Matthew Kajungu

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We had an incredible month-long birding adventure in Uganda with Mathew Kajungo as our guide, and we can’t recommend him highly enough. His company is still young, but he already shows remarkable promise and brings tremendous heart and energy to his work. During the pre-trip planning, Mathew was easy to communicate with, and we enjoyed the many photos and stories he shared with us, which helped build our excitement for the upcoming Uganda adventure. Mathew’s knowledge of birds, wildlife, and local culture is outstanding, especially in his home region of Bwindi. He has a real gift for finding elusive species—we were thrilled when he located a Fox’s Weaver in a less-visited area within its proper habitat—and thanks to his skills, we saw 446 bird species during our trip! (We were not there, when the non-breeding migrants are there.) On the few occasions when Matthew wasn’t completely certain about an identification, he demonstrated strong fieldguide skills, and we valued his open-mindedness when a correction was made. That humility only strengthened our confidence in him. His choice of itinerary was also excellent for both bird finding and immersion in Uganda’s nature and culture. He had us make a clockwise loop, which is different from the routes used by many other tour companies. One highlight came right at the start: taking the Entebbe ferry across to reach Mabamba Swamp for the Shoebill. Not only was the birding experience outstanding, but the cultural experience of waiting with locals at the Entebbe street market for the first ferry of the day was fantastic. We enjoyed it so much that we booked a second Shoebill trip on our final free day. Even though Mathew could have returned home, he committed to guiding us for one more excellent day of birds and culture—something we truly appreciated. His enthusiasm and care for clients are exceptional. He constantly checked in to ensure we were comfortable, went out of his way to accommodate special requests, and his warmth made us feel more like friends than clients. He also seemed to know everyone, which added a wonderful personal dimension to our travels. Mathew worked tirelessly to create other unforgettable experiences, such as arranging a chimp trek with only the two of us as participants in our group, and securing a premium location assignment for one of our two gorilla treks. He also brought in excellent local birding guides in different regions, adding depth, local expertise, and variety to our experience. We especially appreciated his commitment to the next generation, as he mentors young park ranger interns, including women, in bird identification and conservation. Mathew also hired Walter as our driver—an excellent choice, as we were well looked after and always felt safe on the road. That said, I would be remiss not to mention that at times we were disappointed with communication during our travels. We had a set itinerary, but on at least five occasions our overnight lodging was changed—sometimes we were told in advance, and other times not until we arrived at the entrance. That said, the alternate lodgings were all comfortable and pleasant, and a couple were even better than the places we were originally scheduled to stay. It was really the surprise element that caught us off guard. There were also logistical issues in the north that were beyond Mathew’s control, yet we were still disappointed to miss Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve, which had been on our itinerary and comes highly recommended for birding and wildlife. We believe that as Mathew gains more experience planning long, complex 26-day tours, he will improve at managing these kinds of challenges. Uganda itself was spectacular—primates, breathtaking landscapes, and unforgettable Shoebill encounters were definite highlights. Despite the hiccups, we are confident that Mathew will continue to refine the logistics of his tours as his company grows. With his passion and talent, he is well on his way to becoming one of Uganda’s very best guides. We wholeheartedly recommend Mathew for anyone interested in birding or nature travel in Uganda. His dedication, expertise, and infectious enthusiasm make for a truly memorable adventure!