Our experience started with ADS in 2019 with a 10-day safari planned for 2020 in Tanzania. Unfortunately, it was delayed due to the Covid shutdown. Then medical complications (a foot fusion surgery in 2022 and back surgery in 2023) caused additional delays until May 2025.

These details are provided because ADS (Dawn Anderson) patiently stayed with us through our initial planning and subsequent delays and never wavered in her commitment to assist us whenever or however needed to plan the long awaited safari. And what a final plan it was! Her pleasant attitude, dedication and continued support simply has to be beyond comparison in the travel industry.

OUR PERSONAL GUIDE AND DRIVER
Russell is the man! He is so kind, has 17 years experience and undoubtedly knows every dirt road in the Serengeti. His specific knowledge of birds, animals and their habits is incredible. He has amazing eyesight – when he picks up his binoculars you know he has sighted something at least a half mile away – most likely in a tree!

We ate many meals together, got to know about each other and our families, children and spouses, dreams, life experiences, and during our time together he became a good friend/brother. Russell has our highest recommendation!

OUR LODGE ACCOMMODATIONS
Simply far beyond expectations in beauty and overall comfort. Clean, safe, comfortable and each is uniquely different in style, furnishings and amazing scenery.

We stayed single nights in some places and two nights in others. This worked out great since most mornings we were up by 5am, escorted to breakfast, and on the game drives by 6 to 6:30am, daily picnic lunch, and more wildlife viewing before returning to the lodge for dinner around 6 to 7pm, followed by a shower and comfy bed awaiting us by 10pm or so.

The food and overall service at each lodge was impeccable. The personnel seemed to know our every need, and went above and beyond to accommodate us. We were so impressed with ALL the super friendly and helpful staff at each lodge. Most of the food is grown or supplied locally, cooked by the lodge’s excellent chefs, and its presentation made it almost too beautiful to eat (I said almost).

We lacked for nothing at the lodges – more ‘modern’ than we ever expected. We were treated like royalty having our luggage carried to/from our unit each day.

THE PEOPLE OF TANZANIA
Wherever we go we find people treat us as we treat them. Tanzania is no different. The people are amazingly friendly, most speak English, and are ready to help if needed. This was a definite positive for us. They are a happy people whether living in a city like Arusha, a small village or a Maasai tribal mud hut with a thatch roof.

Visiting the Maasai village, viewing their ceremonial dance and seeing their school in session was a beautiful and moving experience we will never forget.

THE GREATEST SAFARI EVER
We could write a novel about the safari itself. Even after years of research and delays (noted above), we were not even closely prepared for the beauty, quantity or how close we could actually get to many of the large wild animals, numerous types of birds, monkeys, antelope, topi, baboons, hyenas, lions, leopards, cheetah, jackals, lizards and even the many very small animals that we would see on an hourly basis.

Very little time of our 12+ hour days was spent not looking at some type of beautiful animal/bird life – either individually, small groups or up to combined huge herds of elephants, zebra, cape buffalo, hippos, wildebeest, giraffes and even a rare black rhino.

My wife got beautiful photos and videos on her mobile phone (yes, many were that close – even right beside, in front/behind or even on the hood of the Land Cruiser). I took ~2,600 wide-angle (landscape) to telephoto (close up) shots with my upscale digital camera with a 20-1200mm (60x) zoom lens.

Being an avid photographer whose main interests are national parks, old cathedrals, historic sites, other older scenic buildings, family, etc., Tanzania is unique with its wildlife and terrain, especially the Ngorongoro Crater, and both provided a very heart-moving and spiritual experience we will never forget.

We have never experienced these types of intense emotions anywhere else we have visited. Truly an experience that can never be duplicated anywhere else.

We thank God for all His Blessings and for our safe trip to see this most-beautiful part of His world. And we truly thank Africa Dream Safaris for being there to make it happen.

Randy and Cindy S.
Loudon, Tennessee
Safari Dates: May 12, 2025 to May 20, 2025