We received everything we expected and more during our Africain Dreams Safari trip to Tanzania. From the moment we got off the plane in Kilimanjaro we felt part of a wonderful family. Getting through customs by ‘skipping the line’, was a real plus after a long flight. We felt like celebrities arriving at Kilimanjaro airport.

The short trip to the Lake Duluti Lodge brought us to our first night with a beautiful room including a fourposter bed and a huge tub which provided relief after the long flights. Dinner was served in an elegant dining room as well.

The second day we drove early in the morning through Arusha while sightseeing the various shops, local people, and the various modes of transportation.

From the local airport we were whisked away heading for the Mara River area. During the flight we had a spectacular view from the airplane and our pilot, Leslie was actually from the United States!

When we landed in the northern Serengeti we met Alex, our guide. We stocked up on refreshments and began our safari. We had no idea that Alex had preplanned a beautiful bush lunch with a lovely assortment of food and beverages.

The location was perfect and gave us a chance to learn more about our guide and what to expect over the next several days. When finished, the crew took care of everything and Alex gave us a taste of what was to come as we drove to the Mara River area. At the end of the day we headed to Mara River Camp and our beautiful cottage.

The next morning we headed out to a beautiful sunrise and Alex positioned us right in front of the wildebeest as they started crossing.

The ground shook as thousands of wildebeests came up the bank and ran right next to our vehicle. We witnessed the hungry crocodiles take advantage of the opportunity for an easy breakfast as they were able to grab a couple. Later on we saw hippos, more crocodiles, giraffes, and elephants. I captured some great pictures of my wife Jen and more wildlife before sunset.

That night at Mara River Camp, it was a special treat when the entire staff and our guide Alex sang to us their native song for our wedding anniversary and presented us with special gifts during our bonfire dinner in the middle of the Serengeti! The staff went out of their way to help us celebrate, including  music, dancing and even a cake!

We were very impressed with the high level of service we received. All of the staff were conscientious and went above and beyond to make our stay amazing.

At the Mbuzi Mawe Tented Lodge, we stayed for a few days seeing many types of animals both large and small. Our biggest scare was during the early morning around 1 AM when a bull elephant decided to push over a tree next to our tent.

We heard what we thought was a bat trying to get in our tent but when we unzipped the tent window, it was completely dark until we saw a flickering light from the lantern which was shining on the longest elephant tusks we’ve ever seen. We remained frozen and in complete awe at this giant elephant close enough to touch.

It was amazing and an event that we never thought would be possible. (It was his ear flapping the tent which provided some comfort as my wife is petrified of bats.) As we held our breath the elephant continued to push the tree over (thankfully in a different direction). When finished, he moved on through our camp. Very exciting after the initial scare.

While we were in the Ngorongoro crater area we stayed at the luxurious Grand Melia Ngorongoro Lodge. Again, the wildlife viewing was spectacular.

Our guide shared information about the preservation efforts for the black rhino’s and pointed out viewing decks where they are continuously monitored to prevent poaching. The view from the crater rim at the resort was outstanding!

The food was delicious and once more we were treated to another anniversary cake and song from the staff. They went above and beyond to make our stay memorable.

We took over 2,000 pictures and I’ll include our favorite at the end; however, it was our guide Alex that made the safari so memorable. He knew the right time and the right places to be for the wildebeest crossing, catching uninterrupted views of leopards, cheetahs, and the lioness’s traditional early morning greeting as they gathered back together from the evening’s hunts.

We were blessed with a private viewing of a lion pride eating their fresh zebra to then only run away at life threatening speeds from the kill site. They were in another pride’s territory and a fight to the death was avoided when the first pride with two males ran from the incoming pride with three males.

The new pride raced towards the scavenged zebra and made it clear that they came to claim their territory and grab a free lunch! Their guttural roars and only being 15 feet away from the action will be remembered forever.

Lastly, the Plantation Lodge was like a movie stars get away. We had a large private cottage with beautiful accommodations, full amenities, gardens, and wonderful food. What a beautiful place to end our journey and relish in the wonderful memories made.

We cherished our time with Alex. His profound knowledge of every location, and every species we viewed was outstanding. He made sure we were comfortable and went out of his way to make each day meaningful. He will be missed as we feel like he’s now a part of our family.

Dave and Jen R.
Clive, Iowa
Safari Dates: September 13, 2024 to September 21, 2024