Asante sana to ADS and especially Dawn for tailoring our safari July 7 to July 19. Dawn set us up at camps and tented lodges rather than the larger lodges because of our history of backpacking and bareboat chartering. We were very pleased and highly recommend our accommodations at Serengeti Bushtops Camp, Migration Tented Lodge, Seronera Sametu Camp, and Lions Paw Camp at Ngorongoro Crater. They all truly exceeded our expectations.

The crater was magical…early morning drive with clouds pouring over the rim…a Jurassic Park with the “big 5”…doesn’t get any better than that! Our last stop was at the Ngorongoro Manor Lodge, a stunning setting on a coffee plantation. We would suggest staying there extra nights if time allows. The staff at each location was very attentive and personable and our guide Petro Meena was not only knowledgeable but just a blast in making it all happen. He even loaned his Nikon to one of our party after a malfunction on the first game drive.

To start we spent a few extra days in Amsterdam to acclimate to the time change which we all found very helpful. Then after a night in Arusha at the Mount Meru Resort we were off to the Mara River Airstrip where we joined our guide Petro. Within 15 minutes we were surrounded by giraffe, elephant, hippo, gazelle, and witnessed two Mara River crossings by zebra and wildebeest…100+ pic’s in the first hour and over 2000 during the next 10 days plus multiple videos and GoPro shots using a 3’ extender from ground level while on drive.

I used the little pocket Canon Power Shot and the Wi-Fi ready Canon 70D with the 100-400mm white lens which gave me the option to back up RAW photos to my email account daily…very convenient. After all of the hype about big cameras and cumbersome zoom lenses do not forget to use your iPhone for panorama shots. Some of my best were with the phone.

We are already thinking about our next ADS trip at a different time of year to see the calving in the green season and experience other locations on the beautiful Serengeti.

Matakwa bora and asante sana to ADS, Dawn and Petro. You are the greatest!

A.L. and Terri B., Daron and Debra S., Judie and Doug M.
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Safari Dates: July 7, 2014 to July 19, 2014