As our plane circled over a grassy runway in the Serengeti my husband and I and his parents saw our first African animals in abundance. Giraffe striding gracefully, zebra grazing and baboons running across our path as we landed. All the planning, decision making, and long travel melted away as excitement and awe overtook us.

The swollen Grumeti river prompted adventure from the moment we stepped off the plane, forcing us to cross a suspension bridge to our waiting vehicle on the other side. On our first day we couldn’t believe how many animals we saw- lions, giraffe, hippos, bat eared fox and numerous birds to name just a few.

Each day became more magical than the previous. A running joke with our guide, Michael was our question each morning, “how are you going to top yesterday’s game drive?” and he would!

We easily got into the rhythm of waking at 5:30 am with coffee delivered to our tents and on the road by 6am, breakfast and lunch in the bush and twelve hours later winding back to camp stopping to photograph the amazing sunsets. We virtually had all our camps to ourselves since we travelled early in the season. The staff at every lodge were amazing!

We have definitely been spoiled and can never consider doing another safari any differently or with any other company. It is such a treat to have every detail taken care of. Another aspect of the rhythm to our day was becoming friends with our guide. We loved Michaels’ sense of humor and his abundance of knowledge. We felt fortunate to have a guide with 18 years of experience at the helm.

Once we returned home we were continually asked, “what was the most amazing thing you saw on your trip?” I would just sort of give a blank stare back with the slide show flipping through my brain unable to answer.

Do I say, “the Dr. Seuss like trees dotting the landscape…or every sunset was more intense than the night before…or standing in the middle of the great migration watching and listening to thousands of wildebeest and zebras while sipping coffee…or the silent drift over the Serengeti from the vista of a hot air balloon…or watching baby lion cubs play then nurse from their mother?” The entire experience was so amazing it is impossible to pinpoint just one highlight.

We went on this trip with no particular expectations and found beauty from the weavers nests to the majestic maned lion sauntering across our path. We all fell in love with Africa and hope to make the journey back someday.

Thank you to all the wonderful staff of African Dream Safari!

Kari and Oliver P.
Durango, Colorado
Safari Dates: June 6, 2015 to June 20, 2015