Posts From October 2011

Africa Dream Safaris Testimonial

Krabill Family (October 1-11, 2011)
Larry, Kathy, Laura, Michele, Elizabeth, Marqui, Virginia and Logan

I have started this letter several times and can’t find sufficient words to express the joy, gratitude and overwhelming awe we all experienced on safari, due almost entirely to Africa Dream Safaris. Maybe our best advice would be to change your name – Africa Dream Safaris does not do your company justice.

As Marqui recently wrote, “I have seen and experienced beauty, thrills and culture that I only dreamed about before. In fact, my wildest dreams were too dull for the adventure and majestic beauty we beheld in Tanzania.” I am, by nature and occupation, a skeptic and particularly distrustful of advertisements. Even a few days before leaving for safari, I worried that Africa Dream Safaris could not deliver the experience and service it had promised. Well, I am happy to report that I couldn’t have been more wrong. In fact, ADS under-promised and over-delivered at every turn.

First, our ADS representative, Sharon Lyon, planned the trip down to every detail. She answered our countless questions before our departure for Tanzania, always patiently and with good humor, allaying our many concerns and providing suggestions and invaluable pre-trip guidance.

Second, four members of our group were delayed on the way to Amsterdam and ADS representatives in both the U.S. and Tanzania (at 1:00 a.m. Tanzania time) answered calls, and gave us assurances that any adjustments could be addressed – luckily, we made the flight to Tanzania and all eight members of our family arrived together as scheduled.

Third, the meet and greet staff at the airport held our hands throughout the visa and customs process and got us out of the airport and to the hotel without us lifting a finger (well, except to be fingerprinted for our visas). We were never concerned and everything was taken care of for us every step of the way. This was just the beginning of ADS exceeding our expectations and even our highest hopes. When we arrived at the Mount Meru Hotel, the suites each couple received could have housed our entire group.

The next morning, we were escorted by our meet and greet staff to the Arusha airport. We had been concerned about the weight restrictions on the flight from Arusha to the Serengeti, particularly because my sister Elizabeth was bringing her wheelchair and walker in addition to her luggage. (Yes, one of the many “special needs” of our group was my sister’s handicap, which was never an issue during our entire trip.

In fact, Elizabeth’s handicap was less of an obstacle and more seamlessly addressed in Tanzania by ADS than in most other places that we’ve traveled as a family – including in the US). Rather than us having to deal with the air carrier about our additional needs or the weight restrictions, ADS arranged a charter flight for just the eight of us at no extra cost! The pilot circled around the landing site a few times so that we could see the wildlife from the air before even touching down in the Serengeti. (Logan is still sure he saw a rhino from the plane.)

Upon arrival in the Northern Serengeti, as promised by ADS, we were greeted on the tarmac by our guides, Peter and Mellel (“Raphael”). They were both so genuine, kind, informative and helpful from the moment we met them that every person in our group instantly connected with both of them. Not only were Peter and Mellel extremely knowledgeable about every animal, bird, tree, flower and location we saw, they were fun to be with, were always striving to ensure that we were having the best time possible, and were excellent “spotters” – finding wildlife that we would have never seen on our own.

In fact, on several occasions, other non-ADS guides were simply going to drive away from a location because they could not see the leopard or other animal our guides had spotted, and either we told the other tourists how to find them or the other guide had to ask Peter or Mellel for help so they could show their group. Peter and Mellel also understood animal habits and behavior so well that they always knew where to be and when. For instance, we stopped for lunch our second day in the Serengeti on a hill under a tree by the Mara River, while wildebeests amassed on the opposite river bank.

Several other safari operators started gathering down the road where it appeared the wildebeests might cross. We started to second-guess our guides, wondering if we should move to where the other cars were waiting. Well, within fifteen minutes after we had finished lunch, the wildebeests began crossing the river immediately in front of our location. Peter and Mellel sped us down to the river bank, and we were the first cars to arrive as the wildebeests began emerging from the river.

Soon, wildebeests were streaming on either side of our cars. It was exhilarating! It was probably the most exciting thing we saw and we didn’t even think we would be there for any of the migration! We enjoyed every minute we were with our guides from the moment we arrived in the Serengeti to the night they dropped us off at the airport for our return flight home. They truly made our safari the amazing adventure it was and we cannot thank them and ADS enough for giving us the opportunity to meet and befriend two such wonderful people.

Beyond our ADS representative, our meet and greet staff and our guides, the accommodations provided by ADS consistently exceeded our expectations. We stayed at a variety of places, and everyone in our group enjoyed all of the lodging. One amazing thing about the accommodations was that ADS managed to arrange lodging with enough variety to meet the disparate desires of every member of our very diverse group.

In particular, we stayed at two Lemala tented camps, which were probably Virginia and Logan’s favorites because they felt so intimate and close to nature; Buffalo Springs, with its amazing food and wonderful staff who bent over backwards to ensure that our slightest whim was satisfied – we think Elizabeth may now be married to one of the staff there who carried her up and down the only set of stairs we encountered during our entire trip, like a husband carrying his new bride over the threshold; Bilila, an absolutely incredible haven of luxury in the middle of the Serengeti, complete with our own individual plunge pools, dik diks grazing outside each enormous suite, and baboon viewing from the bathtubs in our rooms; and finally Swala where lions roared nearby during dinner and elephants sauntered by the porch of our tents as we drank the coffee that came with our “wake-up call.” Every one of the lodges was unique, and combined helped make our “luxury safari” more opulent than we had dreamed possible.

And, last but not least (and I only left it for last because it is not entirely attributable to ADS), the game viewing was amazing! As I mentioned, we saw wildebeests (about 4,000) crossing the Mara River. We saw eight leopards, including one with a dead aardvark in a tree, and three in one tree with a dead gazelle. With the group of three, one of the leopards ended up knocking the gazelle out of the tree and all three then dragged it to a different tree and brought it up again while we watched.

We saw at least five cheetah, one black rhino, and countless lions, elephants, giraffes, zebra, hippos, crocs, impala, wildebeest, hyena, cape buffalo, ostrich, baboon, vervet monkeys, topis, reedbuck, waterbuck, dik dik, and klipspringers, not to mention tons of the most incredible birds I’ve ever seen – and I am not a bird person, or wasn’t before this trip. We got incredible photos, again with many thanks to Peter and Mellel who both knew how to position the car to get the best view and best light for every shot!

Our only criticism of ADS – and it is a serious one – is that you have made it impossible for us to fully enjoy any other family vacation that is not in Tanzania. Any other place would pale in comparison to our trip-of-a-lifetime dream safari. Thank you, ADS!!

Laura Krabill and Family
Raleigh, North Carolina
October 1 to October 11, 2011

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Truly a Trip of a Lifetime

Our trip to Tanzania in October 2011 was truly a trip of a lifetime. I had wanted to go on an African safari for a very long time and once we decided to go in celebration of our 35th wedding anniversary, I was baffled as to how to put the trip together. Friends of ours recommended African Dream Safaris and we are so grateful they did.

We highly recommend ADS. Sharon and Michael both helped us put our itinerary together and they did a spectacular job tailoring the trip to our needs, especially my husband’s delicate back. They absolutely take care of everything – you just have to pay and show up. Every member of the ADS “team” both in the US and in Tanzania was wonderful.

Our trip by far surpassed all our hopes and expectations. It was fun, exhilarating, adventurous, interesting, beautiful, relaxing (in Zanzibar) and quite a learning experience. The animals were awesome, the scenery was magnificent and the people were unbelievably welcoming (Jambo!).

We loved our guide, Anglebert, and can’t complement him enough. Our exceptional safari experience was due to him. He is so knowledgeable and enthusiastic and his focus was making sure we were having the best time possible. His eyesight was unbelievable – he could spot animals from afar and could also anticipate where the best viewing would be. He also helped us with our photos and made suggestions on getting the right shot. Besides all that, we really enjoyed being with him and our time together was precious.

Our favorite accommodations were Buffalo Springs Tented Lodge, with their warm, welcoming, devoted staff, and Private Classic camping. It was an amazing experience to “camp” in the middle of the Central Serengeti and hear lions roar from our tent. The camp staff made us feel like royalty and we would recommend this to all. We also loved ending the trip in Zanzibar where we relaxed, snorkeled and were pampered for three days before returning home.

We followed ADS’s recommendations to get an early start in the morning and be patient while observing the animals and were rewarded with incredible experiences. We saw the wildebeests cross the Mara River twice (on successive days) which was thrilling. The sheer numbers and variety of wildlife we saw each and every day was staggering. We saw lions eight out of our nine days but there was one day where we saw lions eating, drinking, hunting, sleeping, mating and nursing their cubs.

Tanzania is truly a magical place. Thank you ADS for our fabulous, dazzling, breathtaking and astonishing trip.

Ellen and Gary Michel
Los Angeles, California
October 2011

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Africa Dream Safari Does It Right!

Africa Dream Safari does it right! And the other companies know it. I felt like all the other tour companies would follow our jeep around or persist that our driver stop and tell them where to look. It is a good feeling to know you are traveling with the best!!

Oh and our driver was the best:

• we saw the big 5 multiple times
• the crossing
• he spotted a leopard at dusk – this is almost impossible
• Honey Badger
• 3 lions in trees

So my recommendation is to put your trust in ADS and your driver – they know what they are doing. And you have to do the early morning drive with a box breakfast those are some of our most memorable moments. I can’t wait to go back.

Pete Muscarella
Oak Forest, Illinois
October 2011

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Every Day Got Better and Better!

Let me start by saying, thank you very much for a FABULOUS time!  This was my second safari and by far it was so much better than my first trip.  My first trip was to Kenya with another company and I loved it so much that when my friends wanted to go to Tanzania, I said sign me up.  My expectations were set very high to start with, but I have to say ADS surpassed my expectations!

Our guide was great!  His spotting abilities were outstanding.  He spotted the smallest leopard tortoise while driving down a paved road at highway speeds, now that is talent!  I truly believe we would not have seen as much as we did without him.  We saw over a hundred lions, nine leopards, thirteen cheetahs, four rhinos and many wilder beasts, zebras, elephants, giraffes, gazelles, hippos, etc

Day 1 we saw thousands of wilder beasts stampeding and crossing the Mara river, a wilder beast getting attacked by a crocodile along with seeing many other animals.  At the end of day 1, I didn’t think it could get any better.  Boy was I wrong, every day got better and better!  The only thing I didn’t see was a baboon holding a little simba on a large rock formation, but this was not a Disney movie it was better.

My favorite place that we stayed at was the Seronera Sametu camp.  The location was secluded and the scenery was outrageous!  While at that camp, we were lulled to sleep by the sounds of all the animals around us including the lions!  It was great and an experience I will never forget!  The staff at all the camps was friendly and extremely accommodating.

Thanks again ADS for an experience I will always treasure!

Cindy Chan
Waldwick, New Jersey
October 2011

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The Highlight of the Safari was the River Crossing

Thank you for all of your help in planning this trip.  There are not enough adjectives to describe this fabulous trip.  It was the most fantastic trip imaginable!  The highlight of the safari was the river crossing of the wildebeest.  More than 1000 huge antelope coming over the river banks in front of and behind our land cruiser.

On our first day in the North Serengeti we saw more wild animals than I had expected to see on the whole trip.  The accommodations were much better than I had thought, especially the Buffalo Luxury Camp.  The guide/driver was a walking encyclopedia as he knew the name of every animal, bird, flower and tree.  He could spot and identify an animal 200 yards away up in a tree.

Clarence Perr
Brea, California
October 3rd to October 11th 2011

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Our Incredible 12-day Safari Adventure

We’ve been back just over a week from our incredible 12-day safari adventure and would return in a heartbeat! The trip was more than we imagined – from the awe-inspiring scenery, numbers of animals/birds/trees, lovely lodgings, tasty food, friendliness of Tanzanians, and professional care by all ADS staff.

We loved our Land Cruiser and spent 90% of the time standing to get the 360° view. Our game drives generally ran from dawn to dusk but the days never dragged as there was so much to see. Having the Serengeti to ourselves early in the morning was especially magical with the quiet and the changing light. You heard very little noise as animals glided, strolled, crept or snoozed – silently going about their business.

Our guide was the sharpest of all in spotting animals and anticipating the best place to park. While other vehicles jockeyed for position to follow the leopard with her cub, he moved further down the road where we could clearly watch her stash the baby. We never would have seen the elusive cheetahs, leopards, rhinos, and pythons without his eagle eye, and he never tired of answering our questions.

It was so refreshing to be greeted by a hot towel and cool drink as we arrived at each lodging. And we learned to look forward to the hot water bottle at night! Dinners were always flavorful and a nice chance to chat with others and share highlights. Somehow we found the room to enjoy more food after our plentiful breakfast and lunch boxes.

We’ll remember our trip as a collage of wonderful one-of-a-kind experiences: sounds of hyenas just outside our tent, a special birthday celebration, the giraffe gathering, antics of elephants and zebras swimming, lions and other cats relaxing in trees, the unusual tones of the singers at the Maasai village, our first male lion on the night safari, rambunctious hippos, spectacular sunrises and sunsets, zebras rolling on their backs, males locking horns and much more…..

Thanks for much for an unforgettable time,

Martha Laing & Douglas Barnes
Richmond, Vermont
October 2011

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I Never Intended To Go To Africa

I never intended to go to Africa. It seemed like there were just too many reasons not to go. Then some friends booked a private safari with ADS and convinced me to go with them. WOW! I can’t believe I almost passed up the trip of a lifetime!

We saw so many animals. Our driver/guide was amazing. He could spot anything, and was so knowledgeable about all the animals, birds, and plant life. Our favorite camps were the ones where he could have dinner with us, so he could continue to tell us about what we saw that day. The best camp of all was the one I initially didn’t even want to go to, Seronera Sametu camp. Never having camped a day in my life, I thought a place with only four tents might be a little too “rustic”. Boy was I wrong. All the necessary comforts were there, and nothing compares to listening to two prides of lions calling out from opposite sides of the camp all night long. We had an incredible time there thanks to Arnold and Jonas.

One of the many highlights of our trip was seeing the wildebeest migration crossing the Mara River. It’s amazing to think that a year ago I was watching “Great Migrations” on television, never thinking that this year I would actually be there and witness it in person! Another highlight for me was seeing leopards. Although they can be hard to find, I had high hopes that we would see some up close. As you can see from the pictures, our guide did a great job spotting leopards!

I would like to thank Sharon and everyone at ADS for setting up an incredible trip for us. To anyone who never seriously thought of going to Africa, or just isn’t sure if they should go, DO IT! You’ll be so glad you did!

Thanks,

Elaine Ullrich
Whippany, New Jersey
October 2011

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Amazing Trip Photos from Tanzania and Zanzibar

Kim and I want to thank you for putting together an amazing trip. With all the glimpses of the Serengeti that you sent I had high expectations, but I was not disappointed. Everything about the trip was wonderful. Our driver was great. His ability to spot wildlife was amazing and it was a joy spending the safari with him.

It was definitely a worry free trip. Everything was taken care of, meeting us in Arusha and getting us through customs to getting us to our computer flight. Everything was on time and all we had to do was sit back and enjoy.

The scenery and wildlife viewing was amazing. The camp staffs were very friendly and bent over backwards to make our stay enjoyable. Being able to relax in Zanzibar before the flight home was great also. We also enjoyed meeting Brian and Lori Holt and Dave and Julie who were also on Africa Dream Safaris.

After showing people our pictures, they have all ask about Africa Dream Safaris and my comment is “it will be a vacation of a lifetime”.

Again thank you.

Barry Rutgers and Kim Gabriele
Oxnard, California
September 2011

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Quick Migration Update

With November (a popular month for safaris) right around the corner, I know many of you are curious about the current status and location of the Wildebeest Migration. We have a quick report from a guest, Mr. Sonnenberg, staying at Buffalo Springs Lodge in the North Serengeti who is on an extensive 2-week long safari in the Serengeti. Bill says that it has been raining quite a bit and that everything is green, green, green, and the wildebeest are gathered in their thickest numbers around Bologonja Springs. Click here for a North Serengeti Map, which shows the location for Bologonja.

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Making a Difference One Child At A Time

Five-year-old Beatrice arrived at the Clinic in visible discomfort. Covered in a bright red kanga, she shuffled down the clinic hallway like a much older and frailer person. When FAME doctors removed the kanga and examined her, she was covered from head to toe with scaly, bleeding, infected scabs. Her body exuded a strong odor from a severe skin infection. The original skin condition was likely caused by an allergic reaction to medicine of some type.

Before arriving at FAME Medical, she had been languishing in a village with her mother for over six months. Frustrated and overwhelmed by her ongoing problem, her mother left her in the care of two incredibly loving grandmothers who knew about the Clinic and brought Beatrice in to see our team. On the day she arrived, we happened to have two Nurses volunteering with us. Erica and Janet proceeded to soak little Beatrice in a warm tub. The doctor then sedated her and the nurses gently and painstakingly scrubbed, debrided and sanitized every inch of her body, later coating her skin with Vaseline and olive oil. She was sent home on medication and told to return the next day for the same treatment.

By the third visit she showed marked improvement over most of her body, and as you see in this photo, was able to smile again. “To the world you may be just one person, but to one person you may be the world.” This quote came to mind as I watched this story unfold. Two very special grandmothers, two amazingly compassionate nurses, and an accessible and well-equipped medical facility converging in the African bush to make a profound difference in a child’s life.

Africa Dream Safaris is proud to be a major sponsor of FAME and Dr. Frank Artress since 2008 and was honored with the Tanzanian Humanitarian Award specifically because of our work with FAME. Our ongoing monthly donations help FAME fund their mobile medical clinic bringing medical care to children living in remote areas. Many medical conditions can be treated correctly with proper healthcare including respiratory infections, waterborne diseases and diabetes. We suspect many children with juvenile diabetes simply die in rural Tanzania due to limited access and resources.

You may be asking yourself “How can I help?” The good news is that it doesn’t take much to make a real positive impact. Please consider a $50 donation to help Dr. Frank and Susan meet operational expenses for their Mobile Medical Service, purchasing laboratory equipment to provide more comprehensive diagnostic services, and completing the next phase of the medical project which involves expanding the existing Outpatient Clinic into a small hospital. The facility will include 12 inpatient beds and a major and minor Operating Room.

Africa Dream Safaris will match dollar for dollar any $50 donation thus turning your contribution into $100, which has real significant purchasing power in Tanzania. Please click here to contribute to FAME and to learn more about the organization. Make sure to enter ‘Africa Dream Safaris’ in the designation field to ensure that your $50 donation is matched correctly.

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Our Safari with ADS was truly an Incredible Experience

Like everyone, we wanted the very best safari experience. We visited the websites of numerous safari outfitters and read reviews posted by their clients. Most of these websites were poorly designed and lacked vital information. Many of their clients’ reviews complained about sharing a vehicle with strangers, poor food, and mediocre accommodations. Fortunately, we then visited the ADS website. It was, by far, the most informative and easily navigated safari website. The ADS website promised our own private vehicle and great accommodations.  Africa Dream Safaris delivered on those promises and more.

The driver/guide is critical to a successful safari. Our driver/guide knew exactly where to find the wildlife we requested at each area visited. He would often reposition the vehicle to give us the best views and camera angles. His vehicle, by the way, was clean, comfortable, and offered excellent viewing with its canvas convertible top. He enriched our trip with his knowledge of the wildlife and their surroundings. He was engaging and attentive to our every need.

The game drives during our 11 day safari were excellent. We saw almost everything: lions, giraffes, elephants, hippos, cheetahs, leopards, and much more. And we saw them all again and again each day and at each area visited (Northern Serengeti, Central Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, and Tarangire). We were fortunate enough to witness a herd of wildebeests crossing the Mara River and were surprised to encounter numerous varieties of unusual birds, such as Barefaced “Go Away” birds and Hornbills, and colorful birds such as Lilac Breasted Rollers, Superb Starlings, and Fisher’s Lovebirds. Mary Ann’s favorite was the giraffe. For me, the great cats were the stars of the show.

Our safari was more than just game drives, however. The visit to a Maasai village was quite the cultural experience. The young Maasai warriors had a great time taking pictures of each other with my camera. We also enjoyed the learning opportunities presented at the Oldupai Gorge, the cradle of mankind, and the Great Rift Valley, a fracture in the African tectonic plate.

Our safari with ADS was truly an incredible experience. We can’t wait to go back. We strongly recommend ADS for everyone’s African adventure.

Denny and Mary Ann Dowling
Cincinnati, Ohio
October 2011

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The Lion Lady – Live from the Bush – Summary

So I have been back in the USA for a little over a week now and I am almost all caught up on sleep, work and returning back to what remains to be my normal…? It seems like it is taking me longer and longer to recover. Always a part of me that is happy to be back home, always a big part missing, as my heart always remains in the Serengeti!!! Not complaining, just explaining!!

I know I am totally blessed to be able to do what I absolutely Love love love and having an office in the bush makes it all come full circle. I cannot stay away no matter how many times I am there. I always have new experiences that just add to my magnificent repertoire of fantastic stories & memories. Although I feel totally re-engerzied, revitalized, rested and relaxed in many ways, I also miss the many shots of adrenalin & the constant jolts of stimulation throughout each day, as each safari day’s sightings and activities would unfold.

With the blackout tent flaps up and an almost full moon, I wanted to see activity and I stayed up most of the night on the phone and listening and watching for the cape buffalo, zebra and hyena and wildebeest that lingered next to my tent all night. I am in heaven!!

My last day on safari was a Sunday and I awakened to the gorgeous sunrise and animals still around my tent. I dressed for breakfast and wandered up to the main dining tent. I ordered the chefs special omelet, cheese, mushrooms & spinach, which was delicious, orange marmalade on my toast and freshly brewed Tanzanian coffee. I decided to take it easy today and just enjoy Sabora. I went to my tent, and had a nice long bath while I enjoyed watching the family of 7 zebra lingering just in front of my tent!!! After my bath, I put on the linen bathrobe and flip flops, got my binoculars, my devotions, my journal and a ginger ale and headed for the leisure bed right out in front of my tent. Again, I was in Heaven!!!

It was totally amazing how the plains directly in front of Sabora were teaming with a multitude and variety of many animals. Zebra, wildebeest, topi, eland, impala, grants gazelle, ostrich, warthog, Cape buffalo, Thomson gazelle, giraffe, baboon, and an eagle were spotted and I learned that an Ostrich can make a sound similar to a distant lions roar. I had a fabulous lunch pool side in my swimsuit and bathrobe.

The Zebras had moved close to the pool and so we had lunch together!! After lunch I sat in the pool and watched as the zebra continued to graze pool side & seemed totally undisturbed by my presence. Still in heaven!! At 3:00 I headed to the spa for my massage, pedicure and manicure!! Still in Heaven!! We met at 6:00pm for sundowner’s fireside, under an almost full moon, tons of stars – again heaven!! Dinner was another culinary delight and exceeded my expectations once again!!

Hard to beat Sabora, in service, quality of accommodations, food and options, all are top of the line, ultra luxury but a great value for the level of experience.

The rest of the journey was effortless, up on last day, shower, breakfast, pack, say goodbye, drive to Sasakwa airport for flight to Seronera, and stop in Southern Loliondo Airport (have never been to this airport) to pick up some people, landed in Arusha, visited Cultural heritage , always a necessity!!! And then shower, change clothes, repack, very early dinner, depart hotel at 5pm and head to JRO- Tons of traffic so we took short cut through the back streets & local village areas, as we slowed I greeted everyone I could along the way with Bwana asafieway and Mungu Away naway, many smiles and greetings were given back- just another highlight of my safari!!

Check in at JRO went smoothly, met up with my clients once again- Heard all about their fabulous safari until we boarded the plane and all fell fast asleep as the plane took off on time for Amsterdam!!

Thanks again for joining me on this latest safari. I will let you know when I post additional photos to my face book.

The Lion Lady, Mama Simba & Sharon Lyon

P.S. Click here, to read all my blog posts.

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Asante Sana Africa Dream Safaris

Imagine being in the middle of thousands of zebras, wildebeests, gazelles and giraffe for as far as your eyes can see…or watching a family of elephants sliding down a steep river bank on their elbows and playing in the water like happy children… Or being 10 feet from a cheetah lying down in the shade of a lone tree beside its kill WITHOUT it running away!!!

Before our trip to Tanzania, those images were just “dreams”. Within 10 minutes of landing in our prop plane at a remote air strip and taking off in our own Land Cruiser with our warm, welcoming guide, Joshua, these “dreams” began to come true!

It was an amazing adventure everyday that always ended with elegant dinners and magical private accommodations in the middle of nature! We felt pampered and safe from the moment we arrived in Arusha airport until we, sadly, had to leave from the same point.

Words are difficult to explain this trip of a lifetime! Thank God we have over 1200 pictures! We are so grateful that we chose first class Africa Dream Safaris to make this a true dream come true!

Asante Sana (Thank you very much!), Africa Dream Safaris!!!

Colleen And Bill McCall
Scituate, Massachusetts
October 2011

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Ullrich Family Trip

The best camp of all was the one I initially didn’t even want to go to, Seronera Sametu camp. Never having camped a day in my life, I thought a place with only four tents might be a little too “rustic”. Boy was I wrong. All the necessary comforts were there, and nothing compares to listening to two prides of lions calling out from opposite sides of the camp all night long. We had an incredible time there thanks to Arnold and Jonas.

Elaine Kathryn Ullrich
Whippany, New Jersey
October 2011

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Safari in Tanzania

If we had to describe our Safari in Tanzania in only two words those words would be ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC.

We began planning our trip a year and a half ago and just returned last week.  From our first initial contact with Africa Dream Safaris (specifically Dawn Anderson) and throughout our trip ADS was with us every step of the way.  ADS turned our dream vacation into a magnificent memory.  Everyone we came in contact with was extremely thoughtful and caring.  The people we met throughout our trip were amazing.  They kept our comfort and experience in the forefront of everything they did.  The accommodations were great and totally surpassed our expectations.  The food was outstanding as were the boxed breakfasts and lunches.  Our guide, Sitta, was absolutely fantastic and made our trip a great experience.  His knowledge of the animals and twenty-plus years of experience in the Serengeti allowed us to learn about and experience the animals in such a way that we will never forget our time we spent in Tanzania.

If anyone is ever considering going on a safari to Tanzania there is no need to do any further research on which company to use.  Just contact Africa Dream Safaris and prepare for a trip of a lifetime.

Brian and Sondra Gessner
Coopersburg, Pennsylvania
October 2011

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