Reviews of Kubwa Five Safaris

Thanks to Kubwa Five Safaris for making our stay in Uganda memorable.

Kubwa Five Safaris did an amazing job in excellent planning, timekeeping, and competency. We got the best service and all that was agreed on in the itinerary was received. The most important thing is the family feeling during the whole trip. Joseph our guide was so helpful and supportive. We had the best game drives, birding, and boat rides. All the guide's recommendations during these activities were excellent. The car's condition and cleanliness were excellent. The chosen accommodations were perfect, clean, and very comfortable. All meals during the trip were very nice. We greatly enjoyed African meals, and fruits such as sweet bananas, pineapples, and jackfruit. The various meal options were available. I recommend Kubwa Five Safaris because we were not disappointed and the service they offered was beyond our expectations. Thanks to Kubwa Five Safaris for making our stay in Uganda memorable.

Shannon Pearson

A Namibian safari we will never forget - amazing landscape, animals, culture, perfectly organized

Initially we did not really know what to expect, so we bombarded Kubwa Five Safaris with what might have been considered to be an unreasonable amount of questions - where to go, what would we see, where would we stay, and who would travel with us. Every time we asked a question the team responded incredibly quickly and were happy to answer the many follow-up questions that we had. Ultimately, we decided to travel as a couple with one of their local guides who would accompany us and drive us from location to location over the course of our 12 day trip. The Kubwa Five Safaris team were happy to customize the itinerary to make the absolute most of our time in wonderful Namibia (even when we asked them to add a last minute game drive before going to the airport to fly home). Our guide Angelo did an amazing job looking after us. Not only did he take the pressure away from the daily driving on unpaved roads, but he was our nature/cultural/city/history expert, and with him our unforgettable trip exceeded our every expectation. We started on a high at a private game reserve, before spending a further three days in Etosha National Park. After having spent two interesting days in Damaraland we moved on to Swakopmund with the German history before tackling the dunes in a 4x4 around Walvis Bay. Our final couple of days were spent in Deadvlei climbing "Big Daddy", overnighting in the Kalahari, before returning to Windhoek for the flight home... twelve amazing days filled with experiences of a lifetime and we cannot thank Kubwa Five Safaris enough for being with us every step of the journey. We are already thinking of where to go next with this amazing agency :-)

Lydia and David

The tour operator was east to coordinate with and was able to direct to an appropriate accomodation.

I have had the pleasure of experiencing the exceptional professional services offered by Kubwa Five Safaris, courtesy of their friendly and knowledgeable personnel. Although we have only recently returned from our trip, we are already contemplating another vacation with them, and Kubwa Five Safaris will undoubtedly be our preferred choice. We firmly believe that the expertly planned trip itinerary enabled us to experience the very best that country has to offer. I would highly recommend Kubwa Five Safaris to anyone seeking an unforgettable, once-in-a-lifetime adventure at an affordable price. Their services are truly exceptional and deserving of strong consideration.

Caroline

Excellent

We had a fantastic time. The team from kubwa were extremely professional and really kind and caring. All the activities were on time but they were also flexible depending on our needs. The sights were breathtaking, they ensured that we saw all we needed to see and took plenty of pictures. What a perfect way to kick off my year. My only regret was that we didn't book more days 😂. Thank you for a lovely experience, Kubwa safaris .

Melissa

Amazing

We were wondering where should we go for our family trip in this year but finally decided to go to Uganda and that was the perfect decision we could ever make. We enjoyed the game drives and got the chance to see the African big five, scenic view of Murchison Falls, gigantic Lake Victoria, and world-class white water in the White Nile. One of the most amazing things we experienced was hiking from the bottom of the falls to the top. Thanks to our guides Steven and Fred for the well-guided tour, both of you made our safari the most memorable one. I believe Uganda has the best pineapples, I miss them, I how wish to have carried some of them with me...lol

Oliver Brown

A memorable Uganda safari with Kubwa Five safaris

We (me and friends) took a 12days Uganda safari and we manage to spot a leopard with prey in Kidepo Valley National Park. And also we saw a lion in Murchison National Park. We greatly enjoyed the chimpanzee tracking in Kibale National Park. I can't wait to have our honeymoon safari with Kubwa Five Safaris. Thank you Kubwa Five Safaris for giving us such a lifetime safari vacation experience.

Thadeus

GREAT SAFARI EXPERIENCE

Kubwa Five Safaris Ltd and the entire team including the driver, travel guide, game ranger were very helpful, calm, and hospitable from the pick up on Thursday until the drop off on Sunday when our safari ended. We enjoyed quite an experience of a game like Elephants, Buffalos, Elands, Uganda Kobs, giraffes, Zebras Bushbucks among others, beautiful natural ranges, and great cultural interaction with Lorukul Cultural Village members. Thank you once again Joseph & Team.

Patience

Awesome experience! Even for a lone traveller.

I booked a last minute trip on Thursday and flew out on Friday morning. Kubwa was able to quickly respond to my requirements via email and customized my trip because I was traveling alone. The trip was great in every aspect and the crew kept on following up in the whatsapp group to make sure I am okay. The gorilla and golden monkey trekking experience was phenomenal and definitely worth a lifetime experience. The trip was well-planned and to my opinion, a wonderful arrangement if you have three days to spare. The only thing that I found could be improved is the restaurant food.. the burger I ordered was cold on the inside.. everything else was wonderful!!

Nina

Kubwa Five Safaris is an excelent option for your safari, just watch out during booking and planning

KUBWA5 Safari Holiday Review We booked our honeymoon safari in Uganda and Tanzania with KUBWA5 this year. Our trip lasted a little less two weeks and included several parks in both countries. Overall, the experience with them was great. Since a safari holiday has many components, I’ll try to review each part separately. My main disclaimer is that this was our first safari, so we don’t have a direct reference to compare it with. With that said, here is our experience. Value for Money – 4.5/5 Overall, we believe KUBWA5 offers very good value for money. When planning the trip we compared several safari operators, and many alternatives we found online were significantly more expensive for very similar itineraries. Even though we experienced some setbacks during the booking and planning stages, mainly due to pricing and itinerary mistakes that required adjustments (including a flight change on our side), the overall safari experience itself was excellent. Once the trip started, the logistics, guides, vehicles, wildlife experiences, and overall organization were outstanding, and they made our honeymoon truly memorable. For that reason we would still rate the overall value for money at 4.5/5. The only reason it is not a full 5/5 is because of the issues during booking and planning, which required extra attention from our side. However, during the trip itself everything worked smoothly. Booking – 2.5/5 This was the main low point of the experience. We decided to go with KUBWA5 after doing some research. Our main reasons were that they are a local company in Uganda (our main destination), they had good reviews, and their price was competitive. We spent several months between our first quotation and the final version of the itinerary. During that time we asked for different options regarding destinations and plans. If you’re spending $20k+ on a trip, I think that’s fairly reasonable. When we were finally happy with the quote and itinerary—and only after paying an $8,000 USD deposit—they realized they had made a mistake in the pricing and that the trip had been underquoted by nearly $12,000 USD. That’s obviously a lot of money for a mistake. We even considered canceling everything, but we eventually decided to adjust the trip by changing some dates and hotels so we could stay closer to our original budget while still traveling with KUBWA5. Our advice: double-check and confirm all pricing carefully before paying the deposit. ⸻ Planning – 2.5/5 KUBWA5 are very flexible during the planning stage. They send a comprehensive PDF for every quote detailing the itinerary, planning, and budget. We actually used that document as a reference even during our trip. They are very open to adjusting the itinerary and usually respond relatively quickly to requests or changes. However, mistakes can happen. For example, our initial itinerary included leaving a hotel at 2 a.m., which turned out to be unrealistic for that location. Because of this we had to adjust several parts of the itinerary, which forced us to change one of our flights and cancel our final airport transfer. Some of these planning adjustments also ended up costing us extra money, particularly when we had to modify flight arrangements after the itinerary changed. These were manageable issues, but my recommendation is to carefully review every step of the itinerary and confirm travel times beforehand. Don’t hesitate to ask questions or request changes—they are very open to making adjustments. ⸻ Logistics – 5/5 After the initial challenges during booking and planning, I have to say that the trip itself ran perfectly. From the moment we landed until the end of our honeymoon, everything worked smoothly. Everyone was aware it was our honeymoon and we received many thoughtful touches along the way. Every transfer was on time and well organized. We had several domestic flights during the trip, and KUBWA5 kept us updated with schedules and made sure everything was coordinated. Once the trip started, the logistics were flawless. ⸻ Hotel Selection – 4/5 Hotels in Uganda and Tanzania usually fall into luxury or mid-range categories. With luxury properties you will generally have a great experience. However, be careful with hotels labeled “mid-range,” because the quality can vary a lot. Some mid-range lodges were excellent, while others were a bit below our expectations despite having the same classification. Overall we enjoyed most of the hotels, but I recommend double-checking specific properties beforehand if you want to avoid surprises. Hotel staff in both Uganda and Tanzania were consistently excellent. Everyone was polite, attentive, and many places added small details to celebrate our honeymoon regardless of whether the hotel was luxury or mid-range. I also recommend bringing some local currency for tips, which is appreciated by staff. ⸻ Guides – 5/5 The guides were the absolute highlight of our trip. You should know that on safari you spend a lot of time with your guide, both during game drives and while traveling between destinations. Our guide in Uganda, Charles (@kimbugwe.charles on Instagram), was fantastic. He made sure we were always happy and safe. He’s a great driver and incredibly knowledgeable about Uganda—animals, parks, culture, and local life. He made sure we saw all the animals we hoped to see during game drives. He is also very well connected, which helped with different activities and arrangements during the trip. He even organized a picnic for us, bought us fresh fruit, and took us to some great places for shopping. In Tanzania we had Bakari, another exceptional guide. He is an extremely talented tracker and driver. He always seemed to know where to go during game drives so we would be in the right place at the right time. He knows the parks very well and always made sure we felt safe and were enjoying the experience. I can’t stress enough how important a good guide is during a safari. Charles and Bakari are a big reason why our trip was so memorable. ⸻ Vehicles – 4.5/5 Vehicles are another important factor during a safari because you spend a lot of time in them. KUBWA5 vehicles were excellent. We booked a private tour, so we had the vehicle to ourselves. They were large and comfortable, with fresh drinks and charging ports available. The cars were in very good condition, which is important considering the long distances and rough terrain. It’s actually common to see safari vehicles with mechanical problems, but ours performed very well. We were never completely sure if the air conditioning worked, but honestly we never needed it. ⸻ Wildlife & Parks – 6/5 The wildlife experience was outstanding and a huge part of that was thanks to our guides. Thanks to Charles in Uganda and Bakari in Tanzania, we were able to see the Big Five, which was one of our goals for this trip. Charles even managed to spot a leopard, which we know can be very difficult to find. The gorilla trekking experience in Uganda was one of the main reasons for our trip and it completely lived up to expectations. Charles helped ensure we had a great local guide and we were lucky to visit an amazing gorilla family. It was truly one of the highlights of our honeymoon. In Tanzania, Bakari made sure we saw all the big cats. We saw lions, leopards, and cheetahs—including an incredible moment watching cheetahs hunting and lions eating. From our experience, Tanzania is particularly good for big cats, especially in the Serengeti, where animals are easier to spot because of the open landscape. If you want the classic safari experience with lots of wildlife sightings, Serengeti is hard to beat. Safaris in Uganda feel a bit different, but in a very special way. The highlights there are gorillas and chimpanzees, which are unique wildlife experiences. We also saw elephants and hippos very close, especially around River Station. We also highly recommend doing a boat safari on the Nile in Uganda, which gives you a completely different perspective and great views of wildlife along the riverbanks. Overall, the wildlife experiences far exceeded our expectations. ⸻ Food – 4/5 Overall the food was good, although the quality varied depending on the hotel. Most lodges offer international-style cuisine, but there are usually local dishes available as well, which we recommend trying. Because game drives can last many hours, sometimes meals are packed for you to eat on the go, which is a normal part of the safari experience. Overall the food was enjoyable and there were always good options available. ⸻ Safety – 5/5 Safety was something we wondered about before traveling, but throughout the entire trip we always felt very safe. This applied everywhere: in the hotels, during game drives, on the road, and while visiting parks. Our guides were excellent drivers and very attentive. We also always felt comfortable regarding wildlife and general security. Some lodges even escort guests to their rooms at night to make sure no animals are nearby, which shows how seriously safety is taken. Final Thoughts Overall, we had an amazing honeymoon safari with KUBWA5. I would recommend booking with them, but I strongly suggest paying close attention during the booking and planning process, double-checking pricing, itineraries, and hotel selections beforehand. Once the trip began, everything ran smoothly. The logistics, vehicles, wildlife experiences, and especially the guides made this a truly unforgettable trip.

Esteban C

Kubwa Five Safaris provided excellent, attentive and generous service for our Safari.

I would highly recommend Kubwa Five safari for your East African adventure. From the very beginning of planning, they were incredibly helpful and informative and answered all my questions promptly. As the trip approached, I requested a zoom meeting so that I could meet some of the staff in person and have additional questions answered. They were very happy to accommodate this and put any last minute. concerns, I might have had to rest. They also sent me a photo of Charles, "king" Charles, who would be our guide for much of the trip, so we would recognize him at the airport. Charles was waiting patiently for us at the airport and made us feel so welcome. It was like we known each other for years. Any request we had, he tried to make happen. All of our accommodations were comfortable, warm and welcoming. The food was great and the Safaris really changed our lives. Being so close to the magnificent wildlife of Uganda was humbling. And the people in the communities we visited welcomed us with open arms. We also spent 7 days/6 nights in the Rwenzori Mountains in the excellent care of Rwenzori Mountaineering Service. Our main guides, Hezron and "Papa" John were skilled mountaineers and made us feel safe and comfortable on a grueling 7 day adventure to 15,000 feet. At the end of our mountain trekking, Charles was there waiting for us with water and off we went to end our trip in Kibale National Park were we trekked and hung out with chimps. Awesome. Once again, the accomodations were wonderful. Even on the way to the airport, Charles went out of his way to make our last request a reality. We wanted gum boots to take home. Charles found a hardware store on the way to the airport and made it happen. Kubwa Five is 5 star!

Elizabeth and William

A memorable safari

It was an awesome trip in Uganda as we spent four days exploring different attractions and most amazing were the Queen Elizabeth National Park and Murchison Fall National Park, which gave us a good sight of tree climbing lions in Ishasha, buffalo, elephants, hippo, different bird species and many other wild animals. This land locked country offers stunning scenery and she is a home of wide variety of primates including the charismatic chimpanzees in Kibale National Park. Moreover, we got the chance to see white rhinos at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. Our guides were friendly and very knowledgeable about each attraction which made our safari more breathtaking. Visiting Uganda was indeed a lifetime experience. We look forward to booking with you for another vacation in future.

Patrick Ellis

Fantastic family trip

This trip to Murchison Falls National Park has been the best experience of our lives and we can't wait to come back and see more. Our view of Uganda is cemented as one of the best places to visit, the people, wildlife and scenery is all spectacular. We couldn't have been happier with choosing Kubwa Five Safaris and her guides as the trip exceeded even our quite high expectations. This company was very helpful and super responsive in setting up the itinerary. Kubwa Five had perfect recommendations for where to stay as well as what to do. Patrick is a great guide who helped make sure that the entire tour went smoothly. The attractions we had experienced were life changing! They were spectacular! I highly recommend Kubwa Five Safaris to you all.

Finley Watts

He was a professional

The trip was generally superb everything was done on time the guides were so informed that the replied to every question that was asked in a polite way and they were so respectful the accommodation was excellent everything that was need was provided to us so I recommend kubwa five safaris if you want to have a joyful trip

Timothy

Very reliable company. We had an amazing safari experience with them.

Kubwa Five Safaris is a very reliable company. We had an amazing safari experience with them. We visited four national parks in Uganda. We loved the experience and was especially impressed with the knowledge and expertise shared by guides. We are planning another trip with them next year, and we would love to visit Kenya and Tanzania. The best tour and travel company in Africa, I say so because they gave us a safari vacation beyond what we had expected at a limited budget, we did not have a lot in our wallets. I recommend Kubwa Five Safaris.

Hazel

Nice People Good Trip

When we arranged our trip, Joseph was very responsive and helped my Iranian wife get her visa. During the trip, our guide Samuel is a soft- speaking considerate gentleman. Generally speaking, in comparation with its neighbors, Uganda’s infrastructure is weak(especially the bumping road) , but its people are extremely warm-hearted, and its food is purely organic. We came on rain season, so the animals in Queen Elizabeth Park were sparse, while the Gorilla and Chimpanzee trekking became easier, we found the gorilla in impenetrable park within 30 minutes.

Quanbin

Our guide was amazing.

We booked 3 Days Murchison Falls Adventure Safari. With so many operators it was hard to know who to choose. This safari offered a personal family feels and is entirely a local business. We totally loved our experience. It was organized so well by Kubwa Five Safaris, the team kept in touch all the time, providing updates and information. Our guide was amazing. He gave us truly an unforgettable safari. Food and accommodation were spot on and completely suited our needs. We are already planning our next trip back.

Barrett G

Spectacular

Wow what a lovely professional and knowledgeable company. It's was such a easy process from initial contact, to airport pick up, to the tour and back. Brilliant communication and always available even early morning / late night. The gorilla tracking was such an experience I am already considering my next trip. Our driver and guide Charles went above and beyond. Highly recommended!

Mokbul

He was very knowledgeable and hospitable.

This vacation was one memorable experience on can not easily forget. Tracking the Rhinos and seeing them close range. The marvel of the Murchison falls.(The strongest falls in the world) and seeing the lioness carry her hunt back home majestically were very intriguing moments. Thank you Kubwa Safaris for making this experience worthwhile for the Serunkuma's

Matilda Serunkuma

An equally magical experience

We booked with Kubwa Five Safaris and we got to know them through a friend, who had gone to Kenya a year ago, and him and his family booked with this company. We went to Naivasha, Amboseli, Masai Mara, Nakuru and Tsavo, all very different experiences and all great in their own way. We saw more wildlife than we ever dreamed possible (the big five and many more!) and had the holiday of a lifetime. Would highly recommend Spirit of Kenya. Our guide Anthony made the wildlife come to life, and I greatly learned many new things from him. He also answered all of our questions regarding flora and fauna, and was very patient and kind with us. Without a doubt, we will again plan a trip with Kubwa Five Safaris to give us an equally magical experience! The whole safari was amazing and we would totally recommend Kubwa Five Safaris.

Sarah Nafuna