3 Days Gorilla trekking tour

FRAUDLUENT/ AVOID- Karumuna Safaris is run by a criminal- Richard Kisembo

Richard Kisembo is a scam artist and total fraud, took our money and never turned up to take us on our trip. He was always communicative over the phone, on whatsapp and email- especially when it came to payments. But after we paid the final deposit, he literally ghosted us and never turned up to pick us up from the agreed upon place and time for our trip. We called both of his phone numbers from multiple phones, sent emails, and even had staff in the hotel in Entebbe call him off their Ugandan numbers, and never heard a thing. We then decided to call the hotels that he listed we would be staying at in our itinerary/ programme, and there were no bookings for us, and they also told us that the hotels were actually looking for Richard because he owed them money. He had not purchased our permits for the tours and we never heard from him at all. So this was not a last minute- something bad happened, this was a pre-meditated robbery from the day we booked. We found him on Safaribookings.com, and I regret using this site immensely. We first spoke to him on 5.1.24, paid the first deposit on the 23.1.24, and last spoke to him the week before we were due to arrive- so we were in constant contact. We spoke to other tour guides along our route and his reputation for being a criminal proceeded him so much so, that other guides actually heard that he was in prison for fraud and that a variety of service providers and agencies was looking for him as he owed them money. We went to the police in Kampala and opened a case against him (there are many other cases open), as we do not want anyone else to get robbed like us and have this terrible experience. Police report: SD- 71/20/04/2024 ; Case- O/M/B/F/P. There are now many other reviews reaffirming this statement, some have been on tours- but not with Richard, and judging by the comments, have been utterly atrocious. We were actually lucky that our hotel in Entebbe found us a wonderful tour guide very last minute to go on a safari trip and also lucky that we visited in the off season so we were able to get quick permits within a couple of days, as in the high season- they take over a month to process, so we ended up having a great time- albeit not with the fraudulent Karumuna Safaris. Safaribookings.com- it would be wise to take him off your system.

Response from the operator: Same person writing multiple reviews on our account this same person has never been our client only with different motives being paid by some competitors to ruin our business.

via Tripadvisor

Disastrous Safari Experience

I do not recommend Richard and his company. At many points during the safari, our vehicle broke down in the middle of the wilderness, leaving us stranded for hours until another vehicle finally arrived to rescue us. This incident not only wasted precious safari time but also raised serious safety concerns about the company's lack of contingency plans and maintenance procedures. Poor Customer Service: When I voiced my concerns to the safari company's management, I was met with indifference and excuses rather than a genuine effort to address the issues. It was evident that they prioritized profit over customer satisfaction, which is unacceptable considering the premium price we paid for the experience. During our safari, it came to my attention that the entrance fee for Murchison Falls National Park was not paid by your company on behalf of our group. As you may be aware, paying the appropriate entrance fees is not only a legal requirement but also essential for supporting conservation efforts and maintaining the integrity of the national park. The failure to pay the entrance fee to Murchison National Park not only reflects poorly on y company's professionalism but also raises concerns about commitment to ethical and sustainable tourism practices. As a responsible traveler, I expect the safari company I choose to uphold the highest standards of integrity and compliance with local regulations. I was also writing to file a formal complaint regarding an incident involving Karumuna Safari during a recent visit to Murchison Falls National Park in Uganda to the Police, to Uganda Tourist Bureau and to African Touristic asociacion

Response from the operator: We are being disappointed from multiple reviews coming from all corners and we don’t know the whereabouts of these people

via Tripadvisor

LIAR WHICH PUT ALL SOLID AGENCIES IN UGANDA TO BAD LIGHT

Horrible experience, Richard did not buy permits for gorillas. We had to prolong our stay by 1 day and go to another sector to do track. In Murchinson alls same situation happaned, no tickets. In Kampoala no paid hotel and food. We had to pay by ourself. Richard only buyin time and believe that we will forget. No, we will not forget, we reported him at the Police . We still waiting for our money almost 2000 USD. DO NOT BUY SERVICE FROM THIS LIAR RICHARD!!!!

Response from the operator: We are being disappointed from multiple reviews coming from all corners and we don’t know the whereabouts of these people

via Tripadvisor

Very satisfying and adventurous safari.

We went on 3 days gorilla trekking, we had a wonderful time and the services were excellent. our guide was Richard was always on time and was very knowledgeable. it is a good way to experience a real adventure in Uganda. we loved it and the trek in to see the gorillas was very successful.

via Tripadvisor

Unforgettable experience

Unforgettable trip. Richard is the best guide for this type of safaris. Very involved, always helpful with a great sense of humor. The safari itself is very nice, overall the trip was awesome. We highly recommend this safari.

via Tripadvisor