The Client Testimonials and Traveller Reviews

 

“Thank you for organising so well the US President’s Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) conference in Kampala, Uganda. Your professionalism and attention to detail is what made the conference a huge success. Thank you!” The US Ambassador to Uganda

“We would like to thank Adrian for the excellent driving/guiding! He was at any time very reliable, correct, helpful and in good mood. He helped make this journey one of the most unforgettable to us. We would recommend him to any other clients. We have been to Kenya, Botswana, South Africa and Zimbabwe before, but we have never had such a special driver/guide. Until now we thought our driver in Maldives was the best ever, but now, we think Adrian is the best we have ever, had.” Belgian Consul to Uganda

"This is just a note of thanks for everything provided to make our holiday an enjoyable and rewarding experience.  We are very pleased with the overall services provided by everyone from Merit (especially Adrian and Joan) and for your quick responses to our many questions.   What we asked for is not a normal package tour and required a deal of preparation, innovation, and flexibility from both your side and ours.  Considering all the variables and pieces involved to put this together, the trip went amazingly well in terms of both timing and quality of events.  I would happily recommend Merit to anyone, especially those interested in a unique and memorable East Africa experience.  The reason I chose Merit was because of the thorough responsiveness of your sales team, especially Joan.  She provided quick and comprehensive responses with options from which to choose.  Even if she could not respond right away, she let us know when to expect to hear back which was never more than a day or two. This service was head-and-shoulders above your competition, as I shopped this tour with about 4 different companies.  Most importantly, the products you promised were delivered on the tour itself. We have taken many tours all over the world, and I would rate Adrian one of the best guides and drivers we have encountered.   He’s very professional and always made sure we informed what to expect.  Adrian is very knowledgeable about this region of Africa and also well-connected within the local guide and travel communities.  This enabled him to plan ahead and iron-out any glitches before they occurred.  Adrian always made sure he knew our opinions, and that we were happy with the services.  He is also a very safe driver which was greatly appreciated. One day, we decided to change our minds on the entire itinerary, and Adrian adapted to it without a problem or sign of irritation.  His was as excited about our trip as we were, and  I never felt he was going through the motions.  You are lucky to have a tremendous asset in Adrian!  Thanks again to everyone on the Merit team." Mark Listermann, UK (US citizen)

“It was such a harmony between us, the crazy film makers and actors. Thank you for organising our transport through out the time the movie was shot, over 65 vehicles daily for three months!!
Herbert is a very professional guide with vast knowledge about the country and the animals, and all the birds. He was the best driver with a lot of humour. Although the roads were partly in a very bad state, and we sometimes shot at night and weird hours, he would adjust his driving in order to stick to the time-table, we always felt safe. We also enjoyed his courtsey since he took the time to stay with us in the evening for dinner and that he could answer our so many questions and even give us so much more.” Kevin McDonald, Director of the Movie: 'The Last King of Scotland'

To Top

"Excellent in every way. The guide Amos’s fantastic knowledge of people and surroundings was an extra bonus." Dr Stéphane Du Mortier, ICRC Regional Medical Coordinator

"This is such a fantastic recap it practically brings tears to our eyes. We often request updates from our partners and get a two line response; what you have provided is so helpful. The care and consideration you take is in dealing with clients and trip details are so comforting and admirable. Thank you for all you have done." Paul Kajubi, Accountant In Charge, UNDP Kampala

" Amos was a fantastic driver, and he frequently went above and beyond the call of duty to make sure that we were comfortable. Whether it was the bumpy roads upcountry or the game drives in the park, Amos made driving in Uganda almost seem serene. We enjoyed his sense of humor, and we appreciated the way he pointed out interesting sights along the road. It is impossible to underestimate how much of our good time we owe directly to him.

Many of the hotels were excellent, but we especially enjoyed the Ndali Lodge and Nile Lodge. Also the frequent contacts with Merit by phone were heartening and appreciated. Amos is a great asset for merit, and Merit a great host in Uganda and Rwanda. Francis was a great help and very cooperative in planning out tour. The merit team did a great job of helping us through Aafke’s illness. Thanks." Tony Ossendorp, KLM Airlines Flight Captain

" Our holiday in Uganda this month was a fantastic experience and made even more special by our driver William who rapidly became much more than our driver and guide. It's hard to believe that there could be anyone in Uganda more knowledgable about birds and how he managed to spot some of them - and identify them all - while he was driving when four pairs of us eyes failed to see them will remain a mystery, as well as a source of total admiration. William’s character was shown at its very best when on one of the roads the car got stuck in mud and tyre covered in muddy road in Kangando on the boarder with Congo. His concern and willingness to lend a hand, even in the middle of the night when we had to call on him in an emergency, was over and above the call of duty. Willy’s sense of humour and general awareness made it a trip to remember and we're sure we speak for all of us in saying we cannot speak too highly of him." Duncan Thomas, The Great Football Giveaway, UK

To Top

'" My husband has asked me to convey to you how absolutely gob -smacking brilliant the trip was. He had a successful tracking each time. He came home with over 1,000 pictures, of which at least 999 were fully in focus and unbelievable. Everyone was helpful, friendly and kind. There were absolutely no problems at all. I am sure he will be in touch when he is able. From me, his wife, to all of you, I thank you very very much for making this adventure possible.'' Mariateressa, Italy

"We just finished our trip to Rwanda and it was amazing. My family and I all agree that this was one of the best trips we have ever taken. All the accommodations were wonderful, the people everywhere on safari top notch and friendly, the standard of service everywhere we went was first rate, all the guides we had were so informative and helpful, the gorilla trekking was truly incredible, and all the transfers were taken care of seamlessly. To top it all off, we had the opportunity to meet some really wonderful, kind, and warm people during our travels that only added to our overall experience. Amazing, life changing experience!! " Jenny Spalding, US citizen (based in Saudi Arabia)

"Objective was to see gorillas. Very much enjoyed Bwindi + very unique + amazing to come so close to the silverback, unforgettable experience. Driver Abdu is a very professional guide with vast knowledge about the country and the animals". Guido Knep and Doina Blake

"Itravelled to Bwindi Uganda to begin our first African safari. We really had no idea what to expect. Our greatest fortune was having Amos as our guide. After 4 wonderful days exploring Uganda, Africa’s ‘jewel’, we had trekked the mountain gorillas. We also interacted first hand with the wonderful people of Uganda. Amos’s intimate knowledge of the flora and fauna and the culture and traditions of the people – as well as his safe driving – made our adventure unforgettable.  Amos always went the extra mile to enhance our experience.  Uganda, and Amos, changed our lives forever. Plus, Francis in the office was always friendly and helped to plan out trip well." Jean Lee, from the US

"The friendliness of the people we came across was wonderful and this was demonstrated perfectly by our driver/guide, Amos Kasasira, of whom I cannot praise enough. He was of course responsible for us throughout the trip but he undertook his tasks with such care and diligence that I would not hesitate ton recommend him to anyone as a driver/guide.  He was extremely personable and really friendly while maintaining a totally professional approach throughout the journey.  He was completely in control and we really felt totally safe in his hands - an excellent driver too which is crucial in view of the "uneven" roads in some places. It was a great pleasure and, I would say a great privilege to share his company for the extent of the trip: he provided us with so much information about all aspects of the journey but more than that I truly value many of the conversations we shared often on the tour!" Rudolf van der Ploeg & Harrie Grossens, The Netherlands

"Accommodations were a bit too luxurious for my liking. I would have preferred less luxury and stay. The itinerary you developed for us was excellent. We enjoyed the variety of activities it included, and the gorillas, of course!" Mr. Charneco, Spain

To Top

"We just wanted to email to say how much we appreciated and enjoyed our recent trip to Rwanda. You provided us with a very wonderful guide Godfrey and also very courteous. He has exceptional communication skills and was very kind and considerate. He welcomed us warmly and provided us with many interesting facts about The Gorillas among other things. Thanks for making our holiday so memorable. He is truly are a real asset to your company. We wish him well. Yours sincerely." Kelly Hartman, Australia

"We traveled to Rwanda in August of 2009. Francis in the office had very good recommendations to make, and was very patient with us while we finalized our tour. Our tour guide Moses is knowledgeable and friendly. The tour was a great success. I would love to visit Rwanda again, and if I do, I will use Merit Safaris." Erik Viani, Italy

"We arranged our honeymoon through Merit Safaris and had a wonderful time. After unsuccessful attempts to make arrangements with three other tour operators, we made our arrangements with Merit Safaris. Merit was very attentive to our needs. We kept refining our tour stops and schedule. The accommodations were great, the tour guide helpful and knowledgeable. And the sights incredible. Although we contacted Rachel only few weeks before we were leaving for Uganda, she responded promptly and made many suggestions on how to make our tour a success. She answered questions and gave details much more quickly than any other tour services we contacted." Mr. & Mrs Alexander, Germany

"I wanted to thank you so very much for our trip to Uganda! I’m encouraging all of our friends to make the journey as I'm sure prices will continue to soar due to the changing conditions on ground and inflation."Mohammed Alikhulifi, Saudi Arabia

"The guides all spoke VERY good English and had a handle on our needs and wants! They are all to be recommended by us to other customers...I left a bottle of Washington Wine with Rebecca for you. She said she would give it to you on her next trip into the office." Kurt Vandamann, Germany

"When we arrived in Entebbe we were tired from the trip but first impressions of the city were good. We met our group that night and the next day headed of to Ngamba Island on Lake Victoria to a Chimp Sanctuary.  The lake is huge and there was lots of other wildlife such as birds, otters and monitor lizards we also saw on this trip.  We watched the chimps being fed and it was really interesting to see their antics.  On the way back we stopped for a swim in the lake too. After that we have basically been making our way to Rwanda and back for the Gorilla Trek.  Uganda is quite hilly and green with lots of agriculture everywhere.  All of the sides of the hills have been cultivated.  The people are very friendly and much of the time on the truck is spent waving to all the kids that come running out when we pass.  Rwanda is even hillier and, once again, full of friendly people.  It is amazing the loads we see people carrying on their bicycles and on their heads and there are many women walking along the road with a big load on their head and a baby on their back.

We went to the Genocide Memorial/Museum in Kigale (the capital of Rwanda) and it was quite a sobering experience… We have crossed the equator twice and yesterday we stopped for photos and to see the demonstration of the water going clockwise in the northern hemisphere, anticlockwise in the southern hemisphere and then straight down on the equator.
Hope all is well wherever you are." Silvia Castelli, Italy

To Top

"Rwanda has been the most fantastic country so far, we were only here for 3 days but it is such a beautiful country, its known as the land of 1000 hills and you can see why as its surrounded by 5 volcanoes. We started off by visiting the genocide museum which was the most difficult thing I have experienced, the things that these people had to go through only 15 years ago was horrendous but they are now such positive people and they are so amazing.

The best part of the trip so far was the Gorilla trek in Congo, it was the most amazing experience of my life, we trekked up a mountain for 45 minutes and then all of a sudden there were a family of 10 right in front of us with 2 females carrying a 2 day old and a 2 month old baby. And we were allowed to get up to 1.5 metres from them. AMAZING." Rick Chen, China

"Where on earth do I start?!! I’ve just returned from the most memorable travel experience I’ve ever had and which possibly will never forget…

We hiked into the mountain range bordering the DRC, Uganda and Rwanda and went trudging through the muddy Congo jungle for about 2hrs before our expert trackers managed to find the family of gorillas we were after.  There were 2 silverbacks (one dominant, and another younger and was very shy), 2 mums and their babies, and a few more adolescents.  We were able to stay with them for an hour which was over way too quickly and left us all speechless. These animals are so incredible to watch.  The silverback came right up behind us and sitting right near him was pretty intimidating. He was the same size as a human male but with massive shoulders and arms and his head was huge.  They are very beautiful animals. It was a truly amazing experience! On the way back to Uganda, we went through Kigali and stopped to check out the Genocide Museum.  It is one of the most comprehensive museums I have been to - extremely well put together and one of the best I have visited."  Enrico Bassi, Italy

To Top