We were almost off to a false start on our safari when Turkish Airlines inexplicably canceled the second leg of our arrival flight to Kilimanjaro.  Fortunately, thanks to Dawn/ADS, they were able to reschedule the entire trip – albeit 2 days later flying KLM Airlines.  Otherwise, we would have had to cancel our trip.  How lucky we were to still be able to go and have such an incredible experience.

Every destination on our safari in Tanzania was unique unto itself.  The Singita Sabora Camp in the Grumeti Game Reserves was a real luxury tent camping surprise.  We were surrounded by wildebeests that never stopped “talking to us”.  While there our every need was attended to.  Edward, our Singita guide, did an outstanding job showing us the wildlife of the Grumetu Game Reserve.

After this we were picked up by our ADS guide, Thomson Malekia who escorted us for the next seven days in the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater.  My wife and I have had naturalist guides in the Galapagas Islands and trekking guides in Machu Picchu and the Andes, but none surpassed the skills and capabilities of Thomson.  He was patient with us and all the animals and consequently we saw many more than we might have because they just kept coming into view.

Our accommodations at each of our destinations were unique and comfortable. The food was phenomenal and the hospitality extended us could not have been improved upon.  Thomson had an almost have a sixth sense as to where all the different animals would be and we safely saw them all up close and personal.

One afternoon we spent more than an hour in the middle of nowhere with a family of 5 cheetahs and just us! We watched them run and play and took incredible pictures of the entire family.  We saw the illusive leopards sleeping in trees, a stalking lion taking down a Thomson Gazelle for her pride, elephants with colossal tusks eating the crater flowers and the endangered black rhinos grazing on the crater plains.

Every evening we watched incredible Serengeti sunsets and the dawns were memorable as well – especially the sunrise viewed from the floor of the Ngorongoro Crater as all the animals were awakening.

On our final day when returning to Arusha, we stopped at the F.A.M.E. Hospital in Karatu,Tanzania which was established by Dr. Frank and others for the Tanzanian people where there is only one doctor for every 30,000 inhabitants.  As a physician, I was impressed with the quality of care they were providing their patients with such limited resources.  However, they had modern medical equipment and were connected through the internet for medical specialty consultations from most anywhere for their patients.

In summary, this trip was a true bucket list experience for us and we thank ADS for making it all possible! THE TRIP OF A LIFETIME!

Dr. William and Daphne M.
San Diego, California
Safari Dates: May 14, 2014 to May 24, 2014