DE
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fair treatment, good service, friendly and sincere people, perfect organized, wonderful experiences
We had a 11-day individual safari tour through several national parks on the way to Lake Victoria. We found the tour operator through our hotel the Arusha Tourist Inn where we spent the first days after our arrival in Arusha. They planned for us an individual tour according to our interests for a really fair price. Our driver and tour guide was professional and very experienced, which meant that we saw significantly more than other groups we met in the camp sites. Among a lot of other animals, we saw all of the Big Five including the rhino and even a leopard hunting an antelope, which is very rare to see.
Our chef was a very nice, happy and funny guy. He knew to throw together delicious meals and adapted to our needs. Especially the dinners were very tasty and varied.
The accommodation at the Arusha Tourist Inn was great as well. Despite the low price the service was excellent. All the staff were very friendly to us.
At the end we were very satisfied and got more than expected. Everyone from the team was fair, took care of us and we felt very safe.
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
He was quite knowledgeable, enthusiastic and patient and thus the tour was an excellent experience.
I believe the everything was up to my expectation. I do not have any issue to complain.
US
65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
They took great care of us and extremely knowledgeable about animals and where to find them!
I have traveled with Vuriva Safaris over 15 times in past years. I have tried other companies, but Vuriva is the very best. I can trust them completely to take excellent care of me before, during and after safari. They really care about getting you to see animals as well as wonderful accommodations and transportation.
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Helpful and Professional
Diana was very helpful in setting up my Gorilla Tracking excursion to Bwindi. She did all of the leg work so that all we had to do was enjoy the trip.
Robert, our driver, was courteous and professional and provided invaluable assistance during the trip.
I would highly recommend Diana and Intek to anyone considering a trip to Uganda.
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Coolest trip to Bwindi with Moses!
I went on a solo trip to Bwindi with Africa Tours Adventure and it was the best! I had been dying to go gorilla trekking and had to fit in several activities during a weekend because of my work, but Africa Tours Adventure planned the whole trip for me and it was an amazing experience! They were very accommodating and Moses, my guide, picked me up at another town since I was not stationed in Kampala or Entebbe. I visited the equator, passed by Queen Elizabeth, visited Bwindi, and rested at Lake Bunyonyi. I paid for budget accommodation since I am a student, and they surpassed by expectations! The lodges were beautiful and comfortable and the food was great. But of course, the coolest part was the gorilla trekking! It was a tough trek, but being with the gorillas was an incredible experience and I am so glad I had the opportunity to go! You get to be so close to them and take amazing pictures! I was very grateful that Africa Tours Adventure was able to plan everything for me since I would have never figured it out. Moses was also had the best company on this trip! I had great conversations with him and can say we became good friends! He is all about having a local experience when visiting Uganda, so he made sure I learned more about the culture, language, and food. He in very knowledgeable about all wild life and birds! He took me to the best locations to view the lake and is a great photographer! I would highly recommend Africa Tours Adventure for any trip in Uganda and having Moses as your guide!
ES
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
The worse people ever
We booked a 5 days 4 nights tour with them threw "JIMMY" with Swahili Paradise Tours & Safaris, found on your website.
We used their services for airport transfert and Safari blue in Zanzibar and everything went well.
The Safari, apparently sub-rented to another company went TERRIBLY.
Day 1 : Kilimanjaro trek
The guy Buhembo (who apparently work with this Jimmy) appears asking us to pay the remaining 50% balance in cash on the side of a road... then we kept going on the drive to . They made us do more than 3h drive to Marangu gate to tell us on arrival their that it was too late to do the trek. we walked in the jungle 1h and then had to head back. Then 3h30 drive again on the other way. The car was old, smelly, no A/C...UNBELIEVABLE.
This Jimmy said his partner will refund us, he never did.
On that night, smelling the imposture, we went to the police with this Buhembo guy who said he did not have our money because he spent it all already. The police also corrupted, did not help at all.
Day 2 : We were supposed to go to Tarangire, we did a long drive to Serengetti. Except a 30 min game drive on the parc (cut off as it was night!) we did not do anything except driving that day.
Not at all the planning we paid. The jeep was shared, full full full !
The tent were old, we had to build them ourselves.
Day 3 and 4, we kept going on the planning of this other group we shared with, not ours. We lost nearly 3h in total as the tires went flat 4 times (6 differents tires as the two they had for safety were un-usable and the other they bought was flat too), ... We had to eat without chairs on 1st day, maximum 1 bottle of water per person and per day was plan. We had no water for the last day as he gave some to some guys on the road.
The last camp was reach at 3pm on the last day, the camp was in the middle of a town... we had water on the face in the tent during the last night because of the rain, the guy did not have enough money for fuel and was asking for us to pay it!
The car was in a bad shape (like doors locked, Windows not able to open, no radio Cb, all shaking...) No radio, No talky walkie, no binoculars. Seats are not equals (large ones and tiny little ones on the back) for people who all paid the same amount;
The only positive point : the food was Ok and the chef sympatic, the only one who did not lie during those 5 days.
We lost nearly 2 days on the schedule we paid for, informed them, and Nothing at all was done.
So yes we saw beautiful animals, but you do not need any agent to do that!!!
+ The Jimmy guy never answered either to mails or calls;
We nearly lost 3500 € for them, including nearly 500€ for the 1st day.
NO RECOMMANDED AT ALL !!!! DO NOT BOOK WITH THEM !
US
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Excellent communications, totally reliable, professional company that delivered the goods.
Communications exceeded expectations. Emails were often answered within 30 minutes, even on Sunday night Uganda time. All correspondence was clear without any issues. The payment system was straightforward, the driver was prompt and met us at our location in Mbarara (southeastern Uganda). He was courteous and was easy to talk with.
We chose a medium accommodation, and it was very nice. Excellent view, attractive rooms, good meals, comfortable beds, hot and cold water in the showers, good bed nets. I would actually feel uncomfortable if the accommodations were more upscale.
The safari itself delivered as promised. We had close viewing of a gorilla family for an hour, which is an amazing experience. The hike in was a bit slippery and steep, but was not overly difficult. On the trail we waited about an hour and 1/2 for the trackers to find the gorillas, and then it was straightforward to hike to the site.
Tipping at the park can be awkward, so be prepared with some cash for the trackers, the tour guide and for any porters that were of assistance. My only suggestion is that the issue of tipping should be addressed more openly.
I feel that this is a very reliable company, and I would recommend them without hesitation.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing! Trip of a life time!
I emailed various travel providers for my Kruger safari trip but found african travel consultants to be the best. I had a strict budget for my family of 6 whereby Andy and Sally helped to find the PERFECT lodge at the right price.
They kept me informed and provided a professional service from the day I booked to my last day at Kruger.
Our trip to kruger was made that little bit special by the value added service Andy/Sally provided.
Thank you guys! Amazing trip!
CA
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
EVERYTHING TOP QUALITY
Having returned from Mount Kilimanjaro Trek, I feel compelled to write a review, from start to finish the trip excelled.
A special thanks to our wonderful guides. They exceeded our expectations and I can't thank them enough. So a big shouts out to Brian, Faza and Catherine who led with patience and professionalism. They were a force to be reckoned with and through their knowledge, experience and friendliness it made the trip the amazing experience it was. Also big thanks to our porters and cook who ware an integral part of the team. From the onset of our journey it was an excellent experience. Hotels and eco lodges were top class.
Many thanks to all the team at
Dahlia Africa
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An awesome experience from start to finish, at a great price!
Everything went beyond my expectations. For how affordable this tour is compared to other budget safaris, I was not expecting it to be that great. But it turned out to be truly amazing! The accommodations were great, the food was fantastic, and our guide, Simon, was a rock star. Simon was able to answer all of our questions clearly and concisely, and was very funny. Simon was also very accommodating since we had a modified iternerary.