African Dream Safari is everything they claim to be and more. After working with Ann Eilert who expertly helped us design our trip and answered every question to put us at ease, we had high expectations for this trip. They blew those expectations out of the water.

The accommodations on the Hemingway Experiences not only kept us close to the animals but were also magnificent and managed by incredible staff. We often felt that we didn’t have enough time to spend in these fabulous lodges. However, being out on safari is the point, right?!

That brings us to our safari guide, Ellson. We cannot say enough about his kindness, knowledge, and expertise! It was clear to us that a guide can make or break a safari and Ellson definitely made ours.

He got us up-close to animals at every turn, made sure that we were always well-cared for, both when out on safari and at the lodge, and made every effort to make our safari memorable. It became an inside joke to try to ask a question about Africa or the animals that Ellson did not know the answer to.

This was our first safari, and we looked forward to the animals we would see and the people we would meet. We were amazed by the number and variety of animals we saw. The African people we met were consistently warm, thoughtful and welcoming.

What was unexpected was the beauty of the sights and sounds of the birds in the Serengeti as well as the landscapes, especially at sunrise and sunset. To be out on the plains of the Serengeti, taking in a vast beautiful 360-degree view and realizing we were the only car on safari for as far as the eye could see was simply unbelievable!

While our safari filled us with many memorable experiences, there are two we’d like to share. On our first day on safari, when the whole experience was new and we were filled with awe, we were driven to a tree in an otherwise open plain, seemingly in the middle of nowhere.

There, we were greeted by staff from our lodge with joyous singing and served a beautiful hot lunch on linen draped tables including ample wine and beer. The whole experience was like a mirage that miraculously appeared. Little did we know that this was only the first of many such surprises that ADS had planned for us.

The second experience involved an animal sighting that occurred midway through our safari. We hope that everyone on safari has one special and spectacular animal sighting that will always be prominent in their memory when they think back on their trip. Ours involved a herd of giraffes. We had seen many giraffes, often in pairs or small groups, but they were usually in the distance or in wooded areas somewhat hidden in trees.

On this day, we were excited to have photographed a beautiful giraffe up close and out in an open plain only to round a corner a short time later to find a herd of 33 (yes, we counted them) standing around on the shoreline of Lake Ndutu. It was an amazing sight!

We will always be grateful for the many memorable and magical experiences that ADS provided us. When planning this trip, we considered it a once in a lifetime experience. As we left, we couldn’t stop thinking about how we could do it again!

Robyn B. and Audry W.
Martinez, California
April 19, 2025 to April 28, 2025