50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania and Zanzibar amazing memorable trip!
From my initial tentative enquiry to the day of departure Harriet at Matoke was always there quickly answering my many questions. She promptly dealt with adjustments to our itinerary and gave advice and reassurance when needed.
Her exprience and knowledge helped us to put together an amazing trip taking in Gorillas in Uganda, countryside and history in Rwanda, multiple safari drives in Tanzania (Tarangire, Serengeti and Ngorongoro crater - where we saw the Big 5 and much much more) and a final few relaxing days on the beaches of beautiful Zanzibar.
Our drivers/guides along the way were outstanding - so knowledgeable, friendly and welcoming. Nothing was too much trouble and we felt like they became part of our family group, we were sorry to say goodbye. We have learnt so much, thanks, Ronald and Stefan we miss you!
All of our chosen accommodation was exactly as described in advance and in several cases far exceeded our expectations. Warm welcomes (including dancing and singing) comfortable beds/rooms and so much delicious food!
We have memories that will stay with us forever together with thousands of photos.
Thanks Matoke - hope to come back to use you again soon.
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Perfect tour including Victoria Falls and a safari in South Lusngwa
Very personal service. Martin was very easy to reach and understood very well our needs
NO
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
WHAT AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE WITH ARLANDA T &T
It was a.nice experience because the tour guide from arlanda rill knew the nice spots in the game parks where we had a good experience while viewing the animals.
CA
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent, professional and friendly operator who provided us with the journey of a life time
Thanks to Albert at Africa Home Adventure, who organised for us a tailored-made safari based on our interests, itinerary and time constraints.
From Nairobi to the shores of Lake Victoria and back, we have visited 8 different parks (in Kenya and in Tanzania) both offering exceptional and memorable viewing experiences, thanks to our wonderful driver, guide and living encyclopedia, Thomas.
We have seen and experience so much throughout this safari that our memory will forever cherish this exceptional journey.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great experience, we saw loads of animals, but accommodation and food were very average and limited.
Overall I had a nice time and was able to see many of the animals which live in Uganda I thought that the range of activities were great and your guides were very knowledgeable. The campsites were very good and the fact that we did not have to carry tents made things much easier. However, there are a few points of issue which I would like to raise.
Firstly, we were only offered one small bottle of water throughout the entire trip which was not an issue when we were at the campsites, but was an issue during the long journeys. This became such an issue on the first day that after the walk up the waterfall - which was extremely hot and sweaty - one of my friends became ill with dehydration. One bottle of water was not enough to sustain us from 6am through to 7pm when we were served dinner and had access to a Jerry can.
Secondly, there was not enough food. The chefs made delicious food, but there was not enough - one girl in my group did not have lunch on the second day because there was not enough. On trips like this in a group of my size (which was 22), there should be more than enough food. Moreover, we were told on day one that we would not need any money for food as a packed breakfast and lunch would be provided. Instead, however, we stopped at a petrol station after 3 hours of driving and were told to pick up something from the shops. This would have been fine had we been told beforehand, but we were expecting a packed breakfast. Then, lunch was simply a wrap - delicious as it was, that and a banana was not enough to sustain us from midday to 7pm. I expected more in this packed lunch.
And finally, I have never been so frightened in a car before. Our driver drove ridiculously fast over potholes and puddles which was incredibly uncomfortable and nauseating. One of my friends was sick because of his driving. Furthermore, he would chase both animals and children to get them off the roads. This was unnecessary and frightening for us passengers. We would rather have gone slower and taken an hour longer to get to our destination than have to consider the prospect of our driver being imprisoned for manslaughter caused by reckless driving.
I hope that these comments will help you to improve your safari in future.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Satisfying!!
We can highly recommend this company and will definitely book our next Safari again with Wildebeest Safaris.
IT
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A beautiful experience
We chose to go on a safari with Manyara Travel Club & Climbing after doing Kilimanjaro with them. Also in this case the service was perfect. We visited the Ngorongoro and Tarangire. Philip is a very skilled guide and a knowledgeable connoisseur of parks and the most beautiful spots. It was a wonderful experience, excellent organization, impeccable service, attention to customer needs, excellent value for money. Last note, Philip is a nice and correct person, you can rely on him for any need.
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Pearl of Africa Indeed - 4 Day Murchison Falls NP and a +1 to Mabamba Swamp
I had the absolute joy of reaching out to AA Safaris and Tours for a four day Murchison Falls NP and a Mabamba Swamp outing. Sydah was responsive to my request and questions, with about a delay of a day as I was writing from the USA. They were able to help me choose which park would be best for what I wanted to see and also accommodated me with my additional request to see Mabamba Swamp. Since I am a birdwatcher they suggested a combined guide/bird expert to which I agreed and was well worth it.
The guide Barnabas, was knowledgeable on birds and wildlife, culture, history, and just about every question I had. He was easygoing and enjoyable to talk to while on the long drives, his knowledge of birds and habitats was excellent although I spotted some birds that gave his brain some good exercise. His contacts and networks are extensive so he always gets the good information on where to get the best views/shots/spots, but also he listens to the needs/wishes of the traveler and accommodates. I am not a big "shopper" or touristy kind of person and he recognized this and skipped over so we can get to the things I love.
He is clearly a man who loves his country, and all the wildlife it holds, and looks positively to the future.
Now on to the good stuff:
Mabamba Swamp:
Leaving my hotel early in the morning we high tailed it through Kampala and the country side to the boat launch. Picked up our local guide and boat driver and were off cruising the canals off this expansive freshwater swamp. Right away we were spotting birds left and right, the guide standing prominently on the bow scanning and pointing out birds while calling out their names. I was getting a complete work out bring my binoculars to my eyes and then switching to my camera. Throughout the local guide was in contact with the other guides who were all searching for the swamp's specialty, the Shoebill Stork. Only about nine of these live around in the swamp and the local guides keep tabs on them for the government. After two attempts down paths that these birds frequent, a guide spotted one off a far branch and we made our way to it. Along a stretch of floating vegetation stood a tall blue-gray bird with scraggly feathers and a beak that looks like a danish clog, slowly watching the waters for its favorite food the lungfish. After this pinnacle we motored back to the launch and headed back into town, it had already been a half of a day.
Murchison Falls National Park:
Departing early in the morning we crossed through the notorious Kampala traffic, had a 30 minute delay due to car trouble but was finally on our way north. The first stop was at the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, where we picked up a guide and traveled into the large reserve which is completely fenced in. This is for the protection of the Rhinos to prevent poaching but also prevents predators from getting in making it relatively safe to get out of the car and hike around. A simple walk into the bush had us meet up with the two guards who are constantly following Rhinos escorting them and preventing hunting. The led us to a series of bushes about ten yards in front of us, the ranger pointed, I looked I didn't see anything in the shadow of the bushes. I looked again peering into the darkness under the trees. The darkness moved and became less dark almost like an earthy dark grey, the large hulk of a full sized Rhino filled the space below the vegetation, hiding from the midday sun. Below its snout a tiny lump stirred. A baby Rhino, cute as a button, stood up and ventured out to munch on some grasses. Even though it was cloudy we stood in the shade of some trees and watched the pair venture out to graze on the grasses. After a while the guide asked if I wanted to see more...um...yea. We walked back to the car and drove to a more open grassland and parked we got out and walked across the plain for quite some time. The sun was high and large puffy clouds drifted across the sky, large birds of prey soared in the thermals above us, and small birds called from tree tops across that vast expanse. We were heading to an earthen mound with boulders sticking out and around it. At its base were two female Rhinos with baby calves following them around as they grazed. Calm and familiar to humans they passed close by allowing for some great photo shots and memorable moments. We headed back to the car IDing birds along the way and then headed back north to Masindi and eventually the Red Chili Rest Camp were we stayed for the night. We ate a simple delicious dinner while sipping on cold beer and watched the sun set over a expansive view of the Nile River.
The next morning we departed heading to the top of the falls where the Nile River scrambles down the African Escarpment through a 7 meter gap in the rocks with roaring thunderous power. The site was hypnotizing, and the only reference to reality was a small sign stating "Dangerous, do not go beyond this point" beyond the sign the rocks gently sloped to the edge where the rushing torrent of water washed and surged by. We continued to the Bugungu Chimpanzee refuge where the forest is so thick it is best described as a jungle. The guide led me down paths that quickly ran into small "game" trails that wound themselves through the undergrowth. Every now and then he would call on the radio to other groups to see where the chimps were. We eventually caught up with a group on the side of a gently sloping hill with some downed trees that provided broad windows into the upper canopy. There nestled into the branching forks of the tree's trunk were large furry patches of black. The guide would check to see if you can see it well and then you would wait. At some point the top of the furry mass would rotate and a leathery face would turn and look out into another direction, the definition of the chimp then would become clear, head, torso, legs, arms. you would then notice its behavior lounging in the trees pulling at leaves and slowly munching away. An unseen signal from one in the group started a raucous call, and the chimps began to get restless, scratching themselves and coming down from the trees to travel across the ground. The guide informed us that was their signal that they wanted to move to a new area. I watched as they formed up into a group did some social grooming and headed off. In total we saw the following primates: Baboons, Chimpanzees, Velvet Monkey, Black and White Colibus Monkey, Patas Monkey. Meeting up with my driver we headed out and took the long way around as the ferry was out and we had over a 100km to go to get to our lodgings Ft. Murchison Lodges for the evening. This accommodation is set back from the banks of the river and provides a peaceful panorama view of Africa.
This was the morning where the roof top of the vehicle was extended allowing for a shady 360 degree view around the car and the surrounding landscape. We entered the park and all you see for miles in every direction was wildlife, the park was teaming with it. The scene set before you is long expanse of rolling plains dotted occasionally by acacia trees, towards the bottom of the slopes are creek beds that support a thicker density of trees. We traveled for miles along the dirt tracks that criss-cross the park, bouncing back and forth whenever I spotted something new I would jump up to get a better view and Barnabas would slow the car and call out the name of the animal or bird and explain its behavior, favorite food and any other fact about it. Animals that we saw were: Waterbok, Kob, Oribi, Jackson Heartbeast, Giraffe, Buffalo, Elephant, Warthog, Dwarf Mongoose, Monitor Lizard, Hippopotamus, Side Stripped Jackel, Nile Crocodile, Lions.
Around noon we pulled up to the ferry landing to climb aboard a skiff to take the three hour boat tour along the Nile River up to the bottom of the falls. Along the way the guide explains the river, the ecosystem and all the wildlife along it. Motoring along the edge of the river gave us great views of the Nile Crocodile, Hippos, Jackson Heart-Beast, Elephants, so many elephants, storks, egrets, herons and African Fish Eagles. The river turns to foam as you approach closer to the falls, and the sound of rushing water is coupled with a distant thunderous cacophony. The guide pilots the boat to a rock sitting in the middle of the river bumps up to a tire placed there and you can climb out for a better view, but don't fall in the river runs swiftly by this point and as the guide says you would be food for the crocs. Only sport fishing boats venture past this point in search of massive Nile Perch. We motored back down the river watching the shadows grow long and set foot back on solid ground. My guide had talked with the others waiting around the parking areas and they were sharing information, Lions had been spotted! We raced against the setting sun along the dirt tracks, we had been told earlier in the day they were spotted in an area that we had staked out to no avail. Now we had been given new information beyond the mornings area they were spotted resting in some thickets. We pulled up to a long grassy field that slopped downwards to our left, the grass made it difficult to spot anything. I scanned the tall grass, spotting antelope and warthogs, but no lions, the wind blew the grass stalks shivered and rolled. We heard the telltale crunch of tires on the dirt road and we were joined by three other vehicles one having a park ranger leading it, we were in the right place, she pointed to thickets off in the distance almost at the crest of a hill, all eyes swiveled, strained and watched. In the passing heat the bugs buzzed and the sun must have reached a certain height, because out there among the thickets, the matriarch lion stood up and stretched, walked a few paces relieved herself and signaled to the rest of the lions. One by one they stood up stretched and formed around each other, it was time to go out into the gathering darkness for a hunt. Barnabas drove back through the winding tracks as I stood and leaned against the viewing port, I snapped photos of the setting sun and watched as groups entered the park for a nocturnal wildlife viewing. To top it off we watched as Crowned Cranes the national bird of Uganda soared above us on their way to their evening roost.
The next day we wound our way back down to Kampala stopping when we spotted a bird given history lessons of the areas we drove through. At the end I was dropped off at the hotel for the evening and I departed early the following morning. All and all it was one of the most exhilarating experiences I was lucky to have.
- Two Caveats:
1) In speaking with the coordinator I had given specific dates about when I wanted to go but was surprised when I looked over the itinerary in more detail to find the dates shifted by a day. This was based on guide availability, which was fine but a flag or heads up by the office drawing attention to it would have been nice.
2) While driving through the city traffic of Kampala our vehicle started to smoke. A quick inspection saw that the Timing or Serpentine Belt had snapped and the vehicle was overheating. A new car was brought within a half hour and we were off on our way, however I felt a small bit of maintenance or pre-trip checks would have discovered the need to replace the belt preventing this small mishap.
Summary:
Good service provided by AA Safaris and Tour setting up a tour that was slightly customized to my preferences. Great Guide in Barnabas who knew birds, wildlife, and local networking connections.
Mabamba Swamp, Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, Bugungu Forest Chimpanzees, Top of the Falls, Bottom of the falls via Nile River boat tour, Murchison Falls NP Safari that saw lions, Jackles, Giraffes, Hippopotamus, Elephants, Jackson Heartbeast, a range of antelopes, Shoebill Stork, Vultures, eagles, and numerous other birds, and amazing natural wonders and vistas.
Cons: ferry at Nile River Crossing was out of commission forcing a long round about way to the northern section of the area. Car troubles in Kampala, slight miscommunication about start dates.
65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
A very professional service from all staff concerned with my safari.
As usual, I have used this opertor for about 30 years, the service provided by Paula Okello was professional and prompt. The srvices of the driver/guide Bernard was exceptional. A knowledgeable guide about animals, birds, trees and venues.
IN
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An Amazing Experience with Zero headache.
Our trip did not start out ideally as due to at thunderstorm our flight was cancelled and we were delayed by a day, but this was absolutely no problem to us as Isaac, took care of everything and managed to shift all our bookings by a day so that we do not miss any thing. This was the first awesome moment where we realised our trip was still going to complete.
Isaac and Mike met us at Nairobi airport and from that moment on, we did not have to worry about a thing. Everything was perfectly planned and execution was almost perfect. The only trouble was that on the last day due to a personal emergency Mike had to part and we he was replaced by another driver, who had an extremely keen eye but there were certain issues with him.
However our journey with Mike was fantastic, we saw not only the big 5 but also managed to spot certain extremely shy animals. All thanks to Mike and the network he had with his radio.
The stays that were booked were all amazing except the Kongoni Lodge, that was a disappointment and I think we were there only to break an extremely long journey. Other places where we stayed were probably some of the most exclusive and I must mention Voyager Ziwame, which personally we loved the best.
Animal spotting and cultural experience was wonderful again thanks to Mike who has all the information and is extremely excited to share it.
All in all if I have to book, or should I say when I have to book another trip to Kenya, Isaac will definitely get the first call from me.