Water experiment at the Equator -Uganda
Katona Tours & Travel
- Located In:
- Size:
- 20-50 employees (Founded in 2002)
- Member Of:
- AUTO - Association Of Uganda Tour Operators, UWA - Uganda Wild life Authority & UTB - Uganda Tourism Board
- Tour Types:
- Customizable private tours and fixed group tours
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $70 to $700 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
PT
Email Nuno Alves and Margarida Campinas | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
An experience of a lifetime
Uganda is a fantastic country with exceptional and genuine landscapes and wildlife and Katona Tours made our days in Uganda an experience that we will never forget. Jackie was always very efficient in back office, very quick with replies, trying hard to clarify and please us. During the safari she phoned every day to check if everything was going ok. Jack, our guide, was local, very friendly and truly learned in animals and local habits and he did his best to give us the best of time.
Although we opted for the budget accommodations, we loved all the places we have stayed since they all had a very special atmosphere. They prepared us excellent cooks and we dine under the stars (fantastic sky) and close to the fire. Yes, it was cold in equator…and also hot…could you imagine it?
The gorilla safari day was a hard walk, and we had the greatest heavy rain of our life, but it was very well rewarding to be so close to those humbling and awe-inspiring animals. But Uganda has much, much to offer and to pick a favorite moment it is very difficult… we also loved the chimpanzee safari, all Queen Elizabeth safaris and the close-up with the tree climbing lions. Thanks Katona Tours!!! We will treasure our Uganda trip, always!
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Email Anna | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Our Rwanda experience with Katona Tours & Travel was the BEST!
After researching and finding out that Rwanda was the “easier” destination to see the Mountain Gorillas, we sent out requests for quotes from five different tour companies. Jackie at Katona Tours and Travel was the quickest to respond with a full recommended itinerary and reasonable prices. We massaged the itinerary until it completely fitted our needs. The four of us did a 5 Day, 4 night trip which included two Gorilla treks and a Golden Monkey trek. Baker, our driver and guide, picked us up from Step Town Motel in Kigali (great place recommended by Jackie). We stayed at the Mountain Gorilla View Lodge (excellent!) for three nights during our treks. Baker was nice, very professional, and knew the routes like the back of his hands. He seemed to know everyone, including the people at the Kinigi Ranger Station, where the many groups were assigned to specific gorilla families. He took us on a Rwanda city tour, walked us through the Musanze Marketplace, and shopping at the local arts and craft market. This was an unforgettable trip and we would recommend it to anyone. Katona Tours and Travel made it all possible with its great service and price. At the end of our tour, Jackie spoke with us over the phone to make sure everything went well. Oh, one more thing – it seems that she never sleeps. Jackie answered all our emails almost instantly no matter what time it was.
NL
Email Karen + Godert | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Excellent organization to experience a great safari/trip in beautiful Uganda!
We experienced a great trip with Katona end december 2015 to Bwindi and Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Our friendly and reliable driver/guide Richard picked us up at Entebbe airport for a day of relaxation in Cassia Lodge in Kampala (great view).
From the Katona office Jackie is a super liaison officer, with her we organised our trip via internet/E-mail, her communication skills are outstanding, also during the trip.
We visited Bwindi and encountered the mountain gorilla's and Richard aligned us with a children's orphanage near the Trekkers Tavern, a basic and wonderful place to stay. In QE Nat Park we stayed in Twin Lake Lodge, very recommendable due to its nice setting. The boat trip in QE has been one of the highlights of the trip.
Overall we'll recommend Katona Tours & Travel, and particularly the services from Jackie and Richard!
FR
Email Eric | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
So wonderful gorilla watching!
We had a one week trek to see gorillas in Uganda and Congo, and it was really breathtaking! It is a unique experience and everything went really fine thanks to the team.
Our guide (Ceasar) for the week was really friendly and efficient. If we had small requests, he was always trying to fulfil them. Jackie (with whom we booked the tour) was kindly phoning regularly to inquire whether everything was fine. It was like being with two more friends.
Definitively something to try!
CZ
Email Jiri Sana | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
we got exactly what was agreed
We experienced 11 days travelling with Katona Tours and Travel. Our guide was Richard. We can recommend their services. Our first plan was for 7 days and we were so satisfied, that we extended our trip by another 3 days. Richard was great guide, very helpful and kind. Jackie planned everything as we had required. Having a guided tour is reasonable solution in places like Uganda and Katona is definitely trustworthy choice. Ask for Richard as your guide:-)
Jiri Sana, CZE
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Email Katheryn | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Fantastic trip!!
My friend and I (2 single females) booked a 7 day gorilla trekking trip with Katona in December 2015. Our guide was Jack and I cannot say enough great things about him! He has worked all over Uganda so everywhere you go, he will know the people working there as he once worked there himself (including Queen Elizabeth, chimp tracking and gorilla trekking). So we were basically extremely well cared for:) On safari in Queen Elizabeth, he was in constant communication with people working there to know where all the lions were hanging out each day. He went above and beyond in making sure we had a great time, felt safe at all times, and were 110% satisfied. I would have no hesitation at all sending anyone to hang out with Jack for a week:)
Jackie was also phenomenal. I've never experienced having emails answered so promptly, she really must be at her computer at all hours of the day! She also called during our week of traveling to make sure that everything was going well with our tour.
The deposit has to be wire transferred, which is a bit different than how companies operate in the U.S. but it is just how things are done in Uganda. Everything was completely on the up and up, Jackie emailed me when she received the funds, and even provided a scanned copy of our gorilla trekking permits as soon as they were processed (the deposit is used primarily to immediately ensure you have permits for the day you are trekking).
In summary, Katona is a really really great company and allowed us to have a phenomenal experience in Uganda!!
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Email Brian & Becky Smith | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
7 Day Gorilla Trek/Chimpanzee Trek/Safari
We took a 7 day Gorilla Trek/Chimpanzee Trek/Safari provided by Katona Tours in May 2014. We were extremely satisfied with the great job done by Katona in planning and conducting our trip. Our trip included Bwindi, Queen Elisabeth NP, Kibale NP, and Murchison Falls NP.
Katona (Jackie in particular) was extremely helpful and responsive to all of our questions. We were nervous about trying to coordinate a trip from the other side of the world, so we had many questions in the months leading up to it. One of the reasons we selected Katona was their quick and thorough answers to our emails and calls. In our planning, we made inquiries with several tour agencies, but Katona was clearly the best in this regard.
We had the same guide (Richard) for the entire week. He was cheerfully waiting at the airport for our late arrival (near midnight), drove us to all of the parks, conducted our game drives, and got us back to the airport in time for our flight. Richard was enthusiastic, friendly, and very focused on making sure we had the best experience/adventure possible. In addition, he provided good advice and interesting information about Uganda. And finally, he did a great job of driving on a lot of rough roads.
The lodges selected for us by Katona had some of the best food and definitely the best service we have had anywhere. By the time our day activities were completed, we were able to relax comfortably and safely. There are detailed lodge reviews for the places we stayed on TripAdvisor.com, which I believe are accurate. Our lodges were Trekkers Tavern (Bwindi), Twin Lakes (Queen Elisabeth), Kibale Forest Camp (Kibale), and Fort Murchison Lodge (Murchison Falls).
Katona was also a great help in compensating for several failures by our airline (Delta/KLM). Delta delivered us to Entebbe 24 hours late and lost one of our bags. Despite our late arrival, Katona was able to make sure we were able to see all of the things we had planned. They were also able to get our bag to us as soon as the airline finally shipped it. This was a very difficult task because we were about a 6 hour drive away from Kampala/Entebbe when the bag arrived. We can’t thank Katona enough for the help.
In summary, we would highly recommend Katona. The primary reasons were the quick and thorough responses when planning the trip, our satisfaction with getting to see everything we wanted, their ability to assist when we had severe airline problems, and our great guide/driver. Uganda is a much different world than where we live, and Katona made sure we had a great adventure.
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Email Loni greenspan | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Unforgettable experience that everyone should experience
What an experience. From the first time I started my research into visiting the mountain gorillas to the end of my adventure,, katona tours was outstanding. Jaquka was there answering every question I had before I left the U.S. upon arrival, Richard our guide and now friend, was there to take care of our every need. Answer our many questions . He could find the leopard in the trees, the sleeping lions, and he knew so many of the people in each town that we felt like family everywhere. I loved all the unique lodges that Jaquka suggested,too. Listening to hippos at night at ihamba lodge. Watching the kingfisher birds fish. Elephant moms and their kids along the channel and especially the gentle gorillas I highly recommend this company.
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Email Chelsea | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
A fantastic time
We had an amazing, comfortable and memorable five-day tour in Uganda, thanks to Ceasar and Jackie from Katona. Jackie responded promptly and professionally to my questions, working with me to find options that would fit our budget. They gave great lodging choices - especially at Bush Lodge in Queen Elizabeth National Park, everything exceeded my expectations for a budget option. They even had a gentle hippo visiting the dining area every evening.
Ceasar drove smoothly and safely, and we had fun, informative conversations. He carefully planned details like breakfast time, departure time, and whether we would take packed lunch so that our tour or game drive would be optimally timed, while allowing us flexibility. On the day of the gorilla trek in Bwindi, he helped us secure a nearby gorilla family and even borrowed two trekking sticks from a nearby hotel for us. On our last day, driving from Queen Elizabeth to Kigali airport, he managed to stop at Lake Bunyonyi for lunch, arrive at the Genocide Memorial before closing, and help us run an errand downtown - and we hadn't even woken up early!
Since we visited Queen Elizabeth during the dry season, when the animals congregate around water boies, Ceasar worked extra hard. During the morning game drive, he read the body language of the kob, the presence of birds, and tracks on the ground to infer whether larger predators were nearby. We saw lions with cubs, elephants, buffalo, water buck, warthogs and smaller animals. Having worked in the park for years, Ceasar had interesting tidbits about every animal.
Though we never met Jackie as she's based in Kampala, she called to check in most days of our tour. The folks at Katona are conscientious, responsible and warm. I will book with them again if I return to Uganda.
Jackie was responsive and helpful with logistics and arrangements - Richard was a fantastic guide!
We did a 5 day trip with Katona from Kampala to Bwindi for a gorilla trek, followed by a visit to Queen Elizabelth Park. Arranging everything with Jackie was easy and very smooth and our experience certainly lived up to and exceeded expectations. This was in large part due to our excellent guide Richard. He was extremely professional and attended to our needs and did the best he could to make our trip the best that he possibly could. He was also a very good driver and knowledgeable guide which facilitated our understanding and enjoyment of the trip. Highly recommended!