The Matoke Tours Team
Matoke Tours
- Located In:
-
Netherlands
- Size:
- 20-50 employees (Founded in 2002)
- Member Of:
- ATTA, AUTO, SGR, UTB & UCF
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range & luxury tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $300 to $750 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
An excellent tailor made tour to our needs.
It was easy to book via email, we had a few iterations before we agreed on the best tour for ourselves as we were tagging this onto the end of a private trip with friends. Our guide Sam arrived at the accommodation as arranged & spent time to discuss our requirements against his booking form to make sure that we were happy with the plans. Our accommodation was special at both Mutanda Lake resort with views to the volcanoes & Rwakobo Rock at Lake Mburo NP with views over the park. Sam our guide was very knowledgeable & pointed out wildlife & birds for us during the whole trip. The Gorilla tour was the purpose of this trip & we were not disappointed, Sam had briefed us well on the possible difficulties with the terrain & his advice to get a porter was very sensible. Lake Mburo was a great place for both day & night game drives & then we did a cycle ride in the morning before heading back to Kampala.
Throughout the time we were very well looked after & learnt a lot about life in Uganda & also the wildlife. The tour lived up to all of our expectations.
AE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Outstanding service providing an unforgettable experience
There was nothing that could be faulted about this trip. All arrangements were delivered to an exceptional standard. As guests we had nothing to worry about, only to enjoy this superb country and it's people. The driver saluman was impeccable. He was skilled, kind and there was really nothing that was too much trouble for him. A humbled man who was a pleasure to be with, every day of the tour.
personalised service and care
matoke was fantastic organising our trip for 7 family members. they tailored the whole package to cater for each individual's preferences and gave excellent advice when it came to accommodation and destinations. in particular, our driver/guide dan was amazing. his local knowledge and enthusiasm for his work made it a pleasure to have him accompany us on our trip.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Wonderful experience. Dan our guide and driver was impeccable. Great planning and choice of lodges.
Communications in planning excellent. Quality of service excellent all expectations more than met.
CH
Email Lorenz | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Kidepo Valley NP with Matoke Tours
Kidepo Valley National Park is wildlife and safari at its best! Plenty of animals, beautiful sceneries, and the few people we met were very nice and friendly. Choose your accomodation: Campsites with facilities (and: maybe lions), mid-range bandas or upmarket lodge are available. Self-drive from Kampala is doable (in dry season, at least), but it's a long, long drive.
We therefore chose to book the trip with Matoke Tours, which we can highly recommend. We travelled in a small group of 7 people, the car was in excellent condition, fair value and no hidden cost, very well organized, easy to communicate. And our guide Geoffrey Katende did a great job - highly recommended, too!
NL
Email Ton & Jeannette | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Matoke, the best start for excellent safari's
In 2008 we made our first trip with Matoke. This trip went to Uganda and Rwanda. The trip was great handled by Matoke so we decided to go again with Matoke. This time the trip went to South-Tanzania. Also this trip was fantastic and well looked after by Matoke. Thanks to our driver Adrian we have made great safari's. In Ruaha we were lucky to witness a kill by nine lions. We have been watching for more than four hours how the buffalo was eaten by the lions. It was like being in a movie. Usually you make a game drive in the early morning and late afternoon but at Matoke the game drive takes as long as you want. We were the whole day on a game drive and therefore we have spotted lots of wildlife. I can recommend Matoke to anyone. Everything is fantastic arranged. The drivers are very knowledgeable and the office staff take into account all your wishes.
CH
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Abundance of beauty with a fiew tourists
I would highly recommend Matoke to anyone who want to visit Uganda.Everything was great about this trip.We visited so many beautifull places in a confortable and reliable 4x4.The accomodations were first class and the food exellent.I have really appreciated the way Matoke is involved in a responsible tourism wich generate greater economic benefits for local people.During the three weeks of our trip i saw manytimes how Matoke is culturaly sensitive and encourages respect between tourist and host trying to build a local pride and confidence.I met a reliable team very proffessional with a lot of knowledge about wildlife.(Thanks Wim for your explanation about butterflies)Our guide Frank was very ponctual with a safe driving and a great sense oh humor.I had an unforgettable experience in Uganda.The amazing stillness of the lake Mutanda,the beauty of the gorillas,the incredible shower in Sippi Falls,the pure joy of the Karamajong songs,the sunset at the bushcamp by Lake Albert,the sweetness of the arabica and so many other things will stay in my heart.Thank you Uganda and Matoke.
BE
Email PATRICK CERPENTIER | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
An unforgettable experience in Uganda thanks to the professional team of Matoke Tours
Hello
During July 2014 we have done the 15-days Uganda Tour with Matoke Tours and we are deeply impressed about this well organized and interesting trip.
First of all the accommodation was 'on every place' excellent.
We had indeed a pleasant group, fantastic safe drivers (Alex and Mike) and Bella as our wonderful guide. Because of this wonderful team everyone of the group remained till the last day so excited and enthusiastic about Uganda.
The full tour with some great safaris had a lot to offer and we had at the Bwindi National Park an incredible trekking to the mountain gorillas. Not only the trip in the Kibale Forest, but also the trekking in the Kyambura Gorge was an unforgettable experience - we saw a large group of chimpanzees by Nelson our guide. From Mutanda Lake Resort we did also the Batwa Trail with our guide Bella and we can surely recommend you to consider this as an optional excursion.
Meanwhile I have published some movie parts (Ziwa Rhinos Sanctuary and Murchisson Falls NP) about our tremendous Uganda trip.
In below and attached you can find some of the YouTube-links (trailer from the movie and impressions of the Gorilla trekking)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YNNZ4kbtW8&index=20&list=UUJxLH3VVhq3kikoql3j7OBg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdJwO1f4BiY&index=18&list=UUJxLH3VVhq3kikoql3j7OBg
If you are interested in the remaining parts (from the other fantastic destinations), it can be published later on.
For the moment, we have already a planned coming trip to South America (Boliva, Chili, Easter Island), but thinking at our next travel destination, definitely we will choose again for Matoke Tours (the providing tours to Tanzania and Madagascar).
Thanks again for the splendid services and we hope to meet again the Matoke team in the nearby future
Kind regards
Patrick and Ann Cerpentier-Weemaes - Belgium
NL
Email Christian Stoffelen | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Beautifull and well organised and prepared trip to Malawi and South Luangwa by Matoke Tours
Me and my wife did go to Malawi and South Luangwa (Zambia) last September. We first did some research for South Tanzania, but finally Matoke offerd us a trip to Malawi and Zambia with private driver. The trip was well organised and good built form low habitated Animal Parcs to highly habitated Parc South Luangwa. The Parcs in Malawi arent filled with much Tourists but that is what we like. The accomodations were very luxury and good. We did 3 walking safaris and also a lot of Sundowners and night drives. Mkulumadgzi Lodge was very luxury and in drives we saw for example Few Lions (only five in the Parc), Elephants, Monkeys, Hippos but also Black Mamba and Scropion. In Mvuu (Liwonde NP) we did Rhino Track and gfinally we saw the Rhino in front of on about 2 metres. We also saw here Sables, which were very nice, and a Skunk at the night drive. AT Mount Mulanje we made a short trip with guide, but becaues of injury it was just enough and we decided not to made a great walk. But view was very nice. In between we stayed 2 times 1 night in Blantyre in a nice lodge. Ar the end we stayed a few nights at Lake Malawi at Norman Carrs. It was just like we were at the beach. Also calmly but nice and relaxing time and local people did there daily stuff like fishing, washing the clothes and thereselves in the Lake. Then we did go to Zambia by very small plane (only 3 persons included the 2 of us) and the pilot. SUitcases were at the bench behind of us. SO we could made very nice and good films and pictures from the plane during the short (about 1 hour) flight to Mfuu int. Airport. In Zambia at South Luangwa we had a nice Bushcamp were the Elephant walked at the evening almost at our table while we has diner. Also the drives here were very good and there was lot to see: Leopards, Lions, Buffalo, Zebra, Giraffe, Crocodile, Monkeys, Elephants Bushbocks and a lot of other deers. Also we saw Hyena, Owls at night drives, Cameleon some special birds were there a lot during this whole trip. At the Camp there were a lot of Mangoes as well and the animals did walk very nearby. And we did saw Lions eating a Buffalo and at other place eating a killed Elephant younger one. We also swa in the dark a fight between 2 Lions and a Crocodile fihting in the neighbourhood of the killed Buffalo.
So after all we were very satisfied, and has has a relaxing, luxureous, varioused and animalfull trip. Only thing missing was a live kill by a Leopard of Lion. Although we did saw a preparation for a kill by a Leopard as well as a misjudged kill of Leopard.
Also during the preparation and when we did arived back in Holland the contact with Matoke was very good and nice. This was also so when we did book a journey (1 week private and 3 weeks in a group) to Uganda 4 years ago. Even when this trip was very superb, the trip to Uganda still keep our best trip ever. So hopefully within a few yera we will book another trip to Africa again at Matoke.
Email Ros and Ian | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Exceeded all expectations and a fantastic experience.
Excellent communication before the tour about the itinerary, accommodation etc. Liked the fact it could be tailor made and that Matoke Tours seemed to be completely flexible to fit in with what we wanted. All the accommodation was a good standard and liked that it was varied and in stunning locations. Mutanda lake resort was, in our opinion, outstanding for location, service, room and food. Excellent tour guide (Edwin) who was knowledgable, fun to be with and easy company. Although animals maybe not as abundant in Uganda as in other African locations, we were able to see everything we wanted except the ever elusive leopard, which we missed by 5 minutes! However, it was a great advantage to often be the only vehicle viewing the animals and there were never hordes of other tourists. This made the safari more special for us. Tracking chimpanzees and gorillas was an enormous extra bonus to the tour. The whole tour was very varied, and even travel days were fascinating, because it gave us a glimpse of how people lived, worked, different landscapes etc., which made it an excellent 12 days and it far exceeded our expectations. We would be happy to recommend Uganda and Matoke Tours to anyone thinking of visiting Africa.