Eraste BACAMUVYUMA
CEO
Founded in 2019, Empirical Tour and Travel has been responsible for providing guest with unforgettable, once in a lifetime, excursions for over a 5 years. Our personalized trips will cater to your needs and wants, without you having to stress about anything.
Tour Operations
Explore Rwanda, Burundi, Dr.Congo and Uganda on our exceptional expeditions. We cater to solo and group travelers with an emphasis on providing superior services and unforgettable experiences.
Transportation
We offer customized tours and transportation throughout Dr. Congo and East Africa in well-maintained 4X4 Jeeps with professional guides.
Accommodations
Empirical Tour and Travel offers customized trips and private tours with boutique hotels and high-end hotels for authentic experiences globally.
Sightseeing
We offer customized tours, ensuring our customers meet their expectations. Our packages are based on previous experiences, but we welcome requests from clients.
- We Provide Best Deals
Empirical Tour and Travel is a sustainable and responsible tour company that offers unforgettable travel experiences in Dr. Congo and the East African Region. We cater to travelers who are interested in safaris, gorilla trekking, cultural tours, sightseeing tours and hiking adventures.
- Quality Services Ensure
We are committed to providing our clients with authentic and sustainable travel experiences. Our tours are designed to be immersive and authentic, and we work with local communities to ensure that our guests have a positive impact on the places they visit.
- Customer Care
We are a customer-centric company that is committed to providing our customers with an exceptional experience. This is evident in our excellent customer care service, personalized attention, flexibility, proactive communication, and other customer-centric features.
- Experience Guides
We are a team of experienced and knowledgeable guides who is passionate about sharing the beauty and culture of our region with visitors from all over the world. We are committed to providing our clients with the best possible travel experience, and we go to great lengths to ensure that our clients have a memorable and enjoyable trip.
What do they say about Empirical Tour?
EXCELLENT Based on 17 reviews Katherine G2024-10-18Verified Rwanda stole our hearts We booked our tour months prior our trip last September, I won't denied in the beginning I was scared since it was my first time in Central Africa and I didn't know what to expect, neither I was sure to who was I sending my full payment to. I can say all my fears disappear soon enough due to the great communication the company provide during the quote of the trip as well the days prior to the trip. The team (guide and driver) were always on time and available to any questions we may had. The chosen hotels were fantastic, the activities amazing (it can't be described on how awesome was to see all the animals in the game drive) and I can say that absolutely everyone was friendly and welcoming. We travel to Rwanda and Uganda, but Rwanda definitely stole our hearts, the beauty, cleanliness and security of the place was not expected and we can't wait to go back. Absolutely recommend it! John K2024-06-20Verified One week Gorilla Trekking in Kahuzi Biega-DRC. I went on a private 1 week tour with the owner(Eraste) from Rwanda(via Bukavu) to DR Congo and back(via Goma) which included Nyungwe Park, Kahuzi Biega Park to see Lowland Gorillas, a visit to a chimpanzee sanctuary(Lwiro) and a trip up Lake Kivu. It was an amazing experience without any bad experience. Pre tour communication was excellent and payment was without issue. Everything listed was provided and there was flexibility to make changes based on preference or changing circumstances. All transport and pick ups were arranged and vehicles were comfortable and the visa was arranged and borders were crossed without issues. The accommodation was all good as were the meals and Eraste and his drivers were professional and well-informed and were fun company. Seeing gorillas at close range for a quarter of the price of other countries is a really amazing experience.I would recommend this company and the gorilla viewing tour to anyone who is looking for an adventurous trip. Herve L2024-06-03Verified Akagera Park Safari Empirical Tour and Travel provided an outstanding experience with their 3 days safari in Akagera Park. The opportunity for us to see the Big Five was truly remarkable and a highlight of our trip. We captured numerous stunning photos, immersing ourselves in the park's breathtaking natural beauty. Joseph, our guide, was exceptionalâknowledgeable, personable, and passionate about the wildlife and environment. His expertise and enthusiasm greatly enhanced our adventure, making it an unforgettable experience. We highly recommend Empirical Tour and Travel for anyone looking to explore Akagera Park and enjoy an unparalleled safari experience. Moritz R2024-05-25Verified Rwanda & DRC I spent 6 days in Rwanda & DRC and enjoyed every moment of the trip! Eraste was extremely helpful during the whole planning process. The activities were well organized and the hotels were the perfect places to relax. Highly recommended! I am already planning the next trip with Empirical Tour and Travel! Courtney2024-04-22Verified 10/10 recommendations for an East Africa adventure You absolutely must travel with Empirical Tour and Travel! I was so impressed with our trip and recommend Eraste and the company to anyone traveling to East Africa. Our three week trip to Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania was absolutely incredible and all that credit is due to our tour company. When comparing tour companies, I was most attracted to Empirical Tour and Travel because of the ability to create our own plan and not feel caught up in a large Tour group. The communication prior to the trip was clear and easy to manage and Eraste was very flexible to accommodate our travel preferences. He went above and beyond to ensure that we had a special experience each day that was catered to our interests in exposed us to a variety of activities, including multiple safari, gorilla, trekking, cultural tours, banana beer making, and so much more. The accommodations and restaurants selected for our tour were fantastic with a very comfortable amenities and stunning views. Empirical Tour and Travel brings a high-level of professionalism and reliability and managed every detail so we could enjoy being present on our vacation. The package was absolutely a great value for the price. 10/10 recommend for a trip of a lifetime! Max2024-04-17Verified Good option for all things Rwanda + surroundings Eraste was very solicitous of needs and did a good job handling the logistics. One of the third-party drivers was aggressive and unprofessional. Matt C2024-03-09Verified Incredibly broad and rich range of experiences across East Africa Empirical Tour and Travel led an incredibly rich and rewarding custom trip through East Africa for my fiancee and I for 3.5 weeks. We were both in between jobs and wanted to do something really big. We researched a large number of different safari services and for various reasons, none of them were a good match for us. I stumbled across Empirical's profile and was intrigued by their focus on Rwanda, Burundi, and Congo. I had never really thought about these countries before, but I reached out to them to ask for more info. Eraste (the owner and head guide) was very responsive and provided good info. We discussed a custom trip based off a standard trip they offer. Within 2 days, Eraste provided me with a custom itinerary based on a large number of things I was interested in. We agreed to a 23 day trip across Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania. I requested a few last changes (removed DRC and added a horse safari in Kenya), which he accommodated. The itinerary we finally agreed on was very exciting. We paid Eraste via a mix of credit card (which had to be paid in batches of less than $2000 due to limitations on the Rwanda bank) and wire transfer.Eraste met us at the airport in Kigali after midnight, as the flight arrives late at night, and took us to our hotel. We slept and then the trip began. Over the next 3.5 weeks we really got a taste of East Africa:Rwanda was a true hidden gem. The entire country is impossibly clean and looks landscaped; a photo at any random location in the country looked like it had to be a park or something, but it wasn't, it was just the landscape. The Genocide Memorial Center was really a good experience. Rwanda has a painful past (the genocide was in 1994), but to walk around the country you don't feel it. Everyone is very kind (though street vendors are still trying to sell stuff). Other highlights included a canopy walk, golden monkey trek, a stay at a great beautiful lodge on tranquil Lake Kivu (where my fiancee and I got engaged!) and a visit to islands in the lake, Dian Fossey museum, banana beer making, and cultural dancing. Burundi provided a great cultural experience at the Gishora Drum Sanctuary. This was amazing. You could feel the drum resonate through your chest. We also visited a waterfall park.Uganda gave us the highlight of our trip - the gorilla trek. We hiked off trail in the jungle to spend an hour with a gorilla family of 8. The gorillas are habituated to humans (which takes years of daily exposure to trackers), so they basically ignore you. You're in no danger. We stood a short distance from a silverback while he munched on leaves. Our hearts were racing. Over the next hour we got to watch different members of the gorilla family eat ants, relax in trees, beat their chests (to impress us, according to the trackers), and liver their daily lives. In Uganda, we also visited several parks and got to see lions (male, female, and cubs), cheetahs, giraffes, antelopes, elephants, hippos, and several species of antelope and primates. We crossed the equator and saw a demonstration of water spinning clockwise and counter-clockwise and falling straight down. The crazy thing was, these were only 10 meters apart. We also did a really nice boat ride to Merchison Falls and saw more elephants and hippos. Kenya provided an experience of a walking safari with members of a Maasai tribe in Maasai Mara. We saw elephants and antelope. We also got to visit their village, meet young warriors in training, and see their jumping contest and dancing. In a separate location, we did a horse safari which was was incredible. I highly recommend doing this. We were able to see giraffes from a distance and wart hogs and impala up close. We visited a rhino sanctuary and got see them up close grazing from a short distance while we walked around on foot. We also visited a giraffe park and got to feed and pet giraffes. So wonderful. Tanzania was the end of our trip and we spent a few days snorkeling in the crystal blue waters of the Indian Ocean off Zanzibar. We also explored Stone Town and visited a slavery memorial location that was very educational.Throughout the trip we stayed very good accommodations. Some were good, some were really good, and some were absolutely top notch. We were perfectly happy with this mix. Most hotels were gated, and we never felt unsafe.The food ranged from local (which was really tasty) to specific to westerners. The quality varied by location. Sometimes the meat was tough, which really shouldn't be surprising, as the way food is stored in those areas is very different than back home. But sometimes it really was like eating at a nice restaurant. Again, it's travel, so we expected this mix. We chose to avoid vegetables that weren't peeled so we missed out on some stuff, but if felt like a good choice for us. We both got traveler's diarrhea once on the trip, though it was minor and passed in a few days. (Mine came from eating some berries for sale on the roadside in Burundi. I should have known better.)The drivers were really on the ball and a did a good job covering long distances while ensuring we were safe and got to our destinations on time. They also did a great job in the game parks helping to get us to animal sitings, which may not last long.Overall, I have to say the trip was INCREDIBLE. Seriously, nearly every day we experienced something incredible, and the whole time we kept thinking, and there's still a lot more amazing stuff to come! It felt like we packed months of experiences in a short time.Eraste is a very kind and caring guide and went to a lot of trouble to give us the best experience possible, including adding a last minute trip to the giraffe park after he learned my fiancee liked giraffes and arranging with hotel staff to leave floral decorations on our bed to celebrate our recent engagement. Eraste also has great staff and we really enjoyed interacting with all of them.I'd strongly recommend you bring a large amount of small currency for tipping and some extra money for visas and anything you want to buy. We brought a bunch of (USD) 1's, 5's, and 20's as well as several 100's. For 23 days, we each spent about $1200, though we didn't buy a lot of stuff. It was mostly tipping, the occasional beverage (alcohol is not included in the price), and visas. (Many of the activities are run by people at the specific location, not by Empirical, so you will need ample cash for tipping. So in addition to tipping your Empirical guides and drivers, you will also be tipping local staff.)I can strongly recommend Empirical. We had a great time across a very broad and rich set of experiences. I can't say enough good things about the trip and I'm still smiling, days after returning home. Eline S2023-12-05Verified Amazing experience in Burundi On our 3 days trip to Burundi we had an amazing experience in this wonderful country. The communication was very smooth and in good english and therefore helped us a lot. The guide was very grateful with the tour and about the country and loved to share his experience with us. For us the last day of the tour was a little to long and maybe better to take a small lunch break so that you have some time to stretch your legs. Leaving a little earlier in the morning gives you already this time for a lunch break. We really can recommend taking a tour and we had an amazing experience! Karin H2023-10-02Verified Everything I hoped for and more! Everything I hoped for and more! Great guides, good communication. I have experienced many things, seen landscapes and animals. Stayed in the most hospitable places, enjoyed great cooking everywhere! This trip I will take with me the rest of my life. Rwanda is in my heart, thank you so much!! Jim and Marcia2023-09-09Verified 13 days Rwanda, Burundi and DRCongo visit. Efficient, knowledgeable and prompt, Good communication pre and through out our tour. Sensitive and caring operator.