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