35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Locally owned custom luxury travel at a reasonable cost
I was happy to find Deluxe Vacations Uganda here on Safari Bookings. I had reached out to a few of the larger safari outfits that do luxury travel in the area and it felt a little cookie cutter, not to mention very expensive. Deluxe is run and operated by its owner, Godwin, who will help put together a trip that matches your interests and in my opinion, a more reasonable cost (around 40% less expensive while still using top-of-the-line lodges). Looking at their website I found several activities that I hadn't seen in other's lists. Of course other operators can add in these items, but knowing Deluxe offers these regularly and has experience was a big plus. I had a lot of comfort knowing they are locally owned and have regular interaction with the lodges and rangers who you interact with during all your activities in the national park. This is not a company that's advising you from London based on a trip they take once a year. We did everything from chimps to gorilla trekking to boat safaris and mountain hiking and it was all wonderful.
One of the nicest things about Deluxe is you know exactly what you're getting, the vehicles are exactly as nice as they look on the website and yours for the entire duration of the trip, along with your guide. We spent 12 days with Emmanuel and left as friends, he always had our comfort and safety as highest priority. Although it is very safe and welcoming in Uganda so there is not a lot to worry about, we did have to work out some meal options for my partner who is gluten intolerant. Lodging varies depending on where you are in the country, but we definitely had several where the service was a good as you receive at any 5* resort globally, and all the lodges were lovely. You might gain weight from all the food they offer, the portion sizes are plentiful in Uganda.
Overall if you want a VIP trip without the high price tag I recommend Deluxe. You're getting a local owned and operated business that's supporting the country and community directly, and the trip will be bespoke and high quality. From the minute you arrive to the minute you are dropped off you will be well cared for.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Knowledgeable, reliable, and great communication
The tour was fantastic and delivered everything we were hoping for!
The Bush Craft team is very knowledgeable, responsive in communications, flexible, and efficient!
Smith is an excellent guide with great local knowledge, and always in a good mood!
PL
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An Unforgettable Experience with Caleb, an Exceptional Guide and Driver
I booked this safari based on the reviews, and I chose the 7-day option, visiting the Maasai Mara, Lake Nakuru, Lake Naivasha and Amboseli. Communication with the office via WhatsApp was clear and very quick. I paid a small deposit and received a reminder a day before the trip.
I was incredibly lucky to have Caleb as my guide. I didn’t know it at the time, but having a good guide is key to having a wonderful safari experience. If you book a safari with this company, I would strongly recommend asking for Caleb.
Caleb is incredibly professional, always on time, cheerful, positive and funny. He will never let a bad mood spoil your day, as he says himself, he doesn’t have one! He also has an incredible eye for spotting animals. Many times he would point out something like a buffalo, and I could only confirm it after looking through the binoculars, even though he had spotted it with his naked eye!
He is also an incredibly skilled driver. Manoeuvring across the savannah requires no small amount of skill, and Caleb handles it brilliantly. He is constantly in contact with other guides, which meant that I was able to see not only the Big Five, but also countless other animals. He always positioned the vehicle perfectly for taking photographs, too. He has an impressive knowledge of animals and shared lots of fascinating facts with us throughout the safari.
During the trip, we had a few unpleasant situations, including a punctured tyre, a road closure due to a strike and a police check. Caleb handled every one of these situations with a cool head and a smile, never allowing us to feel stressed or worried.
He is also a guide who genuinely cares about his guests. He would always check that we were comfortable and ask whether everything was OK and whether he could continue driving.
The tour itself was very well organised. The pace was perfect for me: active days were balanced with some free time in the afternoons. All the accommodation provided meals and offered good conditions.
Some people mention having to wait for their pick-up, but this didn’t bother me at all. I was given a recommendation for a nearby place where I could get some coffee, so I was perfectly happy to wait.
The office staff also deserve praise. I didn’t have any cash with me, and Mike even went with me to a nearby ATM to help me sort it out.
I would honestly recommend this safari operator and especially Caleb. He made the whole experience even more special and gave me memories I will never forget!
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Amazing Custom Tours
Very happy with my tour with Richard and Zamunda travels. It was comfortable and Richard is professional, attentive, helpful, informative, everything you would want in a guide. The trip was everything I hoped for. Awesome, clean vehicle as well, great accomodation choices, good food. Highly recommend.
BR
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
It's worth the price because it's very good.
It was a surprise to find so many animals in Maasai Mara Park. I was able to see the Big Five. The tour guide was excellent and very professional. I recommend Jocky Tours to everyone. Our guide, Francis, deserves high praise!
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20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Supportive of a once in a lifetime adventure!
I worked with Phinorah to organize my trip to Amboseli, Lake Nakuru, and Maasai Mara and Simon was my guide. The accommodations at each location were absolutely gorgeous and the game drives were more than fulfilling and fun. Simon was very knowledgeable and we were able to see the Big 5 thanks to his skillful navigation and strategic communication with other game drivers. I would book with him again as he is very kind and experienced. He answered my questions about the wildlife and did his best to put me in close view. I was also able to book a hot air balloon ride over the Mara and would 100000% recommend it. My heart felt so full and gleeful as we flew over the park and watched the sun rise.
As a female solo traveler there were a few moments I felt anxious and uncomfortable with the behavior of certain staff at Amboseli Serena and Ilkeliani Mara (I was asked for my home address by someone who took interest and wanted to “visit” me and was asked about whether black and white people “mix” in the US or live in separate neighborhoods, amongst other strange personal questions about my household and marital status), but Simon and Phinorah made sure to support me and ensure my comfort and safety at every juncture. They reported my discomfort and the managers of both hotels apologized and addressed the situation. Overall I enjoyed my trip to Kenya and would do it again, just maybe not alone.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Tanzania Safari
What a fantastic adventure!
Wow, what an amazing time we had on our safari with Top Selected Tours. The whole experience was faultless from start to finish, with great communication. We managed to see the big 5 plus many more animals. The trip included visits to Tarangire, Serengeti, Ngorongora Crater and Lake Manyara national parks. The safari vehicle was very comfortable despite the bumpy roads. Accommodation was excellent especially the camp in the Serengeti (we didn’t get eaten by any lions).
A massive shout out to our guide Isaya who was brilliant. His knowledge, driving skills and sense of humour were simply the best. I cannot praise Isaya enough and highly recommend both him and Top Selected Tours to anyone thinking of booking a safari to Tanzania.
BR
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Good transfer
Our driver Rudzani took us to Hazyview from Johannesburg. He was very polite and told us several interesting facts about Johannesburg’s history on the way there. Snacks were provided and the transfer was on time.
65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Consistently Exceptional Service and Communication
This is the second time I used Pembury for travel to Southern Africa, and once gain I was delighted. Kerry Ririe was our consultant and she is a delight to work with. This was a milestone birthday trip with me and several extended family members, and every one of us were thrilled with all aspects: lodging, transport, tours… all went without a hitch.
I like that Pembury is based in South Africa, so it’s clear they know the camps/hotels and are giving true on-the-ground intelligence.
Our trip was Cape Town-Timbavati-Sabi Sands-Victoria Falls. A fabulous itinerary!
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Incredible experience
We have just had the most amazing 5 days on safari with our wonderful guide Gerald!! We came for our honeymoon hoping for a once in a lifetime experience and we were not disappointed!! From the planning to the very end, the whole team at Serengeti Wakanda have ensured that everything was planned and executed perfectly! Gerald ensured that we saw everything we wanted to and more, and always made sure we were having a good time and had everything we needed. The lodges/camps that they booked for us were absolutely stunning. Thank you to Gerald and the whole team for giving us such a wonderful experience!