Encounter Africa Safaris
- Located In:
- Size:
- 5-10 employees (Founded in 2009)
- Member Of:
- Association of Uganda Tour Operators
- Tour Types:
- Custom budget tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $50 to $300 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great Gorilla Safari
The guide Paul was excellent and took care of us very well. The whole experience was definitely one of a kind!
NO
Email Tonje & Ole | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing trip!
We are so happy that we chose Encounter Africa Safaris! This trip was so well organized, and we had no issues at all, which - to be honest - really surprised me. But what a nice surprise :)
Day 1: Arrival
We got picked up from our hotel in Entebbe early in the morning, and started the long drive to Bwindi forest. Our driver, Hassan, was super nice and knowledgeable. We had lots of questions on our way to Bwindi and he answered them all very well. He told us about plants, animals, culture and the life in Uganda. The trip took about 10 hours, but it really didn't feel that way. We arrived in Bwindi late in the evening, and was welcomed by the staff at Nkuringo Gorilla Camp. They served us a delicious 4-course dinner and some nice wine.
Day 2: Gorilla trekking
We got up early and had a really nice breakfast. Then the ladies from Nkuringo Gorilla Camp gave us our packed lunch, then we were off. We drove for about an hour to attend the introduction meeting we had to have before the trekking. We then drove back towards Nkuringo, and started our trip up the mountain. We walked for about 2 hours before we found the gorillas. I am still amazed by the moment when I first saw the gorilla. And it wasn't just a gorilla - it was a beautiful silverback! My heart pounded so hard for the next 3 hours - I was that excited. In the end, we saw 2 silverbacks and 12 other gorillas, even a little baby :)
After the trekking, we went back to Nkuringo to have dinner which was even more amazing than the day before. We were sitting around the fire talking about our gorilla experience for hours and hours.
Day 3: Departure
After breakfast we started on the long way back to Entebbe. We stopped on the way to take photos of the zebras that Hassan pointed out for us, and even got a sightseeing trip in Kampala before going to the airport, because Hassan felt sorry for us (our flight was not until 5 AM) and wanted to let us stay in the car for as long as possible (the EBB airport is really not great... :/). When we got the airport we sat down in the waiting area, and after one hour we suddenly saw Hassan coming in. We didn't understand why - his job was done so why wasn't he at home? Turned out we had left our GoPro in the car (he found out when he got home), so Hassan drove all the way back to the airport to give it back to us. What a great man :)
So thank you Encounter Africa Safaris for making our trip amazing, especially Jerry who has helped us from day 1. Our only regret is that we didn't stay longer.
But, we will come back, and we will definitely use Encounter Africa Safaris then as well!:)
US
Email Professor Kelly Phelan | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
A Tourism Professor in Uganda- I couldn't have asked for better!
I am a professor of Tourism. I have traveled to over 50 countries and taken 100s of tours over the last 30+ years. I was so impressed with Encounter Africa Safaris. I have recommended them to countless friends and hope I will have the chance to go back and take another tour with them. Tolbert (our driver-guide) was excellent. He stopped every time we asked and was very patient with our many requests and questions. Tolbert made sure we went with the best guide when we were doing our gorilla tracking tour. Also, everyone in the office was so helpful when we were planning our trip. Honestly, we could not have asked for a better experience. I wrote several posts on my blog about my experience with Encounter Africa Safaris. Here are is a link if you would like to see a few pictures and read a little bit about it: http://drphelanipresume.blogspot.com/2013/11/gorilla-tracking-part-2.html
FR
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Gorilla treck in Rwanda
From the minute we were picked up at the airport, our guide was an amazing host, always informative and patient and he gave us a really interesting tour of Kigali and the Rwandan countryside. The gorilla trek itself was a once in a lifetime experience and very highly recommendable and the hotels and extras proposed by Encounter Africa Safaris were perfect.
10 out of 10
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Encounter Africa Safaris made our dream come true even better than we possible imagined!!
Encounter Africa Safari are an absolute amazing, professional, friendly organisation!! My daughter and my self went through this company last November 2013, to do the Gorilla trek, 2 nights 3 days, it was the BEST time of our lives!! They went far beyond expectations made it the most memorable experience. I am SO glad I chose this company. I have raved about them ever since and would HIGHLY recommend them. I just want to say a big hello and thank you to Encounter. I would use them again with NO hesitation. Thank you for creating such wonderful memories and keeping us totally enthralled.
US
Email Nature Enthusiast | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Best experience with a travel agency ever.....
As a woman travelling alone to two new countries – Uganda and Rwanda – on the continent also quite new to me, I spent a lot of time looking for the right travel agency to organize my trip. More, I had two weeks to spend there flying from faraway (the U.S.) and I wanted to see “absolutely everything”, setting my expectations very high.
Encounter Africa Safaris in Uganda was an excellent choice! The Agency answered my numerous questions, advised me on the destinations, and at the end even reversed the order of the trip I wanted to take to accommodate my schedule. I took my trip in October’14 during the time when some tourist were cancelling their bookings in fear of Ebola, but I discussed that issue with the Agency and educated myself to be assured that there was no reason to postpone my trip. There was none.
It was the best trip of my life! I don’t expect to ever be able to top my meeting with the mountain gorillas in both Uganda and Rwanda with any other experience in the future! It was very thrilling and humbling at the same time! I spent most of the two weeks in Uganda, which is a beautiful country full of wildlife and gorgeous scenery.
Tolbert Guma, my guide from Encounter Africa Safaris who also drove me the entire 1760 kilometers did all possible so I could indeed see “absolutely everything” I wanted and even more than that. I got to know him as a very knowledgeable guide, an excellent driver (on both sides of the road!), and as a wonderful person with a great sense of humor.
BR
Email Bruno Feder | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Amazing company
I cannot recommend a better company for traveling around Uganda. From my first email to my transfer to Entebbe airport everything was perfect from recommendations to bookings. The staff is very helpful and has a knowledge of the area. I have used Encounter Safaris for my 3 trips to Uganda in 2014. I came in February, August and December and they all the experiences was perfect. From Kisoro and the gorillas to Kidepo on the extreme north of the country there is no better company to travel around Uganda. Tolbert Guma was my guide and driver most of the times and I cannot recommend a better person.
QA
Email Ryan, The Canadian | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
We had an adventure of a lifetime!
We enjoyed a 9 day tour through Uganda and Rwanda. Encounter Safari company was excellent! The tour guide "Tolbert" was knowledgeable, friendly, and adaptable to all of our unique needs. Their vehicle, a "4x4 van" was clean, reliable and cozy. Their package was one of the most reasonable for costs and we enjoyed gorilla, chimpanzee, rhinos and volcano trekking. We explored the jungles through vehicle and foot safaris. Tolbert helped us get across the Uganda/Rwanda borders smoothly. All in all we are very happy with Tolbert and Encounter Safari's services and would highly recommend them to everyone looking for a reliable and affordable tour company for Uganda and Rwanda. Thanks Tolbert!
CA
Email Greg Murphy | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
9 day Uganda/Rwanda Adventure
Encounter Africa Safari and especially our guide Tolbert exceeded my expectations. From my very first enquiry e-mail Tolbert was prompt with his replies and very helpful in planning our 9 day itinerary to meet our needs. After contacting several companies for quotations and information, I found Tolbert and Encounters had the best customer service, the most professional and detailed (clearly written) itineraries and hands down the best pricing available.
Upon arrival we were greeted by Tolbert and had a very enjoyable first drive to our hotel in Kampala. We travelled throughout the 9 days in a Modified 4x4 Safari van which was spacious, comfortable and well maintained. The interior of the van was tidied each day before we set out on our drives and when the exterior of the van got too dirty from the dusty dirt roads, it was cleaned.
Tolbert accommodated our many requests for pit stops here and there throughout the trip. He had a good sense of humor and was a pleasure to have host us in Uganda. Through our itinerary we had many flawless adventures including chimp tracking, gorilla tracking, Murchison Falls land and boat Safari, Mt. Sabyinyo volcano hike, Rhino Sanctuary and exploring the towns. Our final days of the trip were spent in Rwanda, where Tolbert contacted one of his local friends/guide to assist us with information in Rwanda and the navigation. It was a pleasure to have him on board for our last day.
To finalize, I am extremely happy with the services provided by Encounter Africa Safari and Tolbert. I will most certainly be passing on their business information to my many friends and colleagues who travel on a regular basis.
Thanks again for this great and memorable trip to these two beautiful countries.
NO
Email Peter Wallach, Stavanger Norway | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A Spectacular trip to Uganda
It is difficult to express in words the feelings one experiences being within a couple of meters of some of the few remaining mountain gorillas on the planet. Add to that the 7 hours with a group of Chimpanzees in Kibale, 100's of hippos (together with 62 elephants) in the Kazinga chanel, 2 game drives in QE National Park, discovering the awesome beauty of Uganda and the kindness of its people, and you have one of the most spectacular trips ever.
Encounter Africa Safaris was, without doubt, a professional and caring group of indidivuals from my first email. We quickly came to an agreement based on what I was interested in, and the business was taken care of in a quick, simple and professional manner.
Arriving in Entebbe after a long trip I was met by my guide, Tolbert. Being together, alone, for 7 days proved to be most enjoyable. Tolbert is not only gifted as a guide and driver, but also has excellent social skills. He didn't "drown" me in information, responded expertly to all my questions, and had an excellent sense of timing for his comments, and observations. Always professional, and personal when appropriate.
The choice of accommodations met my expectations with one exception. Tolbert and I discussed this, he offered to move me, but it wasn't so terrible that I had to make a move. I know that the company will consider other options for other guests in the future.
What was most surprising to me on the trip was the quality and quantity of the food! All of the lodges/hotels (save the one mentioned previously) offered top of the line meals. I would say the quality was equal to many European city restaturants (if not better), and the quantity equal to the largest dishes served in the great state of Texas (where EVERYTHING is large!)
To conclude, I give Encounter Africa Safaris my highest recommendation and will definitely use them again on my next trip to Uganda. What a gem of a country. And Tolbert, you're a great guy, a great guide, a great driver, and I'm pleased to say a friend. Continued good luck and success to you all.