An African safari has long been on both of our bucket lists, and the experience was even more breathtaking than we imagined. We are so grateful we chose Africa Dream Safaris; every person we encountered went above and beyond to ensure we had the best experience possible.

From the moment they handled our entry through customs to ensuring every detail was perfect throughout the journey, we couldn’t have been better cared for. While the entire trip was seamless, the true highlights were the intimate wildlife encounters in the Serengeti and our incredible excursion to see the mountain gorillas.

Traveling in January for our 20th wedding anniversary, we found the landscape lush, green, and inspiring. On our first day, we enjoyed an outdoor lunch overlooking the “endless sea” of the Serengeti’s green grass—a perfect start to our adventure.

The wildlife sightings were frequent and profound. We observed numerous lions, some so close it felt as though we could reach out and touch them. We particularly enjoyed watching the cubs play and “rough house” with their mothers, and we even witnessed a lion stalking a warthog.

We were also lucky enough to spot cheetahs with their cubs, as well as a cheetah in pursuit of a group of gazelles.

Since it was January, the wildebeest migration was concentrated in the southern Serengeti. We watched as the herds stretched to the horizon and even came across a lioness original to a fresh kill from the night before.

One of our most memorable moments, however, was orchestrated by our intrepid and resourceful guide, Emmanuel. He perfectly positioned our vehicle to watch three elephant herds merge into one, allowing us to see over 100 elephants traversing the Serengeti together.

Emmanuel was exceptionally knowledgeable about every predator, prey, and bird we encountered—he was truly a walking encyclopedia of the bush. Beyond the wildlife, the lodgings were spectacular, and our hot air balloon ride was an unforgettable highlight as we glided over the plains watching scores of animals below.

The mountain gorilla trek in Rwanda was the perfect addition to our safari. Rwanda is a stunningly beautiful country, defined by lush mountains from one end to the other. Trekking through the jungle in Volcanoes National Park to spend an hour with a gorilla troop was a majestic experience.

Two silverback males walked so close they practically brushed against us. Watching the mothers with their babies and seeing the entire family interact from just a few feet away was something we will never forget.

Doug and Carol R.
Austin, Texas
Safari Dates: January 09, 2026 to January 22, 2026