Our Unforgettable Journey Across the Serengeti Plains with Ben!

Our safari to Tanzania with Africa Dream Safaris exceeded our expectations in every possible way. After extensive research and glowing recommendations from friends, we discovered ADS online. Their website, videos, and customizable safari options immediately captured our imagination.

Following an initial call with Sharon, we knew the Hemingway Safari was the perfect fit for us. Sharon was instrumental in developing our itinerary, providing detailed prep information, and patiently answering our many questions.

The high level of service began the moment we landed. After a long flight, we were met at Kilimanjaro Airport by ADS staff and escorted to a VIP lounge. We waited in total comfort while they handled all the immigration paperwork which was a seamless start to our journey. After a day of acclimating in Arusha and touring the local Cultural Center, we were ready for the bush.

Our adventure truly began with a scenic flight into the Serengeti. Our guide, Ben, met us at the Seronera airstrip, and we were quickly settled into a well appointed Land Cruiser for our first game drive.

Almost immediately, the wildlife appeared: zebras, hippos, lions, wildebeest, elephants, baboons, a leopard, and even a cheetah with her cubs! To top it off, we were treated to a beautiful bush lunch on the expansive Serengeti plains by the staff of Sametu Camp.

Our guide, Ben, was truly outstanding. He was good humored, incredibly knowledgeable about animal behavior, and shared fascinating insights into the history and customs of Tanzania along with some Swahili too. He ensured we had up close and personal encounters with the wildlife every single day.

Over the course of the trip, we stayed at five different lodges across the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, and Tarangire. Each was wonderful, comfortable, and well appointed, with excellent meals.

However, the most impressive element was the hospitality; the staff made us feel truly welcome with exceptional service. Hearing lions roar outside at night certainly added to the authentic Hemingway experience!

Our days typically began with a predawn breakfast followed by an early morning game drive. Thanks to Ben’s expertise, these drives yielded incredible encounters. Some days we ventured out for the full day with box lunches, while other days we returned to the lodge for a midday break before heading back out for late afternoon drives and sunset dinners.

The highlights were too numerous to count: watching a cheetah hunt a Thomson’s gazelle, being surrounded by a massive herd of elephants, and seeing leopards guarding their prey in the trees.

We saw black rhinos within easy range and witnessed the miracle of a wildebeest giving birth watching the newborn stand and travel with its mother in less than five minutes. From lions hunting and buffalo rolling in the mud to the massive Baobab trees and the gorgeous sunsets, every moment was magnificent.