An unforgettable experience. - I was very impressed by the attention and detail that went into the planning of our visit. The long hours and dedication the guides were prepared to put into... read more ensuring our total satisfaction was a first to me. I will have no hesitation in recommending their service to any prospective visitor to Uganda.

  Birding western Uganda  - Matthew Kajungu put together a bespoke tour that ticked all our boxes: great vehicle, brilliant driver (Ronald), mid-range comfortable and clean accommodation, delicious food, and, I suspect, the best local... read more community guides in each area we visited. We had a fantastic 16-day birding tour of the west, with Matthew sharing his vast knowledge of the landscapes, wildlife and cultures we experienced. I have no hesitation in recommending him to prospective adventurers.

  Wonderful Birding and Nature Tour Company in Uganda for Birds, Primates and Culture  - We had an incredible month-long birding adventure in Uganda with Matthew Kayunga, of Cisticola Birding and Nature Tours Uganda, as our guide.
We can’t recommend him highly enough.... read more 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, Matthew 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.

Matthew’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 an endemic 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! On the few occasions when he 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 Matthew 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.

Matthew 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. Matthew 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 Matthew’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 Matthew 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 Matthew 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 Matthew for anyone interested in birding or nature travel in Uganda. His dedication, expertise, and infectious enthusiasm make for a truly memorable adventure!

  A most amazing trip  - Matthew organised the tour and we trusted him so we felt we could send money for the hotels and permits. Another friend had recommended him to us.
Unfortunately he... read more could not be our guide which I was very upset about at first but he gave us the lovely Emmanuel.
The 12 days were action packed with a full itinerary every day. Visiting game parks, river trips, gorillas and the long journey by jeep to the chimpanzees. We stayed in some amazing hotels.
Monday 16th Via Via, we loved this one and the food was amazing.
Tuesday off to the Mabamba swamps in search of the shoebill. Yes they found this magnificent bird. Then off to another hotel Rwakobo Rock Lodge. Amazing place.
Wednesday Mburo National Park zebras, giraffes, water bucks,monkeys,baboons,vultures,eagles,impalas,elands,squirrels,kingfishers and many more . Mburo lake where Rebecca told us all about the hippopotamus where we saw hundreds also crocodiles and eagles and hammerhocks.
Thursday we went with Isaac to “The milk process”. I have to say I thought this would be boring but it was so entertaining meeting Esther and her milk pots,I even had to buy one later to bring home just to remember the wonderful time we had with Isaac and Esther. We went on to Bwindi forest and our new hotel Gorilla Bluff Lodge which was lovely and the staff were awesome, especially Andrew the boss and dear Prossy who looked after me.
Friday the Gorilla experience. This was just wow . After about 1/2 hour I got a “helicopter “ this was just TOO much fun!
It cost $300, hey I was helping the community. We also had 2 porters each my main one being the wonderful Caleb. Quite a few tips were required so get cash. We saw 6 gorillas, amazing. Gorillas don’t like tea ! So the area was surrounded by tea plantations to keep the gorillas in. Saturday off to Queen Elizabeth park. So many animals too many to mention and Elephant Hab Lodge . Just wonderful. Staff so delightful. “Yes please!” Sunday game drive , then a boat trip on the Kazinga channel. So amazing we saw loads of hippos but were blessed to see 20 elephants coming to the water for a splash about. Awesome.
Monday transfer to Kibale forest. Lovely local walk. Thursday the Chimpanzee experience. Just amazing. Wednesday transfer to Entebbe and back to via via for 2 nights then home. What a holiday wow Matthew wow.

  Bird watching tour  - The experience was super and nice with very kind, experienced and honest people so I recommend every one to try him I can't wait to use him again

  The best birding/wildlife guide? The best private trip organizer? Look no further!!!  - My wife and I went for a one week private trip to Uganda. Guide Matthew is simply the best. He's able to organize everything, is an extremely knowledgable wildlife/birding guide... read more and the nicest guy in Uganda. Our trip was a huge success - thanks to Matthew!

  Matthew is an incredibly experienced ornithologist and knows his Ugandan birds like a professor. He also can whistle and imitate birds with great skill, drawing them closer for observation.
... read more /> We are not expert ornithologists but keen observers. Matthew was extremely professional and took us for a memorable morning walk in the deep jungle where we saw many new species.

  Excellent - great service, great birds & gorillas! - Matthew Twongyeirwe was our main guide for this birding and gorilla trip to SW Uganda. It was a fantastic trip, well-organised and highly professional throughout. The vehicle was excellent and... read more although we opted for budget accommodation throughout, everywhere we stayed was fine - clean, great staff & decent food.
The wildlife and birds were amazing. If you fancy visiting Uganda, then I have no hesitation in recommending Matthew and his team - it’s a great country, lovely people and we always felt secure.