Our staff was part of a Fam trip to Ngamba Island
Achieve Global Safaris
- Located In:
- Size:
- 5-10 employees (Founded in 2011)
- Member Of:
- APTA, AUTO & USAGA
- Tour Types:
- Customizable private tours and fixed group tours
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $30 to $900 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
Excellent organisation of gorilla permits at late notice
Did a great job of organising gorilla permits for us at short notice.
They were fast and efficient, and dropped permits to our car hire company.
Very happy with the service received.
Reccomendations for improvements:
1. The different company names used are confusing
2. Found it difficult to figure out which payment option to choose from the options available on the online payment system. Some more instructions on this website for the different payment options would be good and it should definitely advise about any payment surcharges which can be significant as a percentage of the total (in our case $61 for two permits).
RO
Email Gabriel | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
First time in Africa, first time in Uganda and it was an amazing experience!
Everything went better than expected. Achieve provided one of the best guides, Milton (Pierre) Owinji, good to perfect accommodation, a sturdy vehicle. In ten days, I have observed a lot of animals and landscapes, I have seen the way people live and I have learned a lot about Uganda. Tasted matoke and other local flavors, Everything is safe and they have a perfect system of national parks. Roads are getting better, I have seen many construction sites. Gorilla and chimpanzee tracking were amazing, as well as the road safaris. Milton spoke all the local languages, knew all the species by heart and was an excellent driver. Mark ensured everything was booked as requested, although I waited to the last minute to confirm.
Efficient, clear, good service and great knowledge
We just finished the 7-days Uganda primate and wildlife Safari proposed by Achieve Global - from Murchisson Falls to Bwindi with stops in Kibale and driving through Ishasha - and it was fabulous!
The organisation with Jolie was perfect prior and during travel, and their choice of mid-range lodges exceeded our expectations.
Also, our guide & driver Eddie was fantastic - in explanations, wildlife spotting and driving - all with a big smile.
US
Email Rav | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Professional, organized and very friendly.
It had always been my dream to see the mountain gorillas and Achieve Global Safaris helped me Achieve this dream. Jolie was extremely helpful and patient as I customized my itinerary. I reached out to a couple of other companies too but Jolie was quick to respond and communicated thoroughly. My guide, Eddie was also wonderful. Very knowledgeable and friendly. I was traveling solo so Eddie's company was appreciated and by the end we joked that we had become twin brothers. Thank you Achieve for helping me create so many amazing memories!!!
CA
Email Tyler from Vancouver | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Very, very, pleased with our experience
*This was the middle part of our honeymoon *We did the three day Gorilla trekking experience
Our itinerary included:
- Morning flight from Nairobi to Entebbe
- Airport transfer to domestic flight on Aerolink to Kihihi airstrip
- Two nights stay at Bohuma Haven lodge
- Gorilla trekking after first night
- Overland transport back to Entebbe after night two
- PCR testing upon arrival in Entebbe
- Stay at a hotel of our choice (which we booked separately) and departure the next day
Review:
I’ll start with pre-trip coordination…
The number one reason why we chose Achieve Global Safaris (AGS) was because of a personal communication we received in the months and weeks leading up to the trip. Jolie responded to many many questions, from flight itineraries, visas, what to bring, and so on. Flying to a new part of the world comes with some level of anxiety of the unknown, but by getting to know someone before booking and departing, it really eased my conscience. Especially the payment structure, because it is unfamiliar to a Canadian. We used direct bank to bank transfer from RBC to their ‘Equity Bank’ in two instalments (make sure to add 2% to cover the transaction fees).
To help you gain the same level of comfort as we had, you just download and use WhatsApp. It is what everyone in Uganda uses, and how I communicated with Jolie ahead of time.
Accommodation…
We stayed at the community operated Bohuma Haven lodge. This place was BEAUTIFUL. It had majestic mountain views, quiet and serene atmosphere. It is not a resort, so don’t expect that, rather expect a natural and humbling setting to sit back, sip a beer and unwind after trekking. They staff were also incredibly attentive, as if you are at an actual resort. No complaints about the food either. Actually, we had steak on our second night, which we were able to cut with a butter knife. Sooo good.
Transportation….
We flew from the Entebbe airport to Kihihi. This was a treat to see Uganda from above. The international airport is chaotic, so I highly recommend to coordinate with Aerolink about your arrival and connection. We had someone meet us at the gate and guide us through the entire process, which is a process. Seriously, ask for help, especially if there is limited time between flights because there are multiple security checkpoints.
We travelled overland back to Entebbe at the conclusion of our trip. To be honest, it is a long drive, with a couple hours of rugged/non-paved roads. For me, someone from the countryside, I found it rewarding and enlightening to see the beauty of Uganda from land. For my wife, the trip was too long. So consider your options and your level of comfort for long drives. That said, we had an amazing guide, Eddie. His charm and demeanour was pleasant and comforting. He stopped frequently for breaks, made up for lost time where he could, smiled and laughed the whole way, and got us to our destination with time to complete a PCR test before checking into our hotel. Thanks Eddie!
PCR testing was easy. Go to test and fly, pay the fee, get tested and wait for the results. Our tests took about three hours. Here is the number for Safari Lab/testing: +256 702 199000
Finally, would I do this again? - yes, hopefully next time with kids.
US
Email James | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
We Loved Achieve!!
My fiancé and I traveled in Uganda for 10 days with Achieve Safaris this summer (July 2021 ). I cannot say enough about how wonderful this company was and what a great time we had, from start to finish. For beginners, we worked with Jolie over a year and a half planning and re-planning our trip. We were originally to go in July 2020 but had to reschedule due to COVID. Jolie was absolutely wonderful to work with. I asked her a million questions and we exchanged countless emails and she worked diligently to tailor the experience to everything we wanted to do and see. She outlined itinerary after itinerary for us with different price and lodging options until we finally settled on one. She set up COVID testing for us and even when our flights were changed last minute (literally) she made arrangements to accommodate our delay. So we owe a special big thank you to Jolie!!!
Next, our guide Eddie was seriously the best we could have hoped for in every way. Traveling with anyone for 10 days, much of it long drives in the car, can be a challenge. Personally, Eddie was such a pleasure to be around. He was friendly yet unimposing, happy to chat but also to let us sleep for long stretches of driving. We got along very well with Eddie and enjoyed being with him on our trip. We even had the wonderful opportunity to meet Eddie’s family as they happened to be staying near one of our destinations. When we asked Eddie if we could meet them he agreed and we had a wonderful time with them and playing with his kids for the day! Most importantly he was a fantastic guide. He was extremely knowledgeable about the wildlife we were seeing. This is not only important for us to learn about the wildlife but also because a knowledgeable guide can find it!!! Eddie showed us the big 5 over the course of our tour. I should also add that he was an amazing driver, which was essential both for getting to wildlife quickly and establishing a good spot and also because we felt safe and comfortable on all sorts of roads throughout our journey. In addition to our visits to different parks Eddie arranged a visit to meet with people from the Batwa tribe near Bwindi, another unforgettable experience. Although we were super impressed with Eddie’s capabilities as a guide we were unaware of just how lucky we were to have him. Following our time in Uganda we traveled to Kenya where we did another 6-7 days of safari and not one guide we had was even close to Eddie’s caliber. So definitely another tremendous thanks to Eddie and we hope to see you again soon!!!
Finally, the actual trip was amazing it was a beautiful and unforgettable experience. Uganda is a gorgeous country with many different landscapes to enjoy. The wildlife was amazing to see. Especially the gorillas and chimpanzees! The gorilla trekking is a big expense but it is not to be missed. We saw tons of wildlife and lots of very cool things over a month in Uganda and Kenya but I think the gorillas were the best. We chose the mid-range accommodations that Jolie suggested and all of the places we stayed were beautiful, comfortable and clean. The food was also very good and they made vegetarian arrangements for my fiancé.
All in all, if you are planning to go to Uganda and you want a company to travel with I would highly recommend traveling with Achieve and I would definitely request Eddie if possible!!
IT
Email Patrizia Bonfanti | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Fair, kind, experienced and well organized. A really great safari experience with Elisa
It is not the picture of the lion or the elephant 4 metres from the jeep that makes this experience so special. What makes a safari extraordinary is the intimacy of savannah life that allows you to observe: the wrinkles on the elephants' legs as they move with every step, the sound of the grass being torn up with their trunks, the male antelope watching over his family as they eat....
Thanks to my guide Elisa and his great experience that allow me to live this big experience! He knows each meter of the park, he explained me all the behaviours to avoid when you are in contact with animals and he was so patient and attentive to all my needs.
All the staff were so kind and the entire journey was a pleasure. The planning of the journey was so rapid and easy thanks to the kind assistance of Jolie.
US
Email Barbara&Kathleen | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Excellent, look no further than Achieve!
We were so pleased working with Jolie to plan our 10-day trip to Uganda. She was thorough, knowledgeable and very accommodating with all of our requests. She was most patient and courteous, always responding quickly to each email (with a 10-hour time zone difference.) Our trip included 2-days in Bwindi seeing the Mountain Gorillas, (A-mazing!) 1 day Golden Monkey trek, 1 day Chimpanzee trek, half day safari and half day boat safari, among other sights. All were exceptional and exceeded our expectations. We visited 4 national parks and in each location were thrilled with the mid-range lodges Jolie had booked for us. The accommodations were just lovely: large bright rooms, comfortable beds, welcoming staff, fresh meals. The rates were all reasonable since we booked through Achieve also. There are too many highlights to list, but our in-country Ugandan guide Arafat was key to such an amazing trip. Arafat made our time in Uganda as fantastic as it was, with his training & education about the region, the wildlife, the conservation efforts and the culture. He was the best guide we could ask for—extremely knowledgeable, kind, flexible, and pleasant to spend time with. He knew every one of the mountain roads by heart (which can be difficult to travel!) and was an excellent, safe driver. Because he knew all the routes and contacts of each area, he provided the best experience possible. He knows the park staff guides as well, so he made sure we'd have great treks -- all very well-run and organized. In most cases we saw more than we otherwise might have! His calm, warm and upbeat attitude made each day fun. We were grateful he was our guide and we feel lucky to have found Jolie and Achieve. We highly recommend this company!
AR
Email Melina | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Unforgettable trip
The best trip I ever made. Let´s talk about Uganda.
A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. It has it all. Lovely landscapes, food, people, activities. I am in love.
We went for our honeymoon, and it was really a surprise for us to spend a lovely and adventurous time. Definitely the pearl of Africa.
Our guide and driver was a lovely person. As days goes by, we realize that Abu was not only a good driver but such a honest and good person. We were pleased with all our whims.
Our honeymoon was design by us, very customized and was done the same as we told. Jolie was the person who help us with the organization was always really kind.
Lodges and staff were excellent and lovely.
I don't have anything to critize.
I would definitely recommend this trip if you would like to experience Africa, and something different.
BEST TRIP EVER.
Thanks Achieve and hope we see you again!
LU
Email Couple | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Would repeat, will recommend
The whole experience has been amazing. Big thanks to the people in every single place, who made us feel like home. Thanks also and especially to Abudallah, who take good care of us :-)
We'll certainly recommend your company to friends.
We have some advices to take the experience a bit higher; please do not consider these as criticising, far from our intention. We just want to improve it even further for future guests (and friends!). For example, giving a fabric bag with a few useful or nice things, like the latest program printed (with some info about the new lodge, e.g. Bakiga Lodge), urgent phone numbers or even an already stamped postcard to send home. A sim card loaded with $5.
Maps! Including a queen Elizabeth park one. Another idea for game drives: let a book about the animals to be seen to the guests. You can add those some 20 dollars to the whole account and leave an immediate good impression.
By the way, bringing us dollars turned out to be expensive and not at all useful for us: the change everywhere was very disadvantageous, we were always requested 1 usd per 2000 ugandan shillings. Much better to bring any currency and change to shillings at the border.
On the other side, congratulations on the choice of lodges: we loved all of them! And furthermore, food was delicious everywhere!
That's all: thanks again!!!