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
CH
Email Emmanuelle Ayer | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Ouganda will be in my heart forever thanks to Matoke Tour
Well having just spent 3 weeks in Ouganda, I must say it has been BEYOND my expectations and Matoke tour has definitely something to do with that feeling.
We visited with their recommandations all the possible highlights, staying in the most beautiful places nature wise , it was a great mix of safari, roads used by very few tourists, boat safaris, Sippi falls, Nile rafting, Kibale forest with the chimpanzes, Mutanda Lake and the gorilla tracking. We went round the country in a really cool 4x4 and the driver was very safe on the sometimes very bumpy and difficult roads. His service was perfect! Always on time, very friendly and fun and making contact with the locals really eased the relationship to people. Matoke could even organise us to visit the secluded far North tribe of the Karamanjong which was A highlight.
We could relay on Matoke tour at every moment, the head office was always there for questions or details to sort along the trip.
We had the best conditions to visit Ouganda , because we felt they love to share their enthusiasm and love about Ouganda. So I can only recommend Matoke highly. Thanks to the head manager Vim and our driver Franck !!
CA
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Overall, it was great, and our guide, Dan, was wonderful. The vehicle was a bit old though.
The experience lived up to our expectation, and Dan was informed and flexible to our needs. The accommodations were first class, food good, and we saw all the animals we had hoped to. The customized trip to a Water School project in Nebbi District went according to plan, and was a lot of fun.
The only criticism was that the original vehicle we were given had seat belts which didn't work. Roads are dangerous in Uganda, and I considered this a serious lapse. We were given a replacement vehicle with working seat belts, but it was pretty old, and struggled up some hills. You could use newer vehicles!
DE
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A lifetime experience
We had one of the best times of our life in Uganda.
We met mountain gorillas and chimpanzee face to face and saw all the other animals on land and in water.
The perfect experience is not only due to the magnificient nature and wildlife. The Matoke team planned and organised just a perfect tour for us and our driver and guide Antoli from Matoke Tours is an outstanding man. He is very competent, friendly and customer oriented. A big thank you to Anatoli and the Matoke team.
65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Gorilla trekking - an unforgettable experience and worth the hard work
When researching Uganda, we investigated about 6 or 7 operators, and chose Matoke for a number of reasons. The European connections and bonding arrangements were valuable. We found them very flexible in advising on itineraries and then finally in booking our tour. They were very price competitive for the ground arrangements and lodge quality which we selected (not quite the cheapest, but some others who were less helpful were very much dearer). Some insisted that we fitted in with their pre-arranged itineraries and dates - Matoke custom built exactly to our requirements. Generally the booking process was efficient although it was slightly off-putting to end up dealing with 3 different people. The continuity of one person handing the whole booking might have given us a little more confidence. The tour itself went very well, much of this due to our driver/guide Jacob, who was excellent. His English was impeccable, his humour infectious, and his knowledge about Uganda, its history and culture were most informative. When there was a hitch in our travel arrangements, he worked hard to ensure that it was rectified. The lodges were of variable quality, and generally less good than those we have found on other African safaris. Primate Lodge at Kibale had many shortcomings, especially for the price they charged. Service and facilities both left much to be desired. Katara Lodge was beautifully designed, excellent rooms and service, but the drive back from QE Park on such a bad road became a bit of a bind. Mahogany Springs excelled in the quality of staff and food, but for a reasonably new lodge the state of repair was not brilliant. But these criticisms are probably general to Uganda. For the prices charged, the country is still some way behind others on the safari circuit. Nevertheless it was a fascinating country, with very friendly people, some beautiful scenery, offering unique safari opportunities. And the almost faultless organisation of Matoke Tours helped to make this an unforgettable experience.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
good safari with the family
For booking very attentive and client friendly treatment. during the trip a reliable and safe car, with a driver who was driving proper and carefull. during safary a very experienced driver with lots of knowledge about the park and the animals. Driver was next to that good in checking program, cross checking interest of the group. All in all a good time of fun with the family
CH
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Matoke tours exceeded mine and my family's expectations.
As my studies had brought me to Uganda to do an internship, my family didn't want to miss out on this opportunity to travel to a new country, explore a new culture and of course visit me. The agreement was to explore the best of western Uganda, so it was up to me to find an affordable tour that also covered the highlights of that part of the country. After having searched the internet for tour companies, I stumbled across the Matoke budget tour. It sounded pretty exciting including chimpanzee tracking, viewing of the tree climbing lions, gorilla tracking, bush walk and many other activities. But as a student with limited budget and a passionate backpacker, I wasn't sure if this was the best deal I could find and at the same time slightly skeptical when it comes to online booking (because you never know who is on the other side). So I went ahead and tried to organize the trip myself, only to realize that it was a time consuming, complicated process with no promise on saving any costs. Having come to that realization I decided to book with Matoke tours and have come to the conclusion that every penny is well spent. The communication with the staff was reliable, I always got a quick response and the safari tour outstanding. Not only were the activities exciting, even the accommodation made our trip exceptional. I am glad to have booked through Matoke tours and am glad to recommend it.
NL
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Above expectations
I never heard of this organisation, but I had a good feeling after I went to their office in the Netherlands. We had a great trip in Rwanda and Uganda. The driver was very nice and knew so much about the country and the animals. He arranged everything for us. The hotels and the food were good. I went with other organisations to other countries in Africa, but I would recommend this organisation!
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Fantastic!!
Thank you for a wonderful holiday. You gave us an incredible experience, brilliant service and really good value for money. I would highly recommend Matoke to anyone for safaris and primate tracking in Uganda.
CH
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Very well organised, good price-value level
We (couple of 60 and 54 years) booked a 20 days private tour with Matoke, including Ziwa Rhino S., Murchinson Falls NP, Kibale NP with Chimps Tracking, 4 days Rwenzori Trekking, Gorilla Tracking in Bwindi Impenetrable NP, Vulcano Hike on Mt. Muhavura in Mgahinga NP, Mburo Lake NP and Mabambwa Swamp.
Our Driver-Guide was very knogledgable, friendly and a safe driver. The car was very reliable and we didn't even have a puncture. The chosen accomodations were very good, the food sometimes even excellent.
We had a wonderful trip which fulfilled our expectations.
BE
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
A travel agency to remember! Everything ok accomodation, transport, food, guiding.....
We made a trip in Uganda and Tanzania with Matoke tours a tour operator from the netherlands. There isn't a thing I could say that was wrong about this trip. It was an amazing holiday: Uganda was so beautiful and untouched by tourism. The gorilla's were the max but also the country itself had much of beauty to offer. And also the guide big Sam was amazing. We learned a lot of the country from him. The accomodations were very beautiful and the locations well choosen. The food was always very tastfull, and there was always an alternative for the vegetariers of our group.
In Tanzania they worked together with Easy Travel, they did also a good job, plenty of food, good driver and guide, beautiful accomodations even in the middle of the Serengeti in very luxurious tents amids the lions and other wildlife
We saw the big 5 and the 5 ugly ones, and so many more. And at the end our journey ended in Zanzibar, where we could choose our location and Fumba Beach was really a quiet and relaxing place, with amazing food.
Really a very recommended travel agency Matoke Tours with thanks to Yorinda in the Netherlands who arranged everything with a smile!!!!