As I sit down to write a testimonial for our trip, I find myself at almost a loss of words to describe our family safari with ADS this past summer. Words just don’t seem to do justice to our experience. All thirteen of us, aging from 8 to 75, agree that this was a trip that will never be forgotten. We received wonderful guidance and assistance in planning. Dawn was patient and quick to respond to any of our questions or concerns.

The number and variety of animals that we saw were amazing; the animal viewing way exceeded our expectations. But it wasn’t just being able to see the animals; it was seeing them living in their wild habitat – wildebeest trying to cross the dangerous Mara River, cheetahs feasting on their fresh kill, elephants frolicking in the mud, and lions enjoying their honeymoon period.

It wasn’t just by coincidence that we were able to have such fantastic viewings. All three of our guides were incredibly knowledgeable on animal behavior and were very successful in “getting us to the right place at the right time.”

Animal behaviors, that on TV, were difficult for some of us to watch, did not have that same affect on us during the safari. The animals in their natural habitat, doing what was required for them and their young to survive, was quite mesmerizing and seemed to tell a different story.

Our lodging experiences were all top quality. The rooms were all beautiful and unique in their own way. They were comfortable, extremely clean and located in amazing settings. We were often sad to leave a given property, but excited to see what was in store at our new home. The food provided was a delicious mix of local cuisine and traditional foods from home.

We had several family members with dietary restrictions and the lodges all did a great job in providing options for everyone. In fact, there were generally so many options that it was hard to sample everything.

There were, also, some special “bush” meals that our family loved for numerous reasons – dancing/singing, having animals nearby during our meal, and simply enjoying the outside dining experiences. I could say more – but I think the specifics are kind of a secret!

And finally, ADS provided us with truly remarkable guides (Fadhal, Emmanuel and Peter). We were in three vehicles and would alternate drivers and passengers frequently.

All of us came to know and respect each individual driver. The knowledge and experiences that they have acquired throughout the years is impressive and would keep us engaged and interested during some very long safari drives.

It had been a concern of ours as to how everyone would adjust to spending most of their days driving over rough terrain and getting lots of “African massages”. This was not an issue, as our guides were able to entertain, teach and share much information, while allowing us to get up close and personal with many of the animals.

Our guides became a very big part of our lives providing education, guidance, support, protection, advice and friendship.

It was a trip that will be with us all forever. I don’t know that we will ever look at pictures of the Serengeti in the same way – we now have our own visions that will supersede those on the paper. And when three months later you hear a family member still humming or softly singing a popular African song, you know that we are all still carrying a bit of Africa in our hearts.

Lon and Lynn A.
Pella, Iowa
Safari Dates: August 01, 2024 to August 11, 2024