Reviews

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Cheryl   –  
United States US
Visited: July 2019 Reviewed: Aug 6, 2019

Email Cheryl  |  50-65 years of age  |  Experience level: over 5 safaris

Awesome 15 days in Uganda, Rwanda and the DRC with Trevor!!
5/5

WOW! Over the course of 15 days, we had an AMAZING experience exploring Uganda, Rwanda and the DRC, trekking mountain gorillas, eastern lowland gorillas, chimpanzees, black / white colobus monkeys, golden monkeys and more!

In the past, we would typically take care of booking our own safari (lodging / activities / etc). Since this particular trip involved so many different countries and activities, we decided it would be best to leave the planning to the professionals. So glad we did! Our safari was arranged through Prime Safaris. Cate was incredibly easy to work with, guiding us through the booking process and presenting us with several itineraries, each ensuring we would see as much as possible.

Our final choice was the 15 day gorilla / chimp / primate / wildlife safari and we were both so happy we chose that option.

Trevor was a fantastic guide and we thoroughly enjoyed his company as we traveled through the various countries. Professional, personable, knowledgeable, fun to be around... we spent quite a bit of time traveling from one destination to another and Trevor made the entire journey interesting! Both he and Gabi (our guide in the DRC) made the somewhat chaotic transition at the Rwanda / Congo border stress free.

The 15 day trip included visits to various national parks — Murchison Falls, Queen Elizabeth, Volcanoes, Kibale, Kahuzi-Biega, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Nyungwe. Also visits to Lake Kivu, Lake Bunyonyi, the Ruboni Community (on the slopes of Rwenzori Mountain) and so much more.

Every activity was incredible and everyone we met along the way (guides, rangers, trackers, porters, lodge / hotel staff) were super friendly and accommodating. Shouts out especially to Lambert in Kahuzi-Biega National Park for an awesome eastern lowland gorilla trek, Jessica in Kibale National Forest for a great Chimpanzee trek and Patience in Volcanoes National Park for a memorable Golden Monkey trek.

We had an absolutely awesome experience and would highly recommend Trevor as your guide and Prime Safaris for your next safari.

lihong lim   –  
Malaysia MY
Visited: June 2019 Reviewed: Jun 24, 2019

Email lihong lim  |  20-35 years of age  |  Experience level: first safari

Pleasant experience
4/5

It’s a pleasant trip with our guide, Joseph. He’s very helpful and responsible in making sure all our requests are met. The only drawback is the wifi wasn’t available on most of the lodge which had cause much inconvenience.

Drew   –  
United States US
Visited: May 2019 Reviewed: Jun 16, 2019

Email Drew  |  20-35 years of age  |  Experience level: 2-5 safaris

Incredible Week with Trevor and Prime Safaris
5/5

Our experience with Prime was great from start to finish. While booking, Cate was always accommodating and easy to work with, presenting me with several different options quickly changing them around to meet our honeymoon needs. We booked a 6-day, 5-night luxury option with a 4x4 vehicle, and the experience really exceeded our expectations.

The star of the show was our guide, Trevor. Trevor got us safely and comfortably around South/Southwest Uganda for nearly a week and proved to somehow be an equally impressive driver, navigator, Uganda historian, logistics coordinator, and game guide. Trevor could drive for multiple hours across narrow unpaved back roads to get where we needed without ever looking at a map, waving at people he knew along the way, and telling us about the interesting game and birds we saw. Trevor really put our needs/interests first, stopping whenever we wanted, getting us the best views, tracking the coolest animals, and making sure we were prepared for all of our activities. Anyone who lands Trevor as their guide in Uganda has gotten lucky.

The actual activities were mostly great. On our particular itinerary, there was definitely a mix of "speeds" of activity, but it worked out to be a very nice week. The gorilla trek was obviously the highlight, but we also very much enjoyed the laid-back boat cruise on Lake Bunyonyi and the short village tour. I would recommend looking through the different options for parks and activities to make sure your activities align with your interests in Uganda (e.g., how much national parks, how much close game viewing, how much primates, how much water, etc.).

I'm so happy we decided to visit Uganda with Prime and so happy we got Trevor as our guide. Don't hesitate, let Prime take care of you in Uganda!

Annie P   –  
United Kingdom UK
Visited: April 2019 Reviewed: Apr 20, 2019

Email Annie P  |  35-50 years of age  |  Experience level: over 5 safaris

A wonderful 3 day trip to Murchison Falls
5/5

We had a wonderful 3 day safari to Murchison Falls (April 2019). I booked it through the Prime Safari website when still in the UK. The process was so easy and communication from the Prime Safari office was great. I looked into a few other companies, but Prime Safaris gave a very competitive price and Cate always got back to me very quickly. Their information and paperwork and attachments were very professional and looked efficient and organised – which they were! It was easy to pay through bank transfer or Pesepay before I left. We also visited the offices to pay the balance – difficult to find (I think they are relocating) but very efficient, with staff working on computers and their own vehicles present there – always a good sign! The office staff greeted us with drinks and all our paperwork beautifully presented. It wasn’t just a show though, the actual safari was great!
I have been on a few safaris in my time and this one was wonderful. I had visited Murchison Falls about 20 years ago and it has changed a lot – a few more tourists, but so many more animals and conservation schemes. One of the best parks in East Africa. We visited the Ziwa Rhino sanctuary on the way up. It was great to trek in the scrub and view the Rhino’s at close quarters in their natural habitat. The rangers there are very dedicated to increasing the Rhino population so they can be released back into the national parks. A must on your way to Murchison and will enable you to see the Big 5 – which we did!
We had a wonderful guide called Denis. He was very knowledgeable and an excellent driver. He looked after everything for us faultlessly and he was great company. It is the little touches that you notice; he booked lunch in advance so that we didn’t have to wait after seeing the Rhinos (the restaurant was packed by then), he always kept time and organised us for the ferry crossing and boat trip well, he really knew about the animals and didn’t rush around. We even spent about 40 mins waiting for a leopard to reappear, when all the other trucks had left already – none of my party were in a hurry. It was well worth the wait and Denis had excellent knowledge about the leopard. He knew about photographers and was patient and moved gentle to different positions. He cleaned out the van every day, so it was nice and clean to sit in (there were a few squashed beetles in there after each game drive). He had cold water for us or purchased some for us on the drive back to Kampala. We didn’t trek up to the falls (have done this before and it is quite tough, especially in the heat and with a 10 year old!) but we drove up to the top and had our picnic lunch there – lovely. Denis made sure all our lunches were ordered and carried everything for us. Denis knew his way around the park and was very popular with rangers and other guides (again a good sign!) so got inside knowledge as to where animals were located.
We decided to splash out a bit and stayed a Paraa Lodge, where I had stayed 20 years ago. Still as lovely with excellent food, and a pool for my daughter! There are many other places though that are also very nice. One of my party had stayed at Red Chili Camp and Pakuba Lodge and said both are great.
So, if you are looking into a safari in Uganda, do book with Prime Safaris – we didn’t know anything about them before (apart from these reviews), but everything went so smoothly and we all had a fantastic time.

Imogen   –  
Australia AU
Visited: March 2019 Reviewed: Apr 1, 2019

Email Imogen  |  20-35 years of age  |  Experience level: first safari

Five-day safari and gorilla trek
5/5

Our five days with Peter were some of the most interesting of our lives. Neither of us had been to Uganda and didn’t know what to expect - and were also unsure due to Australia’s ambiguous travel guidelines on the country at the time. But Cate and her team were easy to get in touch with and provided helpful advice, making us feel safe from the start. We visited in early March 2019, and it was obvious there was no need to worry about security at all - it’s a great place to visit, and tourists are made very welcome. Too many highlights to mention everything, but the gorilla and chimp tracking were both extraordinary. The five-day Safari was a good option - it gave us time to see a lot of Uganda as well as plenty of time with the animals. Accomodation was clean and comfortable, with the added bonus of spectacular scenery. But our favourite part of the trip was Peter, our guide from Prime. He was kind, open, impressively knowledgeable and able to answer our questions on all fronts. He went out of his way to make sure we were comfortable, well-fed (we tried a lot of local snacks), and where possible, saw everything we had hoped to. We were sorry to say goodbye, and highly recommend the trip to anyone who has the chance to enjoy it. Imogen and Marius

Wiebke   –  
United Kingdom UK
Visited: March 2019 Reviewed: Mar 31, 2019

Email Wiebke  |  35-50 years of age  |  Experience level: first safari

Amazing 4 day safari (female solo traveller)
5/5

I had a few concerns going on a safari on my own and did quite a bit of research before choosing a company. The communications with Prime Safaris & Tours were really good right from the start. Cate responded to all my emails in a very timely manner and even though I felt like I had endless questions she was very patient and professional with my enquiries.
My guide Emma was amazing, he was very knowledgeable and I hope he enjoyed our 4 days together as much as I did. It was a nice atmosphere to travel with him with time spent in silence (me admiring the country and him focusing on driving on those bumpy roads) but also lots of talking and laughs.
The accommodation that was booked for me was really lovely as well and the food very tasty. (I am vegan and this was not a problem.)
The safari exceeded my expectation and I hope I will be able to come back to Africa to explore more of its beauty!

Joe   –  
Canada CA
Visited: February 2019 Reviewed: Mar 14, 2019

Email Joe  |  65+ years of age  |  Experience level: first safari

A fantastic experience with organized guides
5/5

I had a wonderful trip with Prime Safaris, biking through Rwanda and Uganda. The guides were well-organized, and very kind, patient and accomodating. The rustic lodges we stayed at exceeded my expectations in terms of comfort and atmosphere.


I thoroughly enjoyed both of the hikes we did on the trip, one to see the golden monkeys and the other to see the gorillas in the Impenetrable Park. Other highlights of the trip included cycling through Queen Elizabeth Park, where we had the opportunity to see an assortment of wildlife, including elephants and buffalos, and cycling through Lake Mburo National Park, where we saw giraffes, zebras - just to name a few . It was a lot of fun!

Cheryl   –  
Australia AU
Visited: January 2019 Reviewed: Mar 9, 2019

Email Cheryl  |  65+ years of age  |  Experience level: over 5 safaris

15 Day Uganda & Rwanda Safari
5/5

My husband and I booked a private 15 days Uganda and Rwanda tour with Prime Safaris after reading excellent reviews of the company and having Cate finalise an itinerary that would showcase both wildlife and landscapes.
The entire trip went very smoothly; our driver guide Denis was very professional and made sure that all our expectations were met, if not surpassed. The mostly luxury accommodation was perfect for our needs and we thoroughly enjoyed each day's sights and activities.
Having visited many other countries in Africa we arrived in Uganda/Rwanda thinking that we would see some different landscapes and learn more about the people, culture and history of those not- so- visited countries. We took the view that any amazing wildlife sightings (especially our favourites the big cats) would be 'icing on the cake'. As it turned out, we had many fantastic sightings of lions and leopards throughout Uganda, we saw even more lions in the fabulous Akajera NP in Rwanda, and the mountain gorilla experience in Bwindi NP was just incredible.
We are fortunate to travel several times a year and have visited countless countries and all continents. This safari experience would definitely be in our top five trips of all time.
We rarely return to one country as there is always a new place to visit, but we will definitely return to Uganda to experience more of the east and north-east and to revisit the wonderful Murchison Falls NP. We hope to do this in the next two years, once again utilising the services of Prime Safaris and especially Cate and Denis.

Jackie   –  
Canada CA
Visited: February 2018 Reviewed: Mar 3, 2019

Email Jackie  |  65+ years of age

tour operator need to be much more organized with info before the trip
5/5

The trip itself was excellent . The guides were terrific , accommodations were great and they were very accommodating. Scenery was great, bikes were good and itinerary was well planned .

However the details of the countries really started in Uganda . Needed info on Rwanda as well .

Communication from Canada wasn’t great,. I need to ask many questions. Lists and details needed to be sent out automatically ahead of time .

I would definite recommend Prime
Safaris








Andrea Mc   –  
United States US
Visited: February 2019 Reviewed: Feb 14, 2019

Email Andrea Mc  |  50-65 years of age  |  Experience level: first safari

Incredible 5-day Gorilla/Chimpanzee/Safari tour in Uganda
5/5

My husband and I just returned from a 5-day Gorilla/Chimpanzee/Safari tour in Uganda with our own driver and guide, Emma. I honestly cannot say enough good things about Prime Uganda!! From start to finish, choosing our activities, payment and booking process was seamless.

Cate was always prompt, helpful, organized and detailed in every communication. Cate also advised me on tipping when I asked, because it is always hard to know if tips are appropriate for certain services. As for accommodations, do not rule out the budget ones! We loved Pumba Cottages, and Lake Bunyonyi Eco Resort – both budget places with excellent service, amazing views and food.
Emma was always on time, sweet, kind, considerate and so knowledgeable about everything, from the Ugandan culture, education, farming, to the animals and birds we saw. He had our itinerary, and always knew exactly where we were going and the timeline. We would go over our plan for the next day, either at dinner or breakfast. He always made sure we had plenty of water, and even stopped along the road to buy sweet bananas and bananas for us to try. He drove really long hours some days, and never once complained. He went out of his way to find the animals we really wanted to see, and sometimes we ate breakfast, lunch and/or dinner with him (he never invited himself, but we let him know he was always welcome to join us). It was like visiting with a friend!

I have severe asthma on inclines, and Emma made sure that the person assigning groups at Bwindi for the gorillas, knew I needed to be in a slow group. We were assigned to the closest Gorilla group and it was a huge weight off my shoulders that I was physically able to get to the Gorillas.

This was really a once in a lifetime trip for us, and we are so thankful that we chose Prime to make it happen for us!

Our itinerary:
1st day - drive from Entebbe to our first lodge, Pumba Cottages. Lunch near the Equator. Game drive before dinner.
2nd day – Chimpanzee tracking in the morning, lunch overlooking the Kazinga Channel, Boat safari on the Kazinga Channel. Afternoon game drive and return to Pumba cottages for dinner.
3rd day – head towards Bwindi, stopping in Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth Park to see the tree climbing lions. Arrived at Haven Lodge Buhoma.
4th days – Gorilla trekking in Bwindi. Ate packed lunch from the lodge. Shop in the local village for gifts and souvenirs. Drive to Lake Bunyonyi Eco Resort. Boat trip around the lake (we chose to walk around the island looking for wildlife instead).
5th day – Drive back across Uganda to Entebbe. Amazing countryside!! Stopped for lunch and gifts on the way.

We booked hotels near the airport for our first night and last night which were not included in the Prime tour, but Cate gave us recommendations.

Average User Rating
4.8/5
Rating Breakdown
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  • 1 star 3
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