SE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Fantastic!
We visitited Masaii Mara, Lake Nakuru and Lake Naivasha on our safari. Masaii Mara is amazing! Beautiful scenery, lots of animals and nice weather. You can easily skip Laka Naivasha. Not so much to see or experience. The lodging was not nice and staff not so friendly. Lake Nakuru, hardly any flamingos, that is the main attraction at the lake. Did see lions and giraffs though.
BR
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Disappointing
Our car had an electric problem with the charger on the second day but the guide could drive it. On the third day of safari the guide left us at an information station at 10 am telling us that he would fix the car and disappeard for more than 4 hours, wasting our time and Safari. We were alone, not knowing what was happening and very scared. After asking for him to several other guides who were on site, we were able to locate our guide.
Then came the worst !!! We went in our car without repairing to the Lodge and soon to travel to the North Serengeti.
The guide drove like crazy, we saw several animals on the way, including a rhinoceros a few feet from our car, but he did not stop and said we would see lots of animals in Northern Serengeti in the following days !!! And got lost because he did not know the place !!! For five hours we were driving in circles and the guide didn't want to admit that he was lost. We arrived at the Lodge around 10:00 p.m. because we begged him to ask for information from a car from a local company that passed by our car, luckily ours. We have to remember that it is totally forbidden to do excursions or safari at night and we were very lucky to have seen the headlights of this car!
The next day, he didn't tell us that the car was broken and that we could not do the Safari. We communicated with the owner of Quest Horizon, who only then organized a new car and another guide. We missed the whole morning to go to Safari! The new guide only stayed with us that day and the other day another car was organized and a new guide arrived almost 2 hours late !! We lost almost 3 days of Safari and had lots of wear and stress.
The owner got us a flight to try to make up for so much lost time and we went to Lake Manyara which has practically no animal. It was the minimum that he could do!
We were very sad to lose so many days in such wonderful places in Central and North Serengeti.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Fantastic 5 day animal and lodge extravaganza
I did the 5 day big 5 tour with my husband, parents and brother - a mix of ages and tastes but we all LOVED it! Moses was a very experienced, competent and helpful guide - we felt in safe hands from start to finish. The vehicle provided was comfortable and professional. The Lodges were both very nice - Pakuba Lodge is really close to the animals, we had warthogs and waterbucks on our lawns by our room and elephants about 100m away on arrival! Marafiki was also a good Lodge with nice design features. Both had truly beautiful views. And my gosh the animals!!! This truly exceeded expectations. The rhino sanctuary is a once in a lifetime experience and the nation parks are amazing. Murchison waterfall hike was also a highlight. Tour company very friendly and easy to work with. All went very smoothly for an unforgettable experience!!!
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
WONDERFUL experience!!! James is EXTREMELY knowledgeable about the animals and is a great guide!!
I highly recommend booking your safari with James. It is easy to see that he loves what he does and is passionate about safaris. He handled the overnight safari camp booking for me, making my trip go seamlessly - it was a truly wonderful experience!
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Green bananas are the way to go!
“Matoke” means green bananas, and as you are guided through East Africa, especially Rwanda and Uganda, you see everyone eating them, buying them, cooking them....it’s an apt name for a great local African tour company.
About a year ago, as I was plotting my East African adventure, I kept seeing tour companies based in the UK or US, and I wanted to share a locals perspective, and hopefully save some money. I had convinced 5 friends to join me, and I had to make sure they were happy with EVERY moment of the trip.
I found Matoke on a google search of Ugandan tour companies, and while many companies replied, they immediately went into depth. I first befriended Ilse, and she spent many hours creating an outline to meet our wants and needs. I have been to Africa a few times, and I knew my group of 50, 60 and 70 year olds needed a bit of coddling and expertise.
Matoke did not fail to deliver. Ilse even convinced me that it was relatively safe to head into the DRCongo with their week long itinerary to see the giant Grauers gorillas, and the mountain gorilla sanctuary. They tailored our trip to the hotels and lodges that would keep us comfortable and not break our budget. Their first estimate was roughly one half of other offers. I double checked reviews of each lodge and coupled that with online reviews of Matoke and I was sold.
Months of planning. A gazillion emails (answered immediately), and Ilse left on leave to have a baby, and we were then passed on to Anna Vos. WOW! Anna was simply remarkable. I felt like we became good friends, and she understood all our nervousness and replied immediately to reassure all would be to our liking.
The best part was she made sure “Anatoly”, the Ugandan man with a HUGE smile and open heart was to be our guide in the DRCongo, Rwanda and Uganda.
I cannot say enough good things about this man, as all 6 of us enjoyed his expertise, his demeanor and his warm funny nature. We wanted to take him home with us, and we wish him well!
Dramatic last minute changes occurred that closed the DRCongo border and we had to come up with a “plan B” 1 month before our departure. Anna scrambled and was able to recreate an amazing week in Rwanda. Every place we stayed at was simply incredible. We never felt cheated or uncomfortable. So many incredible memories in the heart of Africa. If we were hungry or needed a bathroom or just a pat on the shoulder, Anatoly was in charge and made every day....even the really early days, or the 3 hour “African massage” rough road days..a pleasure! We still miss Anatoly and keep in touch. He made our Rwandan-Ugandan tour one we will never ever forget.
We also booked a second part of the tour to Tanzania, to go out on safari with Matoke. They, in turn, hired a respected safari company in Tanzania, called “Easy Travel”. The change from Anatoly to our Tanzanian guide was 180 degrees. While most of our needs were met, and the places we stayed in Tanzania were top notch.....STAY at Tortollis Camp in Serengeti!!....we all missed Anatoly and wished he were still our guide. We had many long drives with our Tanzanian guide, and he just lacked the connectedness, the comeraderie, and the level of care that we had grown used to with Anatoly. I cannot blame Matoke for the guide there, but we really did not enjoy his company, and all 6 of us wished we had someone different. He was always prompt, always diligent, but on too many occasions, we felt he was not right for our group. Perhaps a small group, but not a wild group of novice travelers on their first trip to Africa.
I made a huge mistake with Ilse in the early planning, and misdirected her on my wish to see the Great Migration. At the time we went, it was now far to the north in Kenya, and we were all a bit let down.
All in all, you have many choices to make when searching for a responsible tour company. Africa can be a challenge to have events always work out as you planned, but after many trips to Africa, I have learned to accept that fact. Matoke will “hold your hand” regardless of sudden changes and make you feel safe and secure.
I can not recommend them enough. I plan on going back to Africa many more times in my life, and I will always try to utilize Matoke’s expertise in the future.
DE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Thumbs up
Communication was fast and efficient and the guides were amazing. Accomodation was adequate for the price range. Thumbs up!
IT
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Kakasii you are the best! A very special experience with a very special guide!
Thank you Brenda and Kakasii! We had a great time in Moshi, Machame, Arusha, Ngorongoro and Serengeti. We enjoyed every moment and not only the wonders of the best Tanzanian Parks. Besides your very competent work, we could really appreciate your warm and friendly approach.
That night in the tented camp is unforgettable! Ciao! Rita and Ferruccio
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Full Day Open Vehicle Safari
All three our guides were excellent and our group saw loads of animals and got great information and facts from our guides !!
AE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Wonderful
It was an excellent experience with good tour and they was very helpful in our needs specially when my baby needed a doctor,
The only one negative thing is our first hotel was not as we expected but the explan why and apologize for it ..
They are really good and helpful,
Thanks for Nancy and Bony the driver..
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Awesome safari company with very knowledgeable Guides very good safari jeeps
Comminications is very good especially that English is not the mother languge of the Guides and they always ask if you understand or if you any questions