Jun 29, 2024
Wonderful safari in Uganda and Ruanda - Anyone who has followed us on social networks or on the blog for longer, knows that we always do everything completely independently, on our own, and hate guided activities. We only use guide services when it is forbidden to do the program without guide. But sometimes we study a particular destination and end up concluding that buying the 'package' has a better cost-benefit than doing the trip on your own - it was like that in Tanzania, for example, and in Uganda/Rwandan it was like that. So we hired @ngonisafaris to organize our trip through Uganda and Rwanda and Sedrick, owner of the agency, chose guide/driver Charles to go with us. I will tell all the details of this trip on the blog later, but I want to record here that Charles was simply PERFECT! We have no complaints about him, on the contrary, only compliments! The guy is quiet, gave us space and, at the same time, did ALL for us, gave us great tips, gave us all the important information, found lions, suggested optional tours, stopped for all the dozens of photos I asked to take, got last minute permits when we changed our mind, bought sleeves and green banana salts for us to try and never, at any time, was boring or inconvenient. For you to have an idea, even Peg, who has the patience even shorter than mine, found Charles great! If one day you decide to copy and paste this trip, try to get Charles as your guide! Spending days stuck with the same guide can be hell if the guy is inconvenient - and we don't have enough words to praise both the work of Sedrick, the owner of the agency, who delivered 101% of what he promised, and Charles 👌
As for Sedrick, it is worth saying that we requested several changes to the original schedule and he 'customized' the standard schedule that the agency offered to leave it exactly as we wanted (including some tours, excluding others, changing some hotels, etc).
Tips: arrange everything in writing, by WhatsApp or by email, before making the payment (we pay 50% about 2 months before the trip and the other 50% when we arrive in Kampala, directly to Sedrick) - what is included and what is not, leave everything combined. We had NO problem with this, they delivered everything that was combined.
As for drinks: all drinks you order in restaurants, will be on your own, even if you ask for water. The agency supplies bottled water daily in the car (and many hotels also leave water in the rooms).
Important: Remember to always have plenty of money exchanged in the local currency for chips - they do not accept U$ bills if they are not very new - any scratch or crack is a reason to refuse U$ bills.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jun 22, 2024
Ngoni Safaris Uganda - In May 2022 and June 2024 I had amazing safari trips with Ngoni Safaris. The first one solo, the second one with my husband. Yes, I enjoyed my first trip with guide Jamal so much that I booked a second trip, 2 years later. :)
The trip was well organized by Ngoni. Sedrick (the main contact person) was very helpful and always replied very quickly.
Both my first guide Jamal and our second guide David were excellent. With their good eyes, they spotted the big cats (lions and leapards) hidden in the grass or tree. They were very good company, and also flexible and accomodating to our preferences.
If there would be a third time, I would definitely consider Ngoni safaris again.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Oct 25, 2023
Great company, great tour! - This was one of the best trip I have ever did so far. It started with a warm welcome by my driver and guide James. I always felt safe and welcome as a female solo traveller and can relly recommend it to everyone. The choice of lodges and activities for a 7 day Tour was perfect and I will keep it in my heart forever. Sedrick is a great guy and always stays in contact with you if you have any question
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mar 16, 2023
Super Uganda experience!! - it was an amazing experience! organized down to the last detail, jamal, our guide was super! beautiful places, super welcome !!! top
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Feb 1, 2023
I had the best experience with this tour, I can’t wait for my next trip in Uganda. Great memory and fun 👍🏿 - I had the the best tour and gorilla trekking. What a memory and good people I met . I can’t wait for my next trip in Uganda. Great experience
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Aug 15, 2022
Uganda trek - Murchison Falls, rhino, chimpanzee, gorilla trek, safari. Jamal was our guide and was amazing. Made an already fantastic trip that much more special.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sep 30, 2021
Outstanding experience with Ben and Ngoni safaris - Sedrick was the one organized the tour… he was very clear about pricing, what was included, itinerary, etc. Ben Ndugwa was our tour guide for the entire 7-day adventure, and we couldn’t have asked for a better guide, companion, and new friend. A speaker of English, Luganda, and Swahili, he is a proud Ugandan who knows a lot about the country, the national parks, safaris, animals, and trekking. Unfortunately, he was not able to accompany us on the actual gorilla trek, due to the high cost of permits, but he has previously experienced it so we were able to share the experience. At all stops, he was able to tell us exactly what we needed to wear or bring, and what to expect to make the most of the experience. (We met other tour groups on the way and found that they weren’t always as informed or prepared as we were.) While Uganda is a generally safe country, Ben made us feel especially safe and comfortable along the way. We plan to return to Uganda and will definitely ask Ben to be our guide. Highly recommended experience with him and Ngoni Safaris.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Aug 5, 2021
Outstanding Tour Operator - Uganda is unbelievable and my experience would not have been nearly as fun with another company. From the very beginning, Sedrick was very attentive and easy to work with. He helped me customize a great itinerary that encompassed what I wanted to see in Uganda and accommodated a Covid related issue I had that delayed my arrival. He knows the country extremely well and made great suggestions to augment it with other activities. From the very moment I stepped foot in Uganda, he and my guide, Alonso, made sure I was having fun and felt at home. Although some of the drives were long, we had some interesting conversations that made the rides go by very quickly. Ngoni also picked great lodges so catching up on sleep afterwards was really easy. I think I have been to fourteen African parks and Murchison Falls is probably my new favorite. The boat cruise and visit to the top of the falls are really not to be missed. One of the coolest things I’ve ever seen. The gorillas too, unsurprisingly, were amazing.
I can’t recommend this company enough! They are personally invested in their guests and truly want everyone to have fun.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jun 26, 2021
Good week in Uganda! - It was an excellent week. Everything is taken care of, and we got to see lots of animals; tracking the gorillas is a highlight. Lodges are high quality with good meals included. The guide, Stanley, was an expert game spotter and a safe driver. The trip does involve a lot of driving as the distances are large.
Review provided by Viator
May 23, 2022
Wonderful Trip - First, our guide James was awesome. He took care of us and made sure we were comfortable during the entire journey.
All of the lodging was adequate. The last two nights at the Gorilla camp and the lake were amazing.
The Rhino Sanctuary was only “Ok”. Seeing the Rhinos was fun but the food for lunch was terrible. Was not fresh and most likely reheated in a microwave.
Murchinson Falls was amazing. The boat ride to the falls was perfect. Lots of animals on the banks of the Nile in the way to the falls. Recommend the morning boat tour as the afternoon tour was quite hot.
The Safari game drive in Murchinson National Park was decent. If you have been to Masai Mara in Kenya you will be disappointed with the Murchinson Game Drive.
Ft. Murchinson Lodge was ok. I’d give the food 3 stars. The accommodations were adequate.
The Chimpanzee Trek was fun and the accommodation was adequate.
The highlight of the trip was the Gorilla Trekking. Worth every bit if the cost. Spent 90 minutes with the gorillas. Just amazing.
Overall, we had a wonderful trip. Recommend bringing extra food if you are not a fruit eater. Very limited protein options. Additionally, there was lots of driving. Be prepared for some long days in the van.
Of note, there is no Wi-Fi in the van and most of the accommodations have limited Wi-Fi connectivity.
Review provided by Viator