US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Incredible week in Rwanda and Uganda. Exactly what we needed.
A friend and I traveled with Kajie Safaris in February to both Rwanda and Uganda. It has been my dream for a long time to visit the gorillas (and of course see a lot more), and after some shopping around, chose them to book with. I am so so happy we did. The decision was made after just a few email exchanges with Ronald. He was so responsive and accommodating of all our requests to alter the listed tour. I loved communicating with him through email so much that we knew it would be a good fit.
Ronald was with us from the moment we landed until dropping us off at the airport on our last day. He put together an incredible experience for us, altering the plans many times as he got to know us better and better. The accommodation choices were better than I anticipated (we went with mid range ones). He is truly passionate about what he does and the sites he is taking people to. We were in great hands and he made it a perfect trip. Even the (necessary) long car rides were so much fun as we learned about the country, each other and took turns playing DJ while watching the stunning scenery around us. By the end it totally felt like we were traveling with a good friend. I have traveled extensively through Africa, and this was by far the best company I’ve worked with. I couldn’t recommend them more.
RU
Great communications and awesome guides
Everything was great! Jacob is available almost 24/7, always replying very quickly, describing fully all available options and giving advice. And the price is very good comparing to other companies.
Jeeps are in a good condition. Guides are excellent. Special thanks to Matata - he is simply the best!
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Best customer experience.
First their customer relation skills are top notch and their services are exemplary. Always deliver on time and great planning. Looking for a get away from home then best people to work with.
ES
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellently organised
No safari experience could have been better.
Highly highly recommended.
Cannot praise these guys enough.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
When you research from online reviews and they all just go flying out the window! Must read
Like all modern travels, TripAdvisor, forums and peer reviews become the essentials when researching and planning for a trip to make sure you have everything planned to precise details. Upon going through all the online tips and advices from the so called "travel experts" and those who have been to Tanzania, it is often mentioned that one should stay away from budget tour operators and those below $1800 for a kilimanjaro trek would be highly risky and one should simply not risk his/her life for. Alongside with mixed reviews we have seen for pretty much every single tour major tour operators in Tanzania (including bobby tours), we were skeptical but decided to take upon the "risk" of using bobby tours as their price offerings were simply unrivaled, at times costing less than half of other tour operators for the same services. We exchanged many emails with the supportive assistance of Kassim and proceeded with the booking just a few weeks before our trip. There we are, three of us lads touching down at Tanzania and we were greeted with a driver from bobby tours to take us from the airport to bobby tours' office in Arusha and finalised our payment for the trip (6 days machame kilimanjaro climb + 4 days safari camping). Out with the old cliches of having a trip of the lifetime and how the hospitality was great etc etc like all other reviews (which it certainly was)... The whole mountain experience and services by all the tour operators we have come across with were very similar and does not warrant the premium prices charged by many other tour operators (we talked to a lot of other people using diff tour operators at each campsite, because you would finish the day by evening everyday and have nothing to do after dinner). Our tour guides Honest and Tila made us felt welcome at all times (very very banterful all the way through, possibly the most vocal and engaging guides we have seen on kili as other guides and porters would always come over and banter with them in Swahili, at times teaching us the essential one liners that would put a smile on everyone’s face) and they were very aware of potential signs of altitude sickness, helping us to adjust our pace to ensure we were all able to reach the summit on the fifth day. In hindsight, we chose bobby tours due to its attractive pricing offer at first but if we were to come back to tazania again and had to pay for a premium/ luxury trip we would happily do so with Bobby tours. It was the immense hospitality and friendliness of the guides and porters that made this trip so special. When facilities (camping equipment, food) are all similar on the mountains, services are what you would value most. We would see other tour guides rarely interacting with their clients and some are very limited in their English fluency, inevitably taking some of the joy and positive vibes away along the journey. At the end of the trip, our guide invited us to have a home cooked dinner with his family in Arusha prior taking us to a local club which we have been talking about day in day out during the climb. As for the Safari trip, our guide Shafiq was professional and drove us to some hidden places to see swamps of hippos, groups of lions chilling under a tree and we were able to catch all the big five within 24 hours at the Serengeti. A lot of online reviews mentioned vehicle break downs and petrol shortage for the trip which we did not encounter, everything was smooth whilst we witnessed multiple breakdowns from other vehicles which were simply unfortunate and would happen to anyone in the safari. Overall, having first-hand experience with bobby tours, it is a struggle to understand and come to consensus with some of the lesser positive reviews given that common problems such as vehicle break downs, dirty campsite toilets, limited food range and quality which are all part and parcel of the experience on the mountains and in the safari. Taking into account of all the controllable factors, bobby tours have more than exceeded our expectations and even bettered than many of the so called premium/ luxury tour operators. Highly recommend for all!
CA
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Could not be more impressed with my experience Gorilla trekking with Chigo Tours in Uganda!
I had the pleasure of going on a Gorilla Trek with Chigo tours in Feb 2019. Could not have asked for a better experience. Arranging the trek was seamless, no problems with doing it all via email through Chigo tours. Received lots of information from our guide, Martin, well before the trip informing us of what to expect, what to bring, and all the ins and outs of the trek day. All of the information sent was perfect. All arrangements were made in advanced allowing us to relax and focus on the trip itself.
Martin not only organized everything for us but also accompanied us throughout. All arrangements for travel and accommodations were fantastic. The lodging at Ichumbi Gorilla lodge was amazing, great views, great rooms and great people. All transport went flawlessly and Martin was an amazing navigator of the Ugandan roads. We arrived in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and met our guides for the hikes as well as a few other hikers. The hike was amazing, we lucked out and only went about 1.5 hours before catching up to the gorilla family. We had the opportunity to spent over an hour with the gorillas, and they could not have been more cooperative!
The whole experience was amazing and I can not thank Martin Ngabirano and Chigo tours more. They arranged for a fantastic trip and everything went extremely smoothly. Martin was not only excellent at arranging everything and keeping us well informed, he was also more than willing to answer any and all questions we had about the safari, life in Uganda, or anything else we asked. He was also very accommodating, adjusting his arrangements to our requests, for example, taking us to a village to shop for souvenirs.
Should I have the good fortune to return to Uganda, I will most definitely try and book another adventure with Martin and Chigo, without hesitation. I strongly recommend him and Chigo if you are considering this amazing opportunity in the future.Feel free to contact me if you have any questions!
KR
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Review about Serengeti National Park by park
so many zebra, wildbeast and giraffe, but very rare lions,
KR
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Review about Ngorongoro Crater by park
excellent scenery , vibe and many animals
CA
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Review about Serengeti National Park by Trudel Dorcine
An immense park, It has everything you are looking for.