I have wanted to travel to East Africa since I read about animals in Tanganyika. As it turns out, 61 years later I made it to the independent county of Tanzania. My wife and I saw everything we hoped to see. Dawn Anderson gave us perfect advice on how to pack, where to go to see what we hoped for and wonderful advice on a rest period before returning home to the U.S. Zanzibar is a great rest and relaxation delight.

Our guide, Ally, had as he termed it, binocular eyes! What we thought was a lion in the distance he calmly glanced and told us it was a group of dry grass. Ally could look left, right, up ,down, shift and talk on his line to other drivers all at the same time! We missed nothing. The great migration was a sight to behold with thousands of wildebeest and zebra crossing all at the same time.

We saw what everyone terms the big 5, but we fell in love with “Tommies” and warthogs and elephants. Who knew warthogs loved to roll in the mud? Who knew just how cute young Tommie’s are! And our guide knew of a certain river spot where hippos enjoyed rolling on their back. Elephant moms are the best and our guide showed us several examples of that fact. Lions are just as magnificent as you ever imagined, both male and female. Their roar could be heard for miles and as you hear that, you can fall asleep with a smile on your face and wonder what the next day will bring.

The camps were great and the people even better. I have never met people as friendly and gracious as the Tanzanian people. Everyone greeted us with a warm smile and “Jambo, Jambo”. They are so proud of their country and its beauty. As you go through the Serengeti you will not see a single piece of trash or sign that a human had been there. This is land that belongs to animals and they allow us to pass through.

We would enthusiastically recommend ADS…they delivered on every single promise made. With special commendations to Dawn, our extraordinary guide Ally, and Faith, who held our hand through passport-visa check points and fully briefed us on our first day and debriefed us on our last day.

A wonderful trip ended with tearful good-byes to our new friends and thoughts of some day returning.

Dan and Emilie W.
Calabasas, California
Safari Dates: September 18, 2014 to September 29, 2014