We went on a ten-day safari to Tanzania in March 2025 upon the strong recommendation of friends, and the safari exceeded our expectations in many ways. Primarily, what impressed us was Peter, our safari guide. Not only did he have extensive knowledge of the animals, birds, and flora, but he really understood the pace we hoped to enjoy.

Peter was so accommodating with regards to moving the vehicle, stopping for long periods of time for us to take photos or simply observe animal behavior.

Yes, we had an itinerary to follow, but our experience was excellent because we had the agency and freedom to stay put and see what we could see, which included a leopard hunting a waterbuck, a cheetah zeroing in on a small wildebeest within a herd and hunting it (unsuccessfully, but hunting nevertheless – what a sprint!), and even a mother lion introducing her three cubs to a pride.

We not only saw The Big Five and The Ugly Five, but we learned a lot about the animals. It was our desire to slow down and enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience in Tanzania, and ADS absolutely provided that experience for us.

Again, kudos to our professional, competent, capable, friendly guide. He spent countless hours not only driving us, but teaching us Swahili, explaining geography and history, and sharing good humor.

Thank you to ADS for all of the communication beforehand – packing list suggestions, immunization suggestions, flexibility in scheduling, and on; thank you for the communication throughout the trip, being available and quick to respond on WhatsApp; and thank you for the follow-up afterwards with our debrief on the way back to Arusha and to the airport.

Was the entire trip one-hundred percent smooth and perfect? Not quite, but close. ADS helped clarify and correct a situation we encountered with our very first transport from the airport to our accommodations before the safari began. ADS provided us with really enjoyable accommodations for the most part: we enjoyed four out of the five places we stayed. The fifth lodging was indeed luxurious, but we do not condone the lodging’s management style wherein our driver was not permitted to enjoy dinner with us.

In all, the scenery in Tanzania was spectacular, the food was great, the accommodations enjoyable, we felt safe, we felt well-prepared, and we have ADS to thank for the experience. This was worth every penny.

Susie and John B.
San Rafael, California
Safari Dates: March 28, 2025 to April 08, 2025