My mother and I had the best trip of our lives thanks to Kabira Safaris and our guide Arshley Brian. Our guide arrived promptly on time with a warm welcoming smile that remained with us for the duration of our journey. Arshley is the most knowledgeable guide I’ve encountered amongst my numerous African safari experiences. His broad knowledge of the Ugandan wildlife with an unmatchable expertise of birds and trees enhanced our experience and appreciation for the beauty Uganda has to offer. His vast awareness of wildlife along with his dynamic personality kept us entertained and engaged while traveling between national parks and forests. Arshley has an exceptionally trained eye and was able to spot a leopard in a tree that most would need binoculars to see. He continually exposed us to many new species beyond what I expected to encounter. While getting to know Arshley, I learned of his many accolades in guiding, birding, and forestry. He is the reason our experience was both educational and enjoyable. Arshley is so easy to talk to that by day two he was not just our guide, but also a close friend. He is fun and happy and this made our experience extra special. He was continuously concerned about our comfort level and general well-being as was Sharon, our program planner from Kabira, who would often check-in to ensure we were having the best possible trip.
When deciding on our specific itinerary, Sharon always responded promptly and supportively. I had many questions and concerns as one does when planning an expensive overseas excursion. Sharon helped put me at ease by thoroughly walking me through each step of the process. She even took a midnight phone call from me when I needed last minute assistance with the payment process. It was such a wonderful surprise when she took the time to meet us on our final evening and presented us with a thank you gift.
Our favorite day was the Gorilla Habituation Experience where we spent four hours with a magnificent mountain gorilla family. Although the cost of the permit was quite pricey, it was well worth it to encounter these creatures so up close and personal. I have fallen in love with the country, its peoples, and all the land has to offer. When I come back, there’s no question that I will be using Kabira again.