For a company with a name like African Dream Safaris, the bar is high, as this is supposed to be the stuff of dreams. Our experience showed that they are good at making reality live up to everything you dreamed it might be and then some.

The incredible experience started when we began booking our safari. We selected ADS because they offered the itinerary we wanted, so we spent time where we wanted and not where we didn’t want to go. If you have specific goals and ambitions for this safari, tell them! ADS made it possible for us to see what we wanted.

In addition to hitting all the sites we wanted (Mara River crossing, Ngorongoro Crater, Olduvai Gorge and museum, and others), the itinerary was constructed in a thoughtful way that minimized backtracking, eliminated long drives on highways and thus maximized the time we had to do what we had come to Africa to do: see animals.

And did we see animals!! The game viewing did not disappoint. The pictures we took with the fancy camera and zoom lens look like something out of a magazine. However, the quality, closeness, and abundance of animal life are probably best shown in the pictures we took with our cell phone cameras.

I had not expected the cell phone cameras to have enough zoom, but sometimes animals passed so close to us that those were better than the big zoom. The quality and quantity of the animals we saw were truly amazing.

Our driver/guide , Russell, was very knowledgeable and identified everything for us. Russell wasn’t just following a pre-planned route, though. He seemed to know about the animals and their behaviors and favorite haunts in ways that enabled him to guess correctly which way the herd would turn and thus to reposition the vehicle when it looked like the wildebeest herd would move along the Mara River instead of crossing. I appreciated that greatly.

He also was very willing to move to get a better shot and frequently moved to get a different angle with better light even before we asked, which, in one case, contributed to some truly stunning views of a lounging cheetah. This is not just driving; this is expert guiding. It was also impressive that he was navigating some very difficult and often technical four-wheel roads while spotting the game. And despite some mud, we didn’t get stuck!

We started in North Serengeti, where we saw the wildebeest cross the Mara River on our first and second days. The first was a small crossing, but with a crocodile waiting on the far bank (he went hungry that time). The second day, we saw a series of crossings by a large herd.

Elephants, zebras, antelopes, and giraffes were also numerous. We then moved south, where we stayed at Mbuze Mawe Lodge, in the middle of a lion pride’s territory. We saw a lion family reunion one evening, then saw them successfully hunting the next morning.

In south Serengeti, we saw cheetahs, hippos, and more before leaving the park. After Olduvai Gorge, we moved into Ngorongoro Crater, where we saw birds, had a distant view of the rhinos, and saw the dinner party after a successful lion hunt (it was the baby hyenas’ turn to eat by the time we got there, while the lions slept nearby).

Tarangire Park brought up-close views of another lion pride, a leopard, various monkeys, elephants and buffalos.

We consistently got more than we thought we were paying for when we booked, which meant all our surprises about accommodations and travel were good. The lodge accommodations were more luxurious than we thought we were getting when we selected the Hemingway package. (We are NOT complaining about being spoiled and pampered, though!)

Yes, we knew the properties ADS selected for us were ideally located and perfectly situated, and that was part of why we liked the itinerary. They were incredibly beautiful, too. We were lucky enough to get an adjoining family suite at almost all properties. This was wonderful because since you are in the wild (and the animals do wander into the camps), you cannot leave your tent/cabin unescorted after dark.

With a family suite, we had a parents room, the kids had a separate room (with twin beds) and their own bathroom. Best of all, we could run back and forth between the rooms to share chargers, ensure items weren’t left behind, and ensure the kids were up and ready for the 6am game drive without leaving the suite. It was the perfect blend of family space and private space.

Each place seemed to outdo the last in terms of unique extras and unforgettable touches. We each have our favorite things from the various lodges, but some of these unforgettable, dream safari moments included: driving by the Mara River, watching a herd of Wildebeests thunder by, and then realizing that the buffet lunch with white tablecloth service being set up in the shade of a tree was for us. How can you top eating lunch while watching the great migration thunder by?

How about a fantastic bush dinner where we sat out under the stars away from the lodge with our own private campfire? Equally unforgettable was the bush breakfast cooked for us (literally, the chef came and made us omelets in Ngorongoro crater). And as if that wasn’t enough, what about staying at a lodge where our rooms looked like tree houses? In fact, our son says the only bad thing was that we didn’t get to stay more than one or two nights at any of the camps.

The service we encountered at each of these camps was impeccable. As someone who doesn’t often travel in high-end accommodations, this was a level of detail and attentiveness I’m not used to. The staff at every place we stayed were friendly, welcoming, and warm and they think about everything. (Like how it might get cold at night on the crater rim, which meant we got back from dinner to find not only the space heater turned on, but a very nice and warm hot water bottle in each bed; no cold sheets.)

We had hot water for a nightly shower everywhere (even the person who went last). As a tip, if you stay at a place with an outdoor shower, use it; it’s a cool experience! Our children can attest to the fact that while we did not always have cell coverage out on game drives, the Wi-Fi at all lodges was good enough that they each were able to be connected and watch videos while we were downloading and backing up pictures.

The food was mostly European, with occasional local offerings (all of which were very flavorful). There was a consistent choice at every meal (even in the to-go lunch boxes). I admit that none of us are particularly picky eaters, but I don’t think we had a single bad meal. Yes, there were dishes that one of us didn’t like as much, but the very good and tasty food far, far outnumbered the bad.

We did not have pizza or hamburgers at all, and we had coffee instead of a flavored coffee beverage, but that was what we expected, which meant we weren’t disappointed. (And among my favorite camp staff may be the people who brought us a thermos of coffee between 5 and 6 so we could have a cup while getting ready before we left at dawn.) At every single camp at check-in, we were asked specifically about food allergies, intolerances, and dietary restrictions, and those were honored.

The trip was full and exhausting, which sounds surprising given that we spent much of the day sitting, but this is a good thing. We did early morning game drives (6am departure) most days, sometimes taking breakfast with us, and we pushed Russell to stay out as late as we could at the end of the day so as not to miss a moment of the golden hour light for animal photography. We could not keep up with the photography on the trip–it took weeks to review the over 7,000 pictures we took.

Our children (ages 12 and 17) would want other kids (or parents) to know that the vehicle is really well suited for families and nicely equipped. In their terminology, this means it has the ability to keep phones charged, have really good snacks (they did their best to consume the very large container of cookies Russell had), and have lots of water.

I don’t think they expected to find watching the animals as engaging as they did and there was enough to see that they spent most of the time looking out the window (or at the pictures we had taken).

Speaking of the vehicle, the pop-up top allows you to stand up and take a clear photograph. If a lion is resting in the tall grass this elevated view is very valuable. It also gave us a great vantage to watch the hyenas wake up and leave their den. And, in the category of ADS has thought of everything, they have a filled pillow that is locked into the top of the car and stabilizes the long telephoto lens.

Our 12-year admits he was hesitant about the trip and wasn’t sure he would have a good time. He now says the only thing bad about the trip was that you had to leave!

Mark and Maria L. and Family
College Station, Texas
Safari Dates: July 08, 2024 to July 16, 2024