Peter Amanya and our guide in the safari van
Buyaga Safaris
- Located In:
- Size:
- 5-10 employees (Founded in 2017)
- Member Of:
- UTB & AUTO MEMBER
- Tour Types:
- Custom budget & mid-range tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $450 to $1,000 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
Email dorina cavalieri | 65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
A paid service was not provided and the acknowledged refund is still outstanding
I am a European tour operator and engaged Buyaga Safaris as a local supplier for clients travelling in Uganda. I entrusted my clients to this company in good faith and paid separately for a professional Italian-speaking guide/interpreter.
The person provided did not speak Italian at all and was therefore completely unable to perform the service for which I had paid. I reported the problem immediately and repeatedly requested that she be removed from the tour. My requests were initially ignored, and only after several days and a formal intervention on my part was she finally made to leave the vehicle.
The clients may have enjoyed other aspects of their journey, but that is an entirely separate matter. Satisfaction with the driver, itinerary, wildlife or gorilla experience cannot compensate for a specific service that was contracted and paid for but never provided.
Buyaga Safaris subsequently acknowledged my refund request in writing. The correct refund amount was established at USD 1,100, and I was told that it would be processed after receiving guidance from the company’s lawyers. The clients returned approximately two months ago, and I have already refunded them from my own funds. Nevertheless, I have still received neither the money nor a definite payment date. Buyaga Safaris has not even requested my banking details.
Their latest response was simply that my refund was “not an emergency” and that I should continue to be patient. After weeks of delays and repeated assurances without any concrete action, I consider this handling extremely unprofessional and unacceptable.
As of the date of this review, the acknowledged USD 1,100 refund remains unpaid. I will update this review if and when Buyaga Safaris finally honours its written commitment.
Reply from Buyaga Safaris
Posted on Oct 20, 2026Dear Dorina,
We're sorry your clients weren't happy with their Italian-speaking guide, and we'd like to share our side.
As agreed, we provided a driver guide and a second guide who speaks Italian. Soon after arrival, one of the clients, who speaks English, started talking with the team in English, and from then on the trip ran mostly in English with our driver guide.
When you raised the issue, we looked into it straight away. The guide has worked with other safari companies and has good reviews. As we do with all our guides, we had paid her in full for the 13 days before the trip started. She left the trip after five days, at your request.
We have refunded you $600 and explained in writing how we reached that figure. We've enjoyed working with you and we're still happy to talk this through directly.
Peter, Buyaga Safaris