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
US
Email Sharon | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Matoke Showed us the Best of Uganda and Tanzania
We booked Matoke Tours Uganda-Tanzania 13 day trip with a few minor changes and upgrades. The tour took us through a week of Uganda: Kampala, Kibale National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, and Bwindi National Park. Edwin was our guide, and he smoothly got us to our destinations and provided lots of information about what we were seeing along the way. Accommodations ranged from good (Kampala) to amazing (everywhere else) and the food was excellent everywhere we went. We were able to see the habituated chimps and gorillas, and everything but rhinos on the "big five" list. We then left Uganda and were handed off to another driver who took us to Kigali Rwanda to start our second week. We flew from Rwanda to Arusha Tanzania where we were met by our new guide Paul. Tanziana was equally amazing in it's own unique way and Paul was an excellent guide. Our trip included Arusha, Lake Manyara, the Serengeti, and Ngorongoro. Similar to Uganda, the accommodations in Arusha were good, the rest were amazing. In Tanzania we were able to see the elusive rhino (waaaay in the distance, but still we saw it!), many many big cats, and the migration of the wildebeests and zebras. We paid extra to take a sunrise balloon ride over the Serengeti and it was worth every penny. Matoke was easy to work with through the entire process, and held our hands from the moment we got off the plane in Entebbe until we flew out of Arusha. The only thing I would do differently if planning the trip again would be to skip an overnight in Arusha and drive further to Lake Manyara on the first day. Otherwise, this trip was perfect from start to finish.
Email Camila | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Fast corrective action by Matoke
We organized a four day gorilla tracking in Uganda with Matoke. We left Kigali and drove to Rushaga, where we tracked one day and another day we tracked at Nkuringo. If your budget allows, we would highly recommend doing two days gorilla tracking. Our hotel in Uganda was Gorilla Safari Lodge and it wasn’t anything to write home about.
The problem was that Matoke subcontracted transportation to the lodge and the lodge took the outsourcing a step further and hired another company. This third company sent us a driver that could not communicate in neither English or French and had never been to the lodge. We got lost on the way. The lodge did not have a meal ready when we arrived. The driver never wore a uniform and when we met he did not even know the names of the people he was meant to pick up. On day two, our driver was nowhere to be seen and had to be called by the lodge. He eventually came to pick us up and drove us to the wrong entry point. Someone from the hotel had to get in the car with us to take us to the right place. Frustrated with the two days, we wrote to Matoke and the corrective action was decisive and swift. They were unaware that the hotel had outsourced our driver to another company and that they had sent an unprofessional and inexperienced driver. They immediately sent one of their own drivers, gave us a complimentary massage each, covered our laundry bill and were quick to follow up on how things were doing.
I’m happy to say the story ended well and our Matoke driver was everything driver one was not: he was polite, knowledgeable, spoke English, and knew how to get to our destinations. We felt in good hands with him. Matoke was apologetic and responsive, which we appreciate. Our only recommendation would be to choose outsourcing partners more carefully and ensure that if other companies provide one of their services, it is done with the same Matoke standards.
Magical with upmost professionalism
Our trip started with the upmost professionalism when we were greeted by our driver Ronald at Kigali airport. Ronald turned out to be fantastically professional, warm, insightful and very fun to spend our three days with and he kept the whole process running very smoothly.
We then drovee from here up through Rwanda and across to the Virunga mountains in Uganda - we stayed nearby at the magical Chameleon Hill hotel which overlooks the beautiful lake Mutanda.
The gorilla experience was as magical as we hoped it would be. Ronald was also very helpful in organising a mountain biking and coffee plantation experience on our last day. He enabled us to customise this experience and reduce it down from the half day activity to a few hours which enabled us to still catch our evening flight.
Once again thank you to Matoke tours, from start to finish the communication and overall execution was five star. I encourage any reader of this review to visit the Ugandan countryside as it is simply stunning and full of amazing people
Email Mike A | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Perfect from start to finish
From the moment we showed interest in booking our trip to the minute we were dropped off at the airport at the end of our amazing two weeks in Uganda, Matoke Tours were superb, dealing with everything via email in a highly efficient way. We did the 12-day Nature Only tour and Edwin was a brilliant, knowledgeable and considerate guide. The whole trip was exactly as described and fully lived up to expectations. We added a couple of extras and they were probably not necessary given the breadth of the tour's itinerary. It also reduced the 'down time' that would have allowed us to the opportunity to enjoy the facilities at a couple of the lodges. You have to be prepared for some long days on the road, as while some of the distances may not be huge, some of the holes in the road are!
CN
Email Paul | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
My first safari (Kenya & Uganda) holiday and I’m really happy I went with Matoke Tours
- My first ever safari holiday. Having read the excellent feedback from other reviewers on Matoke Tours, I got in contact with them and Matoke staff quickly and diligently helped me organize my trip (14 day, Kenya and Uganda).
- My wife and I had a fantastic time in both Kenya and Uganda - The itinerary worked really well, capturing the best parts of both Kenya and Uganda. Also thanks to our drivers who were professional, knowledgeable and friendly and the staff at the camps we stayed at (especially Eden Mara camp, Masai Mara and Isunga Lodge, edge of Kibale forest)
- Highlights of the tour included Masai Mara Great Migration and watching the Mountain gorillas in Bwindhi forest.
- Matoke tours surpassed my expectations and I’ve already recommended the company to my friends and family.
US
Email Tineke | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Uganda and Rwanda private tour with very experienced guide and organization
I found Matoke Tours via a website for a Dutch adventure travel site. I wanted something different than what they offered and found a picture of a Matoke Tour vehicle and decided to go direct. We communicated with the Uganda Matoke office and together designed our private 16 tour including Munchison Falls NP, Kibale Forest (chimpanzees), Queen Elizabeth NP, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, and Rwanda's Volcano NP. Our guide, Anatoli, was very professional and had very good relationships with all accommodation and adventure/NP staff where ever we went. The tour was very well organized with constant communication between Anatoli and the home office. The accommodations were much better than expected, clean with good food and friendly honest staff (we opted for moderate instead of fancy). Suggested restaurants were excellent. The wildlife viewing was excellent (we had been to 10 other African countries for wildlife viewing before). There were never more than 1 or 2 other safari vehicles when we stopped for lions, etc. During our travels we met others who had gotten stuck with broken down vehicles (more than once) and even a solo traveler whose guide did not show up in the morning to bring her to the Gorilla tracking meeting in Rwanda! If you want to go to a beautiful area with friendly people and want to have everything taken care of so you can enjoy trip without any hassles or negative surprises, please look to Matoke Tours. You will not be disappointed, they will exceed your expectations. Go now, before Uganda becomes overrun with too many tourists! I did not receive any compensation or special treatment for this review.
Email Bill G | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
A great itinerary with an excellent guide and comfortable accommodation
Our dealings with Matoke Tours was excellent from the first contact, through to the end of our holiday. My wife and I opted for a tailor made holiday and received excellent advice, and quick e-mail response to all our questions. Our tour was very much inclined towards bird watching and our driver/guide, Confidence, was very knowlegeable and informative. He was also a good companion explaining to us all aspects of Ugandan life. Importantly, his driving was very safe, and his negotiation of washed out roads impressive. As we were travelling alone we were able to stop when and where we wanted, and change timing etc. all of which was an added bonus. We opted for mid-range accommodation, and although we encountered the usual quirky electrical and water supplies, the rooms were spotless and the staff helpful and friendly. We were also pleasantly surprised at the high standard of meals everywhere we went. Although some of the journeys were long, we found the beautiful countryside, and the smiling children, waving as we drove past made them more acceptable.
We would love to return to Uganda, and would certainly use Matoke Tours again. Thank you.
US
Email Tom and Jenny | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Very happy we used Matoke tour company for our Safari in Tanzania.
Matoke Tours answered all my questions and responded to my emails very quickly. Very professional and easy to work with. We are very happy we choose to use Matoke Tours for our 9 day Migration Safari in Tanzania. Upon arriving in Tanzania we were greeted right away and from there the rest of our tour was wonderful. We had a lovely time and the lodges/tented camps we stayed were clean, good food, relaxing after a long day driving to see the animals, the workers were so friendly and polite. We were sad to leave. Our tour guide Simon was great, friendly and very knowledgeable about the Masai's and all the animals. He could spot an animal that we couldn't even see at first. We saw so many animals including the all of the Big 5, we saw the Wildebeest Migration, many lions, even lion take down a warthog which then came out from the tall grasses more lions/cubs to eat the warthog, Rhino's in the Crater, while lions walked right next to all the jeeps there and so much more. It was above any expectations we had going into the tour. For sure we will use Matoke tours again in the future.
DE
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Perfect organised Safari in Uganda!!
The chimp and the Gorilla tracking were the most amazing and well organised part of the tour. It was so beautiful to see this big friendly Animals in their well protected natural habitat. The Guide and Driver was well trained and fulfilled us every wish. We can recommend The Lake Mutanda Lodge as it was such a beautiful accommodation! Many Thanks MATOKE TOURS for this unique trip!!
DE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Amazing 12 days in south-west Uganda.
Our driver and guide was Anatoli - he was perfect! He drove us from Entebbe - Kampala - Kibale forest - Queen Elizabeth NP - Lake Mutanda and back to Kampala. It was one of the best journeys in my lifetime! Everything was very well organized by Matoke Tours! Anatoli our driver was always patient and very friendly, he told us a lot about the country, interesting and sometimes funny stories about birds and animals and life in Uganda. He knew the best places in order to take stunning pictures, he helped me with my broken shoes, organized the best rangers for our safari trips and was always on time. It was really good to be with him which I think is important as we have spent a lot of time with him together in the car. We really enjoyed all of our lodges, chosen by Matoke Tours. They were all clean, had good bathrooms (for example the outside shower under the amazing stars in QE), always with wonderful views like over Lake Mutanda, or the jungle with the sound of the monkeys, or over the canal at Queen Elizabeth´s, with eagles and the sound of the hippos etc. Uganda is so beautiful, so green, there are few cars on the street, the people are so friendly!!! And i am very impressed by this great jungles. We saw a lot of animals, gorillas, chimps, a lion, a big group of 8 female lions - one of them was even hunting a kob, elephants, a lot of baboons next to the streets, hippos - one even passed close to the restaurant in the evening while we were sitting there :-), so many birds and warthogs.. So many..! For me the best stop was Lake Mutanda, it´s such a nice place, we were able to swim, walk around, we did a canoe tour and we spend some more days just for relaxing. The food was always very good, everywhere they asked us if we have any special requests - for me as a vegetarian very important and we have enjoyed every dish. For sure we will visit Uganda again for further tours with Matoke Tours!! They really did a perfect job!