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
BE
Email Eric Lahey, Wildlifebrothers.com | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Mdonya Old River Camp, bushlife at its best
Mdonya, bushlife at its best.
Knowing our expectations and our desire to find interesting spots to make great pics, Matoke Tours adviced us to stay at Mdonya Old River Camp.
If you are looking for an authentic bush experience, don't look further ... Mdonya has it all. At Mdonya the impossible is made possible.
After more than 10 African safari's and having visited even more camps, lodges,..., our stay at Mdonya was a blast!
It was our second stay in Ruaha, which is one of the best remote wildlife parks we have ever been to, and this time it exceeded our expectations once again. Ruaha, same size as Switzerland and one hour and a half bushplane flight away from Dar Es Salaam is one of the parks that is least invaded by tourists in Tanzania and is known for its density of wildlife including several packs of Wild Dogs.
We arrived at the end of the dry season and we had a marvelous stay.
First of all, the Mdonya camp itself is so authentic that you imagine yourself being Dr Livingstone. The Camp is composed of 12 authentic bushtents. No electricity inside but candles, petroleum lamps and comfortable beds. The toilet and shower are located outside the tent. The dinner area is just a big long wooden table under the African sky. But heck, what else do you need? The reception area does have a charging station (to charge your batteries, phones,...). Life at Mdonya is mainly spent in the open air which is beautiful! The food is fantastic. You taste the Italian "cucina" mixed with the finest African delicacies.
The camp is completely focused on pleasing its guests. That is the sole mission of superb camp manager Mary and her staff. Whether you want the standard gamedrives in the morning or in the evening or whether you want to go on a full day gamedrive, everything is possible. We did a fullday gamedrive every day, got breakfast in the bush and got lunch in the bush. Every day, we left before dawn and arrived back at the camp after sunset . We never heard a complaint from our overtired driver or guide. Neither did we get a remark from the camp manager that we had spoiled too much fuel. :-)) Not to mention that the on-the-go meals were mouthwatering! Living life to the fullest!
Ruaha is a national park but the area where Mdonya is situated offers the opportunity to go offroad if something interesting is spotted. We arrived at the end of the dry season, meaning that all wildlife was concentrated around the few waterponds in the dried out riverbeds (the Mwagusi & Ruaha river) which was the sign for OMG sightings during our whole stay. We saw at least 7 different Lion prides. One pride had cubs, the other one had killed a giraffe 30 minutes before we arrived, another one had killed a baby elephant just minutes before we arrived, another one did an attempt on a herd of buffalo's,... Every day we saw lions and not just passive ones but the very active ones. A real photographic peak! Apart from that we saw the rare sable antilopes and bat-eared foxes, hyena,elephants, giraffes, impala, gazelles, duikers, dik dik's and more than 20 different birds of prey (Martial Eagle, Fish eagle, Verreaux eagle owl, tawny eagle, ...). But the real highlight of our journey was the "live" kill of a leopard that we followed during a few days and that killed a baby impala just in front of us. What an experience! Every night, satisfied and well-fed, we fell asleep accompanied by the sound of roaring lions or hyena calls.
Unfortunately, we did not see Wild dogs and the Tse Tse flies - especially in the Jongomero area - were annoying, but these were only a minor inconvenience in what was overall a truly fantastic trip.
For more reports, movies or pictures, please watch our website wildlifebrothers.com. More to come soon!
NL
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Profesional and flexible
The groups have a maximum size of twelve travellers spread over two cars, you always have a spacious window seat. Both the drivers and the tour leader are well prepared and try to avoid any delays. They are also informed/educated about the country, culture, roads, parks and animals. We had nice accommodations, vehicles and in the parks we always had a ranger. The tour was very complete (without extra costs). Overall we had an excellent tour through Uganda.
NL
Email Henny en Leo Smink | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Tanzania and Zanzibar with Matoke Tours
Our safari to Tanzania (and Zanzibar) with Matoke Tours
13 oktober 2014……At last……..we departed!
More than a year ago we visited an information day in (with Bosscher bol) in Utrecht and actually booked the safari at once.
At the airport in Kilimanjaro were picked up by our guide for the coming 11 days, Gilbert Mariki, and we drove in the pitch dark to our first lodge, where we got a warm welcome with a nice drink. Besides…..that was repeated in every next lodge we arrived .
We visited the most beautiful parks and saw so many beautiful things! Specially because of ‘our’ Gilbert,. He really had the eyes of a hawk! It is incredible how he saw animals from a great distance and had to convince us that and where the animals that he saw, were.
So if there is a possibility…..ask for Gilbert Mariki! ;-)) He takes you to the most beautiful places (also to the Masai) and he can tell you very much about the nature and the animals!
All lodges satisfied our expectations! In contradiction with what we had read about het food in Tanzania, it was very good! Good choice with breakfast, such as fruit, eggs prepared in different ways, bread and pancakes.
Lunch was mostly a lunchbox, because we were on safari of course and the box was rich filled with all kinds of goods, such as cake, fruit, drinks, chocolat and a piece of chicken.
Diner was always a 3-course diner, , in short, we thought at first that this time our weight would not grow, but the opposite was true!
The safari a complete package tour! The temperature was between 21 and 30 degrees, so very pleasant.
Afterwards we understood also why the trip is rather expensive! It is a very expensive country with high petrol prices and entrance fees for the National Parks. Also in our little ‘supermarket’ where we bought water, biscuits, 6 tins of beer, 4 peacesof Mars, 1 bottle of Fanta, 1 sack peanuts en 1 tablet of chocolat,, we were surprised by the amount of $93 we had to pay. Our tip: take a little more with you than the advised $ 400, we would say between $ 400 and $600 p.p. Of course it depends on your own consumption use, but you can change at home what is left.
Finally we were for 6 days at Zanzibar, (average temperature during our stay 32 degrees)and we liked that very munch, because you get many impressions during the safari and than the rest on Zanzibar is very welcome to let all impressions land. Also on Zanzibar we had en very nice stay at Langi Langi, with very kind local people. We had a sea safari and saw many nice things! The domestic flighs and transfers were excellent arranged by Matoke Tours.
We were in Stonetown for 1 day with a guide. You have to get used on the activity ont he street and the market , but we are very glad that we dit it!
In short…..we had a fantastic holiday en when we have plans to make a tour like this we surely approach Matoke Tours to see what they can offer!
NL
Email Sonja, Hans, Bianca en Jeroen | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Our experience with Matoke Tours are great!
We went with four people on a 12 day safari-tour in Tanzania by Matoke Tours. We visited Lake Manyara, the Serengetti and the Ngorogorocrater. We saw lots of wild animals. Our guide/chauffeur Gerald showed us de most beautiful spots and told us much about it. After that we went for een few days to Zanzibar. The whole trip was above our expectations. I am sitting in a wheelchair, but I can walk a few steps with crutches. With a little bit of help you can make this trip for sure. The people of Tanzania are very kindly en helpfully. The hole team of Matoke Tours as well in Holland and Tanzania created the journey of our life.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Honeymoon in Uganda, Tanzania and Zanzibar
We had an excellent experience overall with Matoke; from the arranging of the honeymoon, all our questions were answered and they were very patient with our requests! We had a fantastic guide (Dan) in Uganda, and a great experience trekking with the gorillas which was a once-in-a-lifetime event. We absolutely loved Uganda, and would perhaps liked to have done one other activity there, because we were not aware of all the different activities that were available, so if something else had been suggested that would have been great, because we did have a couple of days just waiting in Kampala. In Tanzania, we had a great time; having a private tour for just myself and my husband was a great experience, it felt very personal and our guide was very knowledgeable. All the accommodation we stayed in was lovely, customer service was obviously a very high priority here! We were very lucky on safari and saw all the animals we had hoped to see, and again, having a private tour meant we had great views of the animals. The Ngorongoro Farm House was a particularly wonderful place to stay, especially after getting back from safari! Our accommodation in Zanzibar (Unguja Lodge) was fantastic - the staff were attentive without being overbearing, there were plenty of activities to occupy us if we wanted, and we felt thoroughly relaxed after our time there!
BE
Email Daniel and Janique | 50-65 years of age
Unforgettable journey through Uganda
We have made the journey of our live in Uganda. The nature was more rich and beautiful than elsewhere in Africa. Lots of birds! Sometimes, we had to struggle with the nature. Every day heavy rains. But at the end of the day, we were more than satisfied with the things we have seen.
The meeting with the Bweza gorilla family was unique and unforgettable, what an emotions!!!
The lodges were cosy and beautiful. We think about the Rwakobo Rock lodge in M'Buro, Ihamba Safari lodge in Queen Elizabeth NP. In Cuckooland, we had to order hot water for the shower...very special, funny and ecologic 100%!
We thank Matoke Tours to have given us the time of our live!
There is so much to tell about animals and wildlife in Uganda, therefor I need more place and time to write it down ;o)
I recommand people to get themselves to Uganda with Matoke, the Uganda Experience.
NL
Email Eric de Bruijn | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Southern Tanzania
Through Matoke Tours Netherlands we booked the southern part of Tanzania.
From the beginning till the end it was great. Deo, our guide and driver was perfect. Always in time, helpful, great eyes for spotting animals. Safe driver.
The lodges were good and after a long day of safari it was perfect to end with a Kilimanjaro beer.
Selous was wunderful, but Ruaha was great. So much wild we spotted. A lot of lions, elephants. giraffes, etc. And Mufindi was a good spot to relax in the Highlands. And later Udzungwa Mountains and relaxing in Bagamoyo.
One word: a holiday never to forget.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Murchison Falls National Park and Budungo Forest
Our tour was very well organized. The accommodation was of high quality and excellent service all round. The rangers were very knowledgeable, pleasant and helpful. The Matoke Tours guide/driver, Geoffrey, made the whole trip - even the long drive - enjoyable and interesting. We shall definitely recommend Matoke tours to friends and relatives.
An amazing, undescribable and exceptionally well-organised safari in North Tanzania !
We made a 11-days group safari to Northern Tanzania followed by one week in Zanzibar, with Matoke Tours from 11 till 30th of September 2014.
To resume this experience in a few words ?
An amazing, undescribable , wonderful and exceptionally well-organised trip !
Everything was perfectly arranged: a very good driver/guide Elias, comfortable and “good-memories-creating” special accommodations, unique game drives, very tasteful food and a very good 4x4 jeep.
We were very lucky during the game drives, with special thanks to our professional driver/guide Elias. We witnessed the following special situations during the safari:
· A couple of dating lions (oh yes) !
· A real catch: 4 female lions prepaired and attacked a group of buffels: they catched the little one…
· 2 fighting giraffes 5 meters away from our vehicle
· A female lion, carrying her 3 weeks old baby in her mouth, only 2 meters from our vehicle.
· 5 leopards, one crossing the “road” only 3 meters before our jeep
· A Serval Cat
· A group of elephants, enjoying themselves in a very small mudd pool a few meters away from the 4x4.
· A Rhino (although being very very far away)
· A thunderstorm on the Serengetti, early in the evening. This was an amazing show of colors from sun, rain, dust, ….
We travelled together with 2 other Belgian couples and this was a very nice experience.
We can strongly recomment Matoke Tours for travelling to Tanzania. From the beginning of our contacts and demands for information, till the end of the booking process, as well as just before departure, they were extremely well organised and replied within 24 hours (mostly within 4 hours) on all of your eventual questions. They provided honest, realistic and to the point information. If you have special requests, they take them into consideration wherever possible.
It is also good to know that in Tanzania, Matoke Tours works together with Easy Travel. Just take a look at the rating of Easy Travel on Tripadvisor: they are number 2 in safari’s in Tanzania ! In case of problems onsite, you can also trust on them.
Something very professional too was the debriefing at the end of the safari at the Easy Travel office in Arusha.
If you have plans to go on safari, don’t hesitate and get in contact with Matoke Tours !
You won’t be disappointed ….
NL
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Super service for my last minute booking!
Thank you for the great service in booking my last minute flight-in to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest NP to track gorillas. I did not have time to go to their office, but everything was handled quickly on the phone and by e-mail. The Gorilla Tracking permit was even delivered at my office! The lodge (Lake Mutandwa Resort) was good value (with good service, excellent food and lodging) and everything was arranged well: the flight, the transport, the permit, the payment arrangement. I really can recommend Matoke Tours to everyone (I already did) and will certainly use their agency again. And of course the gorillas: it was quite a hike, but you can approach them until very close distance. One of us was even touched by a gorilla male crossing the path which caused some nervous giggling (on the part of the humans). Thank you!