Sep 15, 2024
I absolutely recommend this company. Best value for money and great knowledge. - With Ngoni Safaris we had a 10/10 experience.
We booked directly with them about 6 months before the trip. They were helpful with tailoring the trip to match our wishes and budget exactly and provided honest information, which was harder to find among other companies.
We did a 8-days trip, covering Ziwa rhinos, Murchison, Queen Elizabeth, Kibale, Bwindi and Lake Bunyoni.
So they only do private tours and only use their own Land Cruisers, which are in good shape (I think they have a fleet of around 10 vehicles).
Our guide was Reagan and he was wonderful the whole time, trying to make us feel as comfortable as possible. He had amazing local knowledge of all the parks (having spent lot's of time there in guiding courses), so he would always know local guards and staff - which provided to be crucial in getting info about best spots for seeing animals. We saw everything possible, even the very elusive leopard in some of the most remote areas of the park with very hard roads to tackle. In Murchison we saw like 8 lions, in Queen Elizabeth 4 of them (they were mating, hunting and also climbing trees), not to mention all in all many giraffes, antelopes, elephants, hippos, crocodiles and other stuff. Reagan really knew evwry single place of where you could be expecting them and usually we were even the first one to spot them among other vehicles. So really, local knowledge came as a victory.
Other activities were amazing - we saw chimps and gorillas, which were both absolutely crazy and unforgettable experiences. There's practically a 100% chance you will see them when you go for tracking - they always make you find them as they have trackers following them from early morning, so they always know where they are.
Lodges - I have to pause here - they were superb. Everywhere we were in luxury lodges - also after talking with different guides from different companies, it seemed that they were the very best options in the areas for a variety of reasons. Simply amazing, next level.
What's interesting here - Ngoni offered this trip (being a luxury private experience with luxury lodges) for the virtually same price as some other companies would for a group budget tour, with a safari van and camping. So I was even a bit suspicious about it, but everything was just perfect.
It's fair to mention that we did have some minor issues with the car, but Reagan sorted them out with local mechanics in a time that didn't really affect our activities, so it was pretty impressive overall, the support network they seem to have all around the country.
Another thing necessary to mention that wasn't great was communication from mr. Sedrick - sometimes I wasn't really sure where we were standing. But as I've read in previous reviews that he was like that, it somehow eased me a bit and in the end everything was fine.
So all in all - Ngoni is a great company with great guides and reputation and is most def a great value for money and I absolutely recommend them for your African experience.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sep 15, 2024
Awesome Safari Guide and Safari Company! - Ngoni Safari is a solid safari business with a conscientious owner. David Mukasa was our excellent guide who demonstrated competence, integrity, professionalism, patience and a lot of heart. He got us around very safely and took great care of our needs. It was a magical, memorable experience and we would recommend David to guide our friends!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Aug 5, 2024
Incredible tour guide, unforgettable experiences - We spent 9 unforgettable days in Uganda, immersing ourselves in its incredible wildlife and natural beauty. The highlights of our trip were undoubtedly the tours to see the chimpanzees and gorillas. These encounters were awe-inspiring, providing us with a rare and intimate look at these magnificent creatures in their natural habitats. In addition to the primates, we also saw elephants, lions, leopards, and many other remarkable animals, making each day of our journey thrilling and memorable. We always felt safe and relaxed, allowing us to fully enjoy the experience.
What went really well:
* Eddy, our guide, was phenomenal. He was highly experienced, knowledgeable, organized, and extremely considerate. As a veteran in the industry, he remains to be enthuisatic about animals. In the park, he amazed us by spotting animals from great distances. Outside of the park, he arranged the trip seamlessly, ensuring there were no unnecessary surprises. Among the safari guides we've worked with in various countries, including Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, and Zimbabwe, Eddy provided the absolute best service. We could feel his passion on this job and he always strive for excellence. I highy suggest you reach out to him if you want to explore Uganda.
* The chimpanzee trekking and gorilla trekking in Kibale national park and Bwindi national park are incredible. The guides are professional and caring, providing a safe and exciting experiences. We did not need to hike for a long time before seeing the gentle giants. The silverback gorillas moved towards us and sat within 20 feet, eating and resting. The experience was phenominal.
What went good:
* The itinerary provided by Ngoni was overall reasonable. We opted for the mid-range accommodations listed on the website without much customization. Their pricing is very competitive compared to other agencies offering similar tours and accommodations.
* One highlight was the Turaco Treetops lodge in Kibale National Park, which was not initially on the itinerary but was offered as a free upgrade by Ngoni. The rooms were comfortable, and the food was delicious. The nature walk offered by the hotel exceeded our expectations, allowing us to see monkeys, numerous birds, and butterflies. The Buffalo Safari Lodge near Queen Elizabeth National Park was also top-notch.
* While some other lodges we stayed at were not as fantastic, they were adequate for the price. However, the lodge at Murchison Fort was quite far from the park, and the road to it was extremely rough. I recommend working with the agency to find an alternative, even at a higher price.
At Rushaga Gorilla Camp, which is a nice lodge overall, be cautious about charging devices in your room. We were alarmed to see smoke coming from our chargers due to the lodge generating its own power because of the unstable power grid in the area.
* Above all, you pay for what you get and I believe Ngoni offer better accomodations in general compared to other agencies I communicated with. If you value comfort more, do not hesitant to discuss with the agency to find better options.
What coul've been better:
* When we booked the trip, we specifically requested the Gorilla Habituation Program (4 hours and $1500 pps) and were assured by Ngoni that everything was reserved. However, a day before the trek, we were informed that only one permit had been secured and that they were unable to obtain the second one for some reason. Our disappointment was not due to the unavailability of the permit, as we understand how difficult it is to secure. Instead, it stemmed from the fact that Ngoni initially claimed everything was booked, only to later tell us otherwise. This inconsistency broke our trust and expectations. If they had been transparent from the beginning, informing us that only one permit was secured and they were trying their best to obtain the second, we would have been more understanding. The team sincerely apologized after it happened and refund the difference between the Habituation Program and normal one hour Gorilla trekking.
* Before making the payment, Ngoni responded to my emails very promptly. However, after paying the deposit, his responses became noticeably slower on both email and WhatsApp. This wasn't a major issue for me, but I wanted to mention it in case it's something you might care about.
The tour provided by Ngoni was almost perfect and offered great value for money. If we consider it as a 10-day Uganda tour with one hour of gorilla trekking, it truly exceeded expectations. You couldn't ask for more. I still recommend Ngoni as long as you are not too picky about the communications.
While Kenya and Tanzania frequently come to mind when discussing East African safaris, and Rwanda is renowned for its gorilla tours, Uganda remains underrepresented on social media. This makes Uganda a hidden gem for safari enthusiasts. I highly recommend visiting Uganda, especially for those interested in gorilla and chimpanzee tours, for a truly unique and extraordinary safari experience.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jul 29, 2024
Exceptional honeymoon experience - We just wrapped up an amazing 8-day tour with Ngoni Safari Company and loved every second of it! The whole trip was perfectly organized, and we had an incredible time.
The highlight was definitely the gorilla trekking—seeing the gorillas up close, including a tiny baby, was absolutely unforgettable. Plus, thanks to David’s keen eye and professionalism, we got to see a baby leopard, which was an extra special treat. It was David’s first leopard sighting in his 9-year career, so it was a memorable moment for all of us!
David, our guide, was fantastic. His passion and deep knowledge about the wildlife made the experience even better. The accommodations were great, and everything ran smoothly from start to finish.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jul 16, 2024
Unique experience with NGONI that you will never forget - Steven was our tour guide, he is an amazing person with full of life, knowledge and always positive despite the difficult journey. Steven filled us with a lot of interesting information about Uganda, wild life, many other things. We have done safari before but this one with Steven was the best and unique.
Ngoni is number 1 safari tour company in Uganda and there is absolutely many reasons for that.
Sedrick the owner was very quick with his responses, Ngoni is a true professional company and top quality employees. We meet other Ngoni tour guides along the way and they were all very friendly like all people in Uganda.
We definitely recommend you to come to Uganda and have this unique experience.
And last, dont forget to tip your tour guide, this means a lot to them.
Akif & Angeliki
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jul 12, 2024
Trip of a Lifetime! - Our safari tour with Ngoni was nothing short of amazing! It was tough to decide which company to go with because there's so many but we're happy we went with Ngoni. While planning, Sedrick was quick to respond and helpful with creating an itinerary that worked with our schedule and what we wanted to see. Everything was set up perfectly when we got there, we didn't have to worry about anything. We even got a surprise for our honeymoon, which I won't spoil for anyone else. Our guide, Steven, was the best guide we could've asked for. He was fun, entertaining, and informative. He was not only great at spotting animals on game drives but taught us a lot about Ugandan culture as well. When our flight got delayed by a long time Steven came up with more great activities so we didn't have to sit at the airport all day. We got the chance to see zebras and impalas, which we hadn't seen yet. Overall, it was the trip of a lifetime and Ngoni and Steven made it happen. We were genuinely sad to leave but are still beaming at the experience.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jun 17, 2024
Ngoni safari is the best safari company - We went with Ngoni safaris for a 10 today trip last year and we had such a fabulous time that we came back this year for another trip
From Sedrick helping with the itinerary and booking to the 3 guides we had
James, Steven and Ryan , all were amazing and went out of their way to make us comfortable and they were a wealth of knowledge about every topic related to the fauna , flora, culture , etc
Ngoni safaris are the best and Uganda is by my estimation the best safari destination in Africa
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jun 12, 2024
Amazing Uganda Safari Experience - We debated, researched, and received multiple quotes before selecting Ngoni for our Uganda Safari experience. The one thing that set them apart and was the final reason we selected them was the superior accommodations proposed. Make sure you look closely and compare with the others. I can say we had every expectation exceeded with the accommodations.
I don't want to get too far into this before I mention the professionalism of our guide Paul. He was on point with every detail. He was a careful driver and kept us feeling safe through our trip. We really were able to enjoy the experience knowing he had everything in place. Paul was there to explain the things that we wanted to know and were interested in without being an overwhelming personality. He was a perfect fit for our Safari. He was knowledgeable and answered every questions we had. Paul made extra stops along the way to take in all that we could ( especially extra stops in the rural areas where we brought plenty of candy/snacks for the kids, they really appreciate it ).
Ok, so the Safari now... We were blown away with experiences that we had throughout Uganda. From the Ziwa Rhinos to Murchison Falls, the Chimps in Kibale, the river cruises, and the Gorillas in Bwindi, our expectations were far exceeded. Because we had a previous safari experience that was excellent, we already had some high expectations so this was really saying something! The people we met along the way were so welcoming and appreciative of the positive impacts that the conservation and tourism provide to the local communities.
Ngoni guided us in a proper safari truck ( the Toyota Land Rover Safari). I would not recommend any other vehicle for the terrain. When you are moving to remote locations in the parks, the last thing you would want to deal with is a breakdown. Other operators were not clear on the equipment being offered, so this was a must for us.
When we first reached out to Ngoni, the manager/coordinator Sedrick was able to quickly adjust the trip to our specific needs. We added and removed certain services to get exactly what we wanted, and we are extremely satisfied with the results of those communications.
Long story short, don't pass on getting a quote from Ngoni for your safari!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mar 16, 2024
Simply amazing… the gorilla and chimpanzee trekking were just the most amazing experiences ever! - James my guide and driver was excellent and also superb on his birding knowledge which added much to my test trip. The people in Uganda are some of the kindest I have met in the world.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mar 11, 2024
Awesome - It was our first “real” Africa experience. That is why we opted for a tour with a guide. And that was such a great experience. You will be picked up. Drove everywhere. So you can enjoy yourself optimally. You feel safe and completely unburdened.
The accommodations were beautiful. Everything is perfectly arranged. The food is delicious! And then the country itself, the culture, the people and all the animals🤩 This is my most beautiful trip ever. And I have already seen a lot of the world. This 10 day tour has everything. It was very special to see the chimpanzees and gorillas in the wild. We had a very nice guide who was a good driver and also told us a lot about his country. And also about all the animals we saw. Also thanks to him. He knew where to look and could also communicate with other guides on the savannah. To be able to spot even more. And we also thought the price for this trip was very important. We got a lot for our money. All meals and water included, all accommodations, the entrances to the parks, the Permits for the chimpanzee trekking and the gorilla trekking. Eddy our driver, guide and very nice, sweet young man. The car, the diesel costs. Everything all inclusive.
The contact we had with Cedrick was also very pleasant. it seemed like he was available 24/7. where we could go for all questions about the trip and to book. I can recommend it to everyone!
Review provided by Tripadvisor