After being included in a friends 50th birthday Bucket List Safari in Tanzania, we reviewed the ADS website and the Handbook they mailed to us. Of course, that set our expectations very high and we are happy to report that every expectation was exceeded. Every minute was memorable, amazing, and an exciting adventure. It is hard to imagine how the experience could have been any better.

We had the most wonderful driver-guide, Russell, who appeared to know the animals and requested that they show up for our game drive! They appeared on cue so we could enjoy and photograph them. Surely, what seemed like telepathy was actually experience and hard work combined. While driving us safely for almost a thousand miles he surveyed the landscape constantly and found sights that were invisible to us.

The crossing of the Mara River by hundreds of Wildebeest with a few Zebra friends was astounding, and Russel knew just when it was going to happen. We had over 60 lion sightings, some with their cubs. There was a “honeymooning” lion couple that serenaded us very near our tent one night – we didn’t get much sleep but it sounded as if they had a great time! We loved seeing all the zebras, the wonderful giraffes, the wallowing hippos, and the magnificent and seemingly gentle elephants. A leopard seen with its fresh kill one day, was seen the next in the same tree devouring it with bone crushing sound effects. You are that close to the animals!

The tent camps were great – comfortable, had every amenity imaginable, and were fun. The staff at each treated us like royalty, always friendly and helpful. Meals at the camp and the box breakfasts and lunches were all excellent.

In addition to the animals, a highlight was going to a Maasai Village, enjoying their singing and dancing, seeing their homes, watching young students in a small school learn English, and visiting with the chief’s son who gave us a tour.

We have special memories of all the people we met during our Africa Dream Safari, as well as our fun-loving traveling companions.

We are so grateful to the staff members at ADS who helped put this memorable trip together: Dawn handled every detail and made our trip “perfect”; Joseph and Mathias in Arusha, and Michael Wishner in California all contributed to making this a “once in a lifetime” experience for us

If you want the very best safari experience, Africa Dream Safaris will not disappoint you!

Bob and Jayne V.
Meford, Oregon
Safari Dates: September 8, 2016 to September 18, 2016