Encounter Africa Safaris

Encounter Africa Safaris

Encounter Africa Safaris
5
City ToursMulti-day ToursNature & Wildlife Tours
9:00 AM - 6:15 PM
Monday
8:00 AM - 6:15 PM
Tuesday
8:00 AM - 6:15 PM
Wednesday
8:00 AM - 6:15 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 6:15 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday
8:00 AM - 1:15 PM
Sunday
Closed
About
Gorilla Tracking Uganda safaris is dedicated to responsible and affordable Gorilla safaris to Rwanda and Uganda. Encounter Africa Safaris provides reliable information about Rwanda Gorilla treks (Volcanoes National Park, Uganda Gorilla treks (Bwindi National Park), discounted Gorilla permits and availability, gorilla families, what to pack, accommodation, transport to Bwindi National Park.
Entebbe, Uganda
Meets animal welfare guidelines

Awards
Travelers' Choice
2024

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Tours and Tickets by Encounter Africa Safaris
Travelers talk about

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

5.0
5.0 of 5 bubbles431 reviews
Excellent
406
Very good
21
Average
2
Poor
1
Terrible
1

These reviews have been automatically translated from their original language.
This service may contain translations provided by Google. Google disclaims all warranties, express or implied, with respect to translations, including any warranties of accuracy, reliability, and any implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and freedom from forgery.

Sharleen B
Australia56 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2024 • Solo
I travelled alone (female,60) and was worried about getting around. I booked a customised 5 day Chimpanzee habituation and Gorilla habituation in kibale and Bwindi. My guide, Patrick, was excellent, nothing was too much trouble for him and his priority was to ‘make my travel dreams come true’, which he did expertly. His local knowledge and understanding of how things work was phenomenal. He provided insight and information that enhanced the experience immensely. He was kind and supportive and solved any issues as they arose. Even before the trip this company helped solve problems for me (including with other less scrupulous travel providers). They are trustworthy and true to their word. If you want a wonderful, unique, personalised experience, I highly recommend this company.
Written October 5, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Wko
17 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2024 • Friends
Our tour included Gorilla trekking and Lake Bunyoni and it was an fantastic trip. The itinerary was spot on and we stayed in lovely lodges with amazing views and food. Communication with Encounter African Safaris was very professional and they were flexible in arranging the appropriate itinerary for our needs and budget. Our driver Alan was absolutely fabulous. He was really lovely, very knowlegable and kept us safe at all times. I would definitely recommend booking with this tour operator if you are looking to go on a Uganda tour.
Written February 8, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

MeredithW
Houston, TX75 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2024 • Solo
Fortunately I was able to get a gorilla permit within a month of traveling (I don’t recommend waiting last minute) but Monica helped book my tour and was very helpful with all of my questions.
I did the 3 days in Rwanda/Uganda gorilla safari. I traveled solo into Kigali and was picked up right outside customs by my driver, Edwin. We drove to Uganda and stayed at the Four Gorillas Lodge which was lovely and had an amazing view and good food. The next morning we woke up early and went for the gorilla trekking and it was an experience I will never forget. Edwin went out of his way to make sure everything ran smoothly and took me to the Batwa village after our gorilla trek. I had so many new cultural experiences during my short 3 days and this was a trip of a lifetime.

I was initially worried because I am a blonde female traveling alone and I felt incredibly safe the entire time. The people are so hospitable and genuinely grateful to have you there. I will definitely recommend this company and Edwin to anyone wanting to experience gorilla trekking.
Written July 10, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Thierry V
39 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2023 • Couples
From the first contact with this organization we had a feeling of professionalism and trust.
Every question we sent them was answered very quickly and clearly.
Communication was always smooth and to the point.
On the long-awaited day, we were picked up at the requested time by Godwin, the driver/guide for our three-day Gorilla trekking to the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
The meeting was professional and punctual.
We left for our accommodation for the next few nights and drove through the beautiful nature of the Ugandan countryside.
The comfortable 4WD vehicle was driven very carefully by Godwin, who was concerned about our well-being at all times from first contact until parting.
Everything went as discussed in advance, without any irregularities or insecurity.
He is a very competent guide who has more than enough knowledge about the Fauna and Flora of the planned trip.
The stay at Rushaga Gorilla Havens Lodge was also a hit with breathtaking views over the rainforest. The meals are tasty and more than sufficient. The staff here was also only concerned about the guests present
Google
Written December 2, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

JayW2323
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2023 • Family
My husband and I went gorilla trekking at Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in December 2023, and we used Encounter Africa to help us organize the trip. Communication with them was extremely efficient, especially given the time difference, and all of my questions and concerns were addressed promptly. We began organizing the trip about a year beforehand, and along the way, after our gorilla permits had been reserved, we had to change our dates. This was no problem and didn't incur extra costs. We also had trouble deciding whether we would bring our young children to the lodge, or leave them with friends nearby, and Encounter was able to provide cost estimates for both options. We ended up bringing our children, and they were cared for at the lodge by a hotel staff member while my husband and I trekked. The entire experience with Encounter was very easy. They organized the driver to pick us up from our hotel in Kabale, reserved the hotel at Bwindi, and reserved the gorilla permits. The driver was on time to pick us up from Kabale (which surprised us, given all that we had experienced of "Ugandan time") and was very knowledgeable about the gorillas. Encounter made our gorilla trekking experience very easy, and I would highly recommend them!
Written January 12, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Latonia G
Brooklyn, NY146 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2022
I just completed a three week tour of Rwanda and Uganda with Encounter Africa Safaris and I can honestly say I had a phenomenal trip. This trip was originally slated for 2020 and I paid my gorilla permit fees to experience this in both countries before Covid shut the world down. My tour consultant, Patrick, was absolutely fabulous in communicating with me and reassuring me that they would hold the payment until I was able to visit. He answered all my questions and made some wonderful suggestions on how to get the most out of my time in the two countries. He even responded immediately to emails I sent when I figured they would be out of office and answered on the next business day (I'm convinced Patrick doesn't sleep).

My naturalist and tour guide, Elias, was equally fantastic. Elias has so much knowledge about the histories of the two nations, the cultures, endemic animals - you name it, he had an answer. We spent long hours driving from one section to the other of each nation and it was as though we were old friends on a road trip - we had some really good conversations and I learned so much from him. He was professional, considerate, dedicated and personable. As a solo female traveler, he put me at total ease and I trusted him entirely with my itinerary and making sure I was safe and had a memorable holiday. I highly recommend this company - my holiday exceeded all my expectations. Even when it became evident that I would not be able to visit the Democratic Republic of Congo as I had originally planned when we first discussed my itinerary, Patrick added in other activities the month before I arrived and everything just flowed. I cannot recommend this company enough. By the way, Uganda is so much more than just gorillas and chimps. Murchison National Park was amazing!
Written July 18, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Adam F
4 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2024 • Couples
I cannot recommend Encounter more to any potential tourists to Uganda. From our concierge, Denis, to our tour guide/driver Godwin everyone was so kind and supportive. Denis was incredibly communicative both leading up to the trip and during, creating a very reassuring and smooth vacation. Godwin was an incredible guide- he was extremely knowledgeable about local cultures and also went out of his way to make sure we had an incredible experience from start to finish. They made an amazing trip for our honeymoon and everything went so smoothly. Please consider Encounter any time that you look to visit Uganda for Gorilla trekking or other Safaris.
Written July 11, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Adam H
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2025 • Couples
I would highly recommend Encounter Africa if you are planning a trip to Uganda. We visited for 10 days, touring from Murchison Falls in the North, to the Gorillas and Chimpanzees of the South. Our guide Obed was phenomenal, he made us feel very comfortable and was informative throughout. There is no shortage of amazing wildlife and scenery to see, but be prepared for some longer drives even though the distances seem short. It is a country still developing its broader tourism industry, but these folks took a great deal of pride in making our trip awesome!!
Written January 27, 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jeremy R
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2022 • Couples
We had very high hopes for our trip to Uganda and these expectations were exceeded thanks to the very great care of Encounter Africa Safaris. From the chimpanzee trekking on our first day to the gorilla trekking on our last, the whole operation was so incredibly smooth and the itinerary so meticulously planned that it has been by far the most problem-free trip we've ever had. And what a trip it was: we managed to see as much as we could in the 9 days we were there and feel like we still have so much more to see. The many National Parks (we saw Biwindi, Kibale and Queen Elizabeth) are stunningly gorgeous and rich with wildlife in each their own way; our guide, Hannington, did such a good job of showing us their many views. Hannington was the most hospitable guide we could have asked for: personable, flexible, and resourceful, it was a pleasure to have him show us his beautiful country. Patrick, who helped us plan the whole trip, was wonderful to work with and we look forward to our return to Uganda for a second trip with his helpful guiding hand.

Thank you so much Encounter Africa Safaris for such an unforgettable experience! We would highly recommend you and Uganda to any friends and family who are looking for the experience of a lifetime.
Written September 6, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

barefootgal88
Milwaukee13 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2024 • Solo
Steve was a fantastic driver/guide/all around helpful person. I couldn't have asked for better. Especially as a solo traveler, it is so important to have someone I can trust and who will advocate for me when I'm out of my element. He was all of that and more. He is knowledgeable, funny, and very good at reading a room. He stepped in exactly where I needed him too.

The habitation gorilla trek is hard. I was lucky to have a solo opportunity there also, and they adjusted to my pace and abilities. It was still hard and I wouldn't recommend it unless you are very confident in your hiking and climbing skills. That said, it was so worth it. We watched a family of 8 as they played, napped, climbed trees, and ate. I felt safe the entire time even though I was often less than 10 feet from the silverback.

The chimp trek was easier. It required a lot of patience and looking up, as we mostly watched them in trees. But we did have the opportunity to see three different chimps on the ground, where they sat patiently and posed for photos. Again, they were very comfortable with a large group of humans.

The lodging for both parts of the trip was very high quality, with great staff and gorgeous views. It is a long drive from Entebbe/Kampala. Be prepared for8-10 hours in the car each way. But as I mentioned, you've got Steve. Couldn't ask for better.
Written July 15, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Encounter Africa Safaris - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2025)

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