone planning a first-time or comprehensive safari trip in Uganda. Great thanks to Simon the young CEO and team leader.
IT
Email Denise | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
The best thing of my life
Fantastic experience!! The nature here is wonderful, the people are always very kind and warm everywhere. We booked with Amakula and spent 9 days in Uganda. I don't know why people in Italy think it's a dangerous country, but it's a fantastic country, especially for tourists. We're always treated with kid gloves and they care a lot about their reputation. The food was always very good, there are also many local specialties suitable for vegetarians. The lodges were amazing, all African-style with wooden structures and thatched roofs, but truly beautiful. Our guide, Arafat, besides being a wonderful person, has so many qualities. He fixed our car that had problems, changed the tire, and has detailed knowledge of every place; he knows all of Uganda perfectly.
Simon created a holiday that was perfect for us. We love nature, sports, and animals, but despite this, we saw many older couples and families with young children. He's easily adaptable.
We'll definitely be back.
FR
Email Ophélie | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Thanks to Simon, we lived one of the most beautiful experiences of our lives in the heart of Uganda
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
We spent 5 unforgettable days in Uganda with our guide Simon and his driver Arafat, and it was truly magical. 🌿
Simon organized everything perfectly — the accommodations were beautiful and comfortable, the journeys well planned, and every stop was filled with discovery and wonder. Thanks to him, we experienced the incredible adventure of meeting the gorillas in the jungle, an absolutely breathtaking and deeply moving moment — one of the most beautiful experiences of my life. 🦍
We also went on an amazing safari, and even enjoyed a walking safari alongside giraffes — such a unique and peaceful experience. 🦒
Simon is not just a guide; he is a true ambassador of his country. He shared Uganda’s history, culture, and beauty with passion and kindness. Together with Arafat, his wonderful and funny driver, they made us laugh every single day and created a joyful, friendly atmosphere throughout the trip.
I highly recommend Simon to anyone wishing to discover this beautiful and authentic country. Thanks to him, we completely fell in love with Uganda. 💗
Ophélie
Email Mary Kate | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
The BEST
This safari was absolutely unforgettable! From start to finish, everything was perfectly organized — and our driver, Isaac, made the entire experience even more amazing. He was so much fun, full of energy, and truly went above and beyond to make sure we were comfortable and taken care of.
He navigated the rough terrain with ease, pointed out wildlife we never would’ve noticed on our own, and made sure we got the best possible experience with the gorillas, chimpanzees, on the Kazinga channel, and at Itambira Island.
You could tell he genuinely cared about our experience and safety — checking in often, keeping us hydrated, and making sure we were enjoying every part of the journey. By day two, we were traveling with a friend rather than just a driver/guide.
We are truly grateful the owner, Simon, included an opportunity to visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial and to visit the Ruhija Vulnerable Children’s orphanage. The experience was humbling and offered powerful insight into resilience, remembrance, and the strength of the human spirit.
I can’t recommend this safari enough! We really appreciate the thoughtful itinerary Simon put together for us. If you get the chance, ask for Isaac for your driver — he’ll make your adventure unforgettable.
Email Tom | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Outstanding experience!
My wife and I did a 6 day safari in Rwanda and Uganda, which included golden monkey, chimpanzee, and gorilla trekking. It really was a trip of a lifetime! Simon, the owner, did a great job planning the itinerary, which included enjoyable accommodations and interesting activities. His exceptional communication leading up to the trip was much appreciated.
Isaac Habiyaremye, our guide/driver, was outstanding! He was incredibly helpful, was there for anything we needed, was knowledgeable about the animals and culture, and always made us feel safe. My wife and I both consider him to be a good friend after our week long adventures. I can’t recommend him enough!
In short, I highly recommend Amakula African Safari Company!
DE
Email Sebastian | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Awesome Experience travelling with Amakula African Safaris
Our 15-day Gorilla Tour with Amakula African Safaris was an absolutely excellent experience. The entire tour operator, including our guide, was incredibly friendly, well-organized, professional, and trustworthy. We had an amazing time and got to see everything we had hoped for—and more! We highly recommend Amakula African Safaris.
Email Karen Russell | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Trip of a lifetime with best tour company ever!
Where do I begin to share about the trip of a lifetime?! I have been blessed to travel many places throughout the world, including safari in S Africa, but our trip to Uganda tops it all.
Let me begin by saying, my husband didn't want to go. He was afraid for our safety. I spent time interviewing previous travelers and felt assured we would be safe, and indeed we were!
My initial contact at Amakula, Davis, was so patient and thorough, spending weeks answering my myriad questions. He adjusted our itinerary to suit our needs and interests. From food to accommodations and itinerary, everything was wonderful.
My husband and I have special dietary needs and each and every one was accommodated. So whether one is vegan, ketogenic or Gluten free or has food allergies, everything was handled and the food was delicious and nutritious, and believe me when I say I am picky lol.
I have to also say that we had the most amazing tour guide ever! Julius Tinka was kind, knowledgeable, patient, experienced, friendly, easy to understand, reliable, punctual, and honestly perfect in every way! If there were a problem, and there a couple, ie the A.C went out in our vehicle and I'm sensitive to dust and heat, and he got it fixed. One of the national parks had our tour time wrong and we would have missed our morning tour, and he got it straightened out, when the park had said "no way!" Everywhere we went people knew him, respected him and went out of their way to help him. I was in awe at the way he handled everything that came our way.
And for the long drives, he was fascinating to talk to and for me, a bonus was to be able to charge my phone in the vehicle, and use his mobile hot spot, so I could edit my pictures and share with family and friends, and be fully charged so I could capture more pictures of our amazing adventures. If you are lucky enough to get Julius as your tour guide, you will be in the best hands, and not disappointed!
We saw all the amazing animals, with the exception of the tree climbing lions...we saw hippos, elephants, zebras, antelopes, hyenas, of all kinds of birds, lions, crocodiles, giraffes, the elusive leopard, and a special Rhino trek that allowed us to be 15 feet away, on foot, from these majestic creatures. And of course, the icing on the cake was our chimp and gorilla treks. To be feet away from these incredible creatures took our breath away and was the most memorable experience!
I am thankful our guide, Julius, urged me to get a porter for the gorilla trek. Best $20 I ever spent! I'm 72 and told I look 50. I consider myself to be in great shape, but I would not have made it without the wonderful porter. He carried our water, jackets, food and held my hand to prevent me from falling and pulled me up the dense mountainess terrain. There were times I begged them to leave me behind in the forest, but they would not. lol. My husband booked the intermediate tour, which at my pace was 5 hours. We did get to see the most incredible family of gorillas, 2 Silverback, 6 females and a baby, which made it all worthwhile, but if you can't squat for 5 hours, I'd recommend booking the easier hour and a half to 2 hour trek. Glad the gorillas were at the end of our tour, as squatting was impossible for a couple days following lol. And when out and about, and away from the Lodges, which have great bathrooms, you need to be prepared for hole in the ground type places to relieve oneself...or even bush toilets if out in safari. Being older having had kids, my bladder isn't what it used to be!
If you have a chance, we recommend allowing time to visit the communities and share in the cultures and traditions of the various tribes. The Ugandan people were so warm and friendly and hopeful in conditions that many of us would be filled with despair...no electricity, water, indoor plumbing, shoes, etc. But their resilience was inspiring. We even visited several schools and orphanages, leaving me with plans to do a Go Fund me campaign to try to help.
It was fascinating to learn about the various tribes, from the Pygmies, to basket makers, coffee makers, makers of banana products and cattle raisers. It was fun milking a cow with 3 foot long horns, and learning to make ghee and more. And dancing with some of the tribes was an added treat. And my husband, who is a holistic physician had added joy in meeting the tribe's Medicine Man and learning about the plants he used in healing!
Our 11 day tour included all tours, permits, a guide, local transportation, accomodations, all meals for $4500 each. The only thing not included was air fare and tips, which you need to allow for. We used airline miles. I can tell you that I've spoken to people who spent $15-20,000 and did not have the incredible experience we had! The owner of Amakula, Simon, was also very wonderful. We simply can't recommend this tour company more highly. If you have questions or would like to chat, please feel free to call me or text 808-325-1500 (Hawaii) Warmest aloha, Karen Russell and Dr. Tim Hendlin
SA
Email Mohit | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Extremely accommodating, experienced and knowledgeable 🙏
Simon runs a cool operation, catering to fine details of his guests’ tastes and needs. Simon, Arafat and Davis were an absolute treat to be with for our 3 day mountain gorillas tracking tour! Would not hesitate in referring them to one and all. Keep up the good work gents!
Email Jyothish | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Very committed people
Very committed people who know what they doing. Wonderful experience