When we decided to take my wife’s bucket list trip a year ago, we really had no idea the actual safari experience would far exceed our expectations! We arrived thinking this would be our one and only safari trip. We left Tanzania talking about and planning our return trip. What an amazing journey!

Our goals were to see a migration river crossing, the big 5, and as many cats as possible. From the time we got off the plane our driver-guide, Ellson, made sure we saw the animals and then some! We saw so many animals including lions, elephants, buffalo, leopards, cheetahs, giraffes, zebras, monkeys, wildebeest, topis, hartebeest, ostrich, gazelles, impalas, hippos, hyenas, jackals, baboons, the elusive serval cat and even a rare pangolin (pictured below)!

On our second day, after waiting patiently almost 8 hours, we witnessed our first river crossing. What an amazing sight! On our third day, we were fortunate enough to see a second river crossing, this one much bigger than the first.

ADS prides itself on having experienced and knowledgeable guides, but we can’t imagine any of them better than our guide, Ellson! Ellson’s knowledge of animals, their habitats and behaviors never ceased to amaze us! He was constantly spotting animals and birds that we did not see, and then explaining what their names meant, where they lived, and what they ate.

He would identify many plants and trees, and then explain how they were used by animals or tribes for food, medicine, or defense. We arrived with no interest in birds, but by the time we left Tanzania we had a love and appreciation for the many beautiful bird species in Tanzania. Ellson really is a walking encyclopedia of safari animals, birds and plants!

Thank you Ellson and ADS for a wonderful experience. It truly was the trip of a lifetime!

Ed and Laura S.
Tampa, Florida
Safari Dates: August 29, 2018 to September 09, 2018