Professional organisation, working close with local guides and professionals
Our family of 4 booked a round trip with Matoke tours together with two close friends, so we had a private tour with six. Our friends visited Uganda before, also with Matoke, so Matoke arranged another round trip: From Jinja, to Sipi, Moroto, Kidepo, Murchison falls and back to Entebbe. We had to have patience: the trip was postponed 2 years, due to the Covid lockdowns. This was no problem with Matoke, they also booked our flight for this reason.
Since we had a private visit of a school project the week before our tour, we were picked up by our guide/driver Caleb at our hotel in Kampala.
The car was a huge four wheel drive safari car, where we fitted in all six. Caleb was a skilled and safe driver. One day we had to drive a very wet and muddy slippery road, and he managed to get us through safely. Caleb could tell us really much about the country and its history, culture and the different people inhabiting Uganda. He used to be a ranger, so in the Safari parks he drove us around spotting game really skillfully, with a very sharp eye, and visibly enjoying it himself. Matoke can be happy to employ good dedicated guides like Caleb.
The Lodges that were booked were all good. Unfortunately in Kidepo savannah lodge the luxury safari tents were booked full, so that we had a tent with a public sanitary unit. It was clean enough, but really a bit scary in the very dark night, with roaring lions in the neighbourhood... The view though was magnificent. The next logde, Murchison River logde became our favorite: Luxury tents with private bathroom, at the border of river Nile, with a small pool, and an excellent restaurant. Every meal had also a vegetarian option, good for our vegetarian daughter.
The Chimpansee tracking was unforgettable, though the Budongo Eco Lodge was a bit aged, but with very friendly staff.
In Moroto we stayed at Karamoja Safari Lodge. It apeared that they were overbooked, and our friends were installed in another hotel, but using the meals of Karamoja. So this little problem was solved properly. We found ourselves uncomfortable visiting the local tribe, as if we were going to the zoo, but these are living free people...
Uganda apeared to us a very hospitable country with really kind and cheerful inhabitants. We felt welcome and safe during the whole trip.
In the end, we had two fantastic weeks enjoying the beautiful countryside of Uganda, travelling safely with a Safari jeep and a joyful skilled driver and guide.
