An African Safari was on my Bucket List…and this was like a dream come. From start to finish this was an experience that exceeded my expectations! Traveling with my sister, brother, and niece – we were “all-in” to fully absorb and experience every opportunity that was presented to us.
Ours was a small extended-family group, me (66), my daughter (32), and two of my sisters (60, 58). ADS was thorough, flexible, and accommodating in working through the myriad details of planning the trip. Upon arriving in-country, ADS staff were very helpful and courteous while also ensuring that key transitions were trouble-free, e.g., arrival and processing at Kilimanjaro, drive to Arusha, departure on small plane from Arusha to the Serengeti, and eventual departure from Kilimanjaro at the end.
As we have learned through 6 safaris with Africa Dream Safaris, the operative word to ensure a very successful and exciting adventure, is Patience. Some people would call what we observed as lucky, but I like to refer to luck as: when planning meets opportunity. This, combined with our patience to observe a single animal for hours at a time led to some very unique and rewarding experiences.
Our safari in April of 2023 was a long time coming. We started the process of booking with Africa Dream Safaris in 2019. We had almost booked it when Covid hit and a divorce of a husband who was also going to accompany us occurred. Dawn Anderson, our ADS booking agent, was extremely accommodating and we picked back up our plans in late 2022. After a lot of back and forth we finally got our dream safari booked for April 2023.
That was my wifes’ reaction when I made the suggestion for our next trip. Africa had always been on our radar but it had always been a “back burner” thing. However, after watching a cute movie about Africa on Netflix it was suddenly back at the top of my list.
Now the real work began. What kind of safari? Group? Private? How much? And where in Africa? Obviously, the choices were many and diverse. However, after consulting my crystal ball (and Forbes “Best Safari Companies in Africa” on the internet and figuring out the finances, we decided to give Africa Dream Safaris (ADS) a look.
My family and I just returned from our long awaited safari with ADS. I put extensive planning into this trip in determining which country to go to, when to go, and (most importantly) what company to go with! As a result of my research, I had very high expectations of ADS and they exceeded all expectations. Our entire trip was flawless perfection and surpassed my wildest dreams.
We just completed our third safari to the Serengeti with Africa Dream Safaris – it did not disappoint! From the moment you land in Arusha you know you made the right choice with ADS. We were greeted by staff and ushered to a private area for customs, which included food and drinks – no waiting in long lines!
Amazing animals, excellent service, generous, warm people, exceptional guide – that describes our African Dream Safari in the Serengeti. Our ADS representative Dawn Anderson put together an unbelievable itinerary, with a great combination of tented camps and lodges. Each one with their own charm and warmth. Dawn was always available and ready to answer questions. This was our retirement trip and ADS made sure it was very special with a retirement dinner under the stars, Masai gifts, dances, fruit basket and sparkling wine and even a sundowner party and goodbye cake. They far exceeded any of our expectations.
In the month of September, 2018, my wife and I enjoyed one of the most amazing travel experiences possible, an African safari hosted by Africa Dream Safaris. At the conclusion of that adventure we found ourselves wondering if we would ever again be able to return to Tanzania and repeat such an awesome travel experience. As good fortune would have it, we did repeat our African adventure, spending 14 days on safari in April 2021.
Growing up in a large family without a lot of money, travel was not part of my family’s life. Our adventures to far away places came from the pages of the books we read and the nature shows we watched on TV. My fascination with the Serengeti and the animals of Africa began when my parents came home from an auction with a huge box of old National Geographic magazines. I spent hours under the covers with a flashlight devouring every article. My favorites were always about Africa. Sixty years later, my dream of visiting the Serengeti came true with the help of my husband, and Africa Dream Safaris.
We had high expectations for our safari to Tanzania, and Africa Dream Safaris not only met them, but exceeded those expectations. We have been following ADS on the internet and Facebook for many years and knew that when the time came to take a safari to Africa we would go with ADS. Often in this kind of situation when you’re so excited about something for so long, it’s easy to get disappointed. After all, we’d seen so many amazing pictures on the ADS website from other people’s safaris that it was going to be hard for our own trip to be as good. But in this case, our safari was everything we hoped it would be – and more.
August 2019 found us examining our extensive travel Bucket List and deciding to move “Safari to Africa” to the top. A photography friend who had traveled to Tanzania several years earlier with Africa Dream Safaris and who knew that we wanted a private safari told us, “I’ve already done the research…don’t bother looking at any other safari company!” So one phone call later, and a lengthy discussion with Sharon, Vice President of ADS, our much-anticipated safari trip planning began in earnest, and was to commence the following spring in April 2020.
And then the world stopped…
Every lodge we stayed with quickly became our favorite, from the luxury of Arusha Coffee Lodge to the outstanding service at Escarpment Luxury Lodge. We absolutely loved the early coffee service in our luxury tent at Seronera Sametu Camp before heading out for our pre-dawn adventures. Lake Masek tented lodge was a total delight. We could hear the hippos grunting and snuffling as they dined on the lawn right outside our tent, and we love the little Bush Baby that lives in the tree near the dining area deck.
I grew up in Wyoming, and it seems like most of my childhood memories are outdoors. Our family vacations almost always featured the camper and hiking boots over hotel rooms and large crowds. We’ve always enjoyed the nature of Wyoming (and Colorado, where I live now) and thought it was one of the best reasons to live here.
My parents and I, and especially my Dad, have always talked about how amazing it would be to go on an African safari and see a whole new wilderness. My parents recently retired and decided it was high time to make that dream a reality. And I, despite being an adult with a child of my own now, somehow lucked into becoming their third wheel.
As soon as we arrived in the Serengeti National Park via the most interesting plane ride of all time we were whisked off in the jeep with our guide Emanuel and parked smack dab in the middle of the great migration. Within minutes, we saw thousands of zebras and wildebeests. The first day may have been my favorite (I’m one of a group of four) as the sheer number of animals was more than I thought I’d see on the entire trip! I didn’t exactly know what to expect, but the first day was already beyond my greatest expectations!
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