Posts From October 2016

Guide Report – 16 Day Safari

Jambo! This ADS guide Russell Temu from Arusha, Tanzania with a short report and a few pictures to share with you. I’ve recently returned from a lengthy safari this past September totaling 16 days in duration. My guests and I enjoyed 3 nights in the Ngorongoro Crater and 12 nights in the Serengeti National Park split between 4 different camps in the Central and Northern Serengeti. Overall, the wildlife viewing and photographic opportunities were amazing. Please enjoy the selection of pictures below taken while on this incredible adventure. One of the dominant male Lions of the Sametu pride around Sametu plains in the Central Serengeti.

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Africa Stole My Heart

Africa Dream Safaris was nothing short of AMAZING! This was the best trip I have ever been on. After traveling all across Europe, Asia, Australia, and Mexico, Africa stole my heart. Africa Dream surpassed my expectations with everything they provided. The amenities, staff, transportation, and food!

The minute we landed in Kilimanjaro we were greeted by their amazing staff. They were with us every step of the way. The staff was very professional, friendly, and educated. I thoroughly enjoyed talking with the staff and learning about their way of life.

Once I got to the Serengeti, I was overwhelmed with how many animals were around the area. Our small plane had to actually fly close to the landing strip to move some of the animals off the area so we could land safely. Once landing, I was once again greeted by Africa Dreams amazing staff and my tour guide Michael.

Michael was very welcoming and did everything to make sure I was comfortable and enjoying myself. The next week was spent with Micheal and viewing the animals in their natural habitat. Michael knew exactly where to go and I saw everything!!! Lions, crocodiles, Black Rhino, Giraffes, Cheetahs, and Hippos to name a few. I learned so much from Michael as he has been a tour guide in the Serengeti for over 18 years!

This is definitely a once in a life time experience. I loved every minute of this trip. The hotels and campsites were great as well. The amenities made me feel right at home and everyone was so welcoming. If you are looking for an amazing Africa Tour, Africa Dream Safaris are the ones to book with. I promise you will not be disappointed. I can’t wait to go back!

Debbie and Colin G.
San Diego, California
Safari Dates: October 10, 2016 to October 20, 2016

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All Told We Sighted Over 40 Mammal Species

Wow, from our very first Wildebeest Crossing on the Mara River in the Serengeti to our last day in Tarangire National Park that included a rare pack of 12 African Wild Dogs, our trip could not have gone better or exceeded our expectations more than it even did!

Every one of the 10 days included sighting of one or more of the big three cats (Lion, Leopard, Cheetah). In fact, three days in a row we were able to experience up close and personal sightings of ALL three of them and even one day a Serval cat as well!

We scored our “Big Five” on day three with a fascinating visit with a black rhino and her baby within 15-20 feet. To listen to the baby talk was a real treat. We watched a Tommy give birth, a Lion “event” (you will just have to ask your guide!), giraffes fighting, a Lion kill, 2 Leopards together, and a herd of Hippo rescue a Wildebeest from a giant Croc!

All told we sighted over 40 mammal species (and countless beautifully colored birds) – what a great safari! We chose to stay out all day, everyday, but returning to camp at night was like coming home. Gracious welcomes, cold libations, hot showers and wonderful accommodations were the norm.

Our three tented camps (Mara River, Seronera Sametu, and Lions Paw) were all well appointed and set on wonderful locations. An added bonus was the animal noises that served as lullabies every night.

Our two lodges (Migration and Maramboi) were true luxury, with one overlooking a hippo pool with resident giraffe “jeri”, while the other provided a beautiful view of Lake Manyara (only interrupted by the passing of multiple zebra, ostrich, and other animals!).

All of these wonderful days could not have been possible without Ema (Immanuel), a wonderfully talented, knowledgeable, conversant and truly delightful person/guide/driver to spend our days with.

Karabu – African Dream Safaris!

Scott and Peg P.
Livonia, New York
Safari Dates: September 30, 2016 to October 10, 2016

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Our Second Adventure With ADS

This is our second trip to Tanzania with African Dream Safaris in the last 3 years. There is no other company I would go on a safari with than ADS. Having the proper guide is the most important aspect that makes the difference between having a good safari experience and having a great safari experience.

Once again, we had a great safari experience due to our ADS guide. The ADS guides are superior to any other guides in their local knowledge and desire to make their clients have a “once in a lifetime” experience. Our ADS guide continuously put us in the proper position to maximize our animal viewing opportunities. Isn’t that why we go on a safari?

Brad C.
San Juan Capistrano, California
Safari Dates: September 21, 2016 to October 2, 2016

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Non Stop Wildlife Viewing With Our Amazing Guide!

Thank you to all the staff at ADS and especially our guide Roman, for such a wonderful trip to Africa. It was a stellar and obstacle free adventure in Tanzania. Within the first hours of arriving in the Northern Serengeti, all our expectations had been exceeded.

The amount of wildlife within easy viewing was staggering, and to see great herds of Wildebeests mixed with Gazelles, Zebras, Warthogs, Baboons and sated Lions – it is unimaginable. We viewed the Great Migration crossing several times and each time we saw more details and activity.

Our guide Roman spotted the wildlife quickly, and he did so much more – he taught us how to look, the preferred terrain, predatory behaviors, grouping and bonding relationships, whether the animal was healthy or just ate, and their all-telling poop! We all participated in the great hunt and each day was electric and richer in what we saw and understood.

Roman answered our barrage of questions on flora, fauna, geology and history; no question seemed out of his universe. We trusted Roman’s patience and were rewarded by seeing cheetah, lion and jackal kills throughout the week. He also positioned the jeep for best photography light and composition.

Both guides Roman and Francis treated our group to a coffee break each morning with gorgeous, smooth freshly pressed Kilimanjaro coffee. We were so spoiled by the private jeeps, cushioned seats, shaded canopy, big binoculars, drinks, ample box lunches, the luxury tents and dinners.

We were constantly aware of how well designed the ADS safari was; as we passed the other safari tour operators we saw tired, sun-exposed, dusty people crammed into jeeps, few binoculars, sullen faces, sitting down with little spark, and their guides were not conversant.

The African Dream Safari experience was home-style comfort, lively, inquisitive and non-stop wildlife viewing. Thank you again and again!!

Bonita and Drake L.
Plantation, Florida
September 7, 2016 to September 14, 2016

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Help Track Cheetahs And Wild Dogs In The Serengeti

The Range Wide Conservation Program for Cheetah and African Wild Dogs have their base in TAWIRI, in Njiro, Arusha. They really need your help to use a phone app to track cheetah and African wild dog distribution by sending in sightings. This will feed directly into targeting conservation efforts, and enable them to author the IUCN Red List assessment of conservation status for cheetah. We hope this will also add some extra interest in your field observations.

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Our most Exciting Adventure Ever!

After being included in a friends 50th birthday Bucket List Safari in Tanzania, we reviewed the ADS website and the Handbook they mailed to us. Of course, that set our expectations very high and we are happy to report that every expectation was exceeded. Every minute was memorable, amazing, and an exciting adventure. It is hard to imagine how the experience could have been any better.

We had the most wonderful driver-guide, Russell, who appeared to know the animals and requested that they show up for our game drive! They appeared on cue so we could enjoy and photograph them. Surely, what seemed like telepathy was actually experience and hard work combined. While driving us safely for almost a thousand miles he surveyed the landscape constantly and found sights that were invisible to us.

The crossing of the Mara River by hundreds of Wildebeest with a few Zebra friends was astounding, and Russel knew just when it was going to happen. We had over 60 lion sightings, some with their cubs. There was a “honeymooning” lion couple that serenaded us very near our tent one night – we didn’t get much sleep but it sounded as if they had a great time! We loved seeing all the zebras, the wonderful giraffes, the wallowing hippos, and the magnificent and seemingly gentle elephants. A leopard seen with its fresh kill one day, was seen the next in the same tree devouring it with bone crushing sound effects. You are that close to the animals!

The tent camps were great – comfortable, had every amenity imaginable, and were fun. The staff at each treated us like royalty, always friendly and helpful. Meals at the camp and the box breakfasts and lunches were all excellent.

In addition to the animals, a highlight was going to a Maasai Village, enjoying their singing and dancing, seeing their homes, watching young students in a small school learn English, and visiting with the chief’s son who gave us a tour.

We have special memories of all the people we met during our Africa Dream Safari, as well as our fun-loving traveling companions.

We are so grateful to the staff members at ADS who helped put this memorable trip together: Dawn handled every detail and made our trip “perfect”; Joseph and Mathias in Arusha, and Michael Wishner in California all contributed to making this a “once in a lifetime” experience for us

If you want the very best safari experience, Africa Dream Safaris will not disappoint you!

Bob and Jayne V.
Meford, Oregon
Safari Dates: September 8, 2016 to September 18, 2016

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Amazing Video From Tanzania!

A special thanks to returning guests Barry and Sandy C. from Titusville, Florida who submitted this extraordinary video recap of their safari. Barry and Sandy traveled with ADS on a 10 night Hemingway safari itinerary from September 5, 2016 to September 15, 2016. They explored the Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater and Tarangire with their guide Claude. Some of the highlights include:

4:00 minutes – Wildebeest crossing the Mara River
7:30 minutes – A rare sighting of a mother and calf rhino in the North Serengeti
20:45 minutes – Two baby leopard cubs in the Central Serengeti
21:15 minutes – The mother leopard tackling a gazelle in the Central Serengeti
33:25 minutes – Lions hunting wildebeest in the Ngorongoro Crater

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To Be Among The Animals Was Humbling

This was an amazing trip. I am lucky enough to be able to travel all over the world several times a year. This safari will go to the top of the list as one of my best trips ever. Our ADS guide, Roman, was terrific. He watched out for us and was a world of info regarding the animals and their behavior. He seemed to have a sixth sense as to when to sit and wait, “something is going to happen here”, which made the experience so much better. The hotels and lodges were all wonderful, the people warm and friendly, the food tasty and abundant. The vehicles perfect for picture taking and comfort.

As for the game drives, to be among these amazing animals, in their world, is both a privilege and humbling. When you see them in their natural habitat, you are amazed at how perfectly they fit into their environment. You understand why they look like they do and the logic behind their behavior. To see the herds of elephants, hippos, prides of lions, zebras, giraffes, wilder beast, all the herd animals, all the different types of cats, monkeys and birds, in their environment was thrilling. We never knew what would happen next, and every moment was an adventure.

ADS does a wonderful job of providing a quality safari. It will be a fond memory for the rest of my days.

Asana sana,

Millie C.
Plantation, Florida

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