A special thanks to Kim Green for sharing this article she wrote for Charlatan Magazine entitled ‘African Safari: Girls Night on the Serengeti Plain‘
Click on the above link to read the article. To view it in the magazine you can download it in the App Store (key word Charlatan Magazine) for $.99 I believe.
The latest news from the safari capital of Africa has just been released. Here is a link to the September 2012 Serengeti Cheetah Report prepared exclusively for Africa Dream Safaris by Helen, the on-site researcher for the Serengeti Cheetah Project. You won’t find this information anywhere else.
Africa Dream Safaris helps fund the Serengeti Cheetah Project’s ongoing conservation efforts. In turn, periodic reports are prepared exclusively for Africa Dream Safaris by the on-site researchers for the Serengeti Cheetah Project.
There’s lots of exciting cheetah news in this latest issue directly from the bush. There have been several new arrivals as well as quite a few cubs reaching independence and having to start making their own way in the world and a few funny cheetah stories!
Read about the new camera traps in the Serengeti and inquisitive cheetah cubs having a bit of fun with them. There is also a story of what happens when a mother with 4 almost fully grown (one-year old) cubs defends its kill against a single spotted hyena. Who will win…the family of cheetahs or the single spotted hyena? Lastly, read about ‘Tiramisu’ and ‘Pecan’ who at 14 years old are the two oldest cheetahs in the study area.
The trip to Tanzania was truly the trip of a life time, more than we anticipated or expected. To see animals up close and personal is a thrill, to the point we may never go to another zoo and for sure another circus. In addition, every person we met felt they absolutely had the best guide, which is a tribute to African Dream Safari. African Dream Safari answered all of our questions prior to the trip and we know from descriptions from another couple who lost their passport, took care of them. It was a great experience.
Dick and Diane Cromwell
Grand Haven, Michigan
Safari Dates: September 7th, 2012 to September 16th, 2012
One of our favorite accommodations for any african safari, this newer camp (constructed roughly 2 years ago) offers a great base for safari activities in the wild reaches of the Northern Serengeti. Buffalo Luxury Camp is actually located just outside the official boundary of the Serengeti in a private game concession within the Loliondo Game Controlled Area.
Lynn, Asante Sana to you and the entire Africa Dream Safari (ADS) staff for putting together an adventure of a life time. From my first phone call with you last year in looking to going on safari to the final drop off at the airport in Arusha to come home it has been a pleasure dealing with the professionals at ADS.
The pre-trip info shared by you not only got us excited but helped us prepare for the adventure, what a great way to prepare us. Our guides Ellison and Ally were amazing not only with their ability to see animals but with their knowledge of the animals and behavior. We saw over 40 different animals and somewhere close to 80 different birds which really excited the birder in our group.
The camps we stayed in were incredible experiences with the Seronera Sametu camp and the way Jonas took care of us, being everyone’s favorite. Seeing little green eyes in our flashlight beams while we were being escorted to our tent was as exciting as watching the giraffes walk through the middle of our camp as they sampled the trees one morning. What an African experience and one we will never forget.
With some 3000 pictures to choose from wildebeest crossing the Mara river to lions guarding their kill to three cheetah cubs playing with their mom it’s hard to pick out two or three favorites since they all bring back amazing sightings. The dwarf mongoose were highly entertaining and the longer we sat watching the more of them came out of the termite mound to see the ‘tourists’. The pair of cheetah’s walking up to the vehicle and then seeming to pose for a brothers together picture was astounding. Finally the Cape buffalo who’s look seems to be saying ‘do you really want to interrupt my breakfast?’ are just a few of many amazing photos.
Africa Dream Safaris gave us all a chance to experience Africa, see the Serengeti, meet some amazing people and have an incredible experience. Asante Sana for coordinating and providing an experience of a lifetime. ADS has our vote for the best safari company and I will happily tell anyone going to Tanzania to call Africa Dream Safari. It is the only safari company to visit the Serengeti with.
George and Margaret Gluski
Tucson, Arizona
Safari Dates: September 8, 2012 to September 18, 2012
I have been meaning to write to you since we returned but it seems to have taken me a couple weeks to readjust! That was an amazing trip, although not the most leisurely vacation. In hindsight we probably shouldn’t have moved camps so often, but I don’t regret it because it gave us the chance to experience so many different areas.
First and foremost I have to say that our guide Claude is fantastic. He truly made the trip for us, he is so knowledgeable about the wildlife and the history of the country and was willing to share all of it with us. We learned so much, and enjoyed not only the larger animal sightings but looking at plants and insects too. He made us feel very comfortable so that we could enjoy every minute. We also thoroughly enjoyed having the whole truck to ourselves!
We had a little more rain than expected, and as a result we saw some of the wildebeest crossing the Mara River, apparently they started the return trip early. And because of their presence there were a lot of well fed predators around. We had many close encounter sightings. Claude has an unbelievable skill for spotting animals and birds, and even showed us tracks along the roads. He was always extremely sensitive to the animals as we approached and was able to get very close without startling them. And did I mention he’s a fantastic driver too! I just can’t say enough about him. If you would send along our best wishes to him, he told us he is getting married at the end of this month.
I want to thank you and all of the ADS staff for the wonderful experience. You really saw to every detail so we didn’t have to worry about anything. My husband is already talking about going back!
Patricia and Robert Sharp
Boston, Massachusetts
Trip Dates: September 6th 2012 to September 15th, 2012
This was our second african safari with ADS and we thought our first trip could never be topped…we were wrong. Our trip was during the dry season in August because our priority was to see the great migration river crossing. Our guide Reggie was simply awesome and his keen sense of animals was incredible. His anticipation of where animals might be and his awareness of events that may occur was amazing. We started each day at 6 AM and didn’t return to our lodge/tent camping until 6 PM daily. We kept count of all the lions we saw and ended with 99 different lions.
Our 9-day safari only had 2 nights in a lodge with the rest in various tented camping sites. Tented accommodations were incredible and luxurious. Dinners were amazing and we threw our diets out the window. Bonfires for Happy Hour every night, spectacular sunsets and sleeping with the sounds of lions, wildebeest and zebras in our ears was magical.
Seeing the wildebeest migration make THREE separate crossings during the first two days across the Mara Mara River was exhilarating. Crocodiles closed in to stop two of the crossings midstream, but not before we heard the thundering sound and saw the wild chaos of thousands of wildebeest stampeding. WOW !!!
We patiently watched a pride of 9 lions stalk a warthog before it ran away in haste. We followed the pride as it came upon a herd of wildebeest, waited as the females surrounded the herd and just when we thought a chase was in order…a jackal appeared from the middle of the wildebeest herd. It sensed danger and came forward within a few feet of the lead lion lying low in the grass. It barked loudly and was chased away by the lead lion, but by doing so, the wildebeest scampered off in haste.
Many cute moments included seeing lion cubs up close playing with their mother and poking their heads up through the tall grass. Baby elephants are adorable as they hug close to their mothers and imitate many of their mom’s mannerisms. And then watching them slide down a river embankment on their knees was a treat.
A real rare treat was seeing 3 different leopards with one very, very close on the ground. Seeing them in the trees while their “kill” stashed in the branches above was special. Beautiful cats with pretty faces.
A couple real-close encounters with animals were quite thrilling. We came across 2 elderly male lions in a remote area that nuzzled on our vehicle and used it as shade…that’s close. Another moment was a herd of elephants where one large female came so close that when she raised her trunk, I actually had to step back because I thought for sure she was going to touch me through the open roof.
I haven’t forgotten the other animals we saw…majestic giraffes as the flow across the plains, the elusive black rhino, playful Tommie gazelles, bashful hyenas, cheetah brothers just hanging out after a kill and many, many more.
We also brought various school supplies with us from the U.S. and Reggie brought us to a remote schoolhouse to donate them. The teachers were very appreciative and shared with us the daily school routine. The students were excited on seeing us and were not shy on getting their pictures taken.
The people of Tanzania were kind, friendly and very gracious hosts everywhere we went. We will miss them and the treasure of a vacation that Africa Dream Safaris provided us.
Steve, Jody, Matthew J.
Northville, Michigan
August 2012
Safari Photo by Brit Huckabay with wildebeest migration in background. From left to right: Hunter Huckabay, Crosby Huckabay and Callie Huckabay (sun glasses) with Grayson Huckabay seen through the window.
Dear Lynn,
The entire Huckabay tribe joins me in thanking you for an absolutely wonderful safari! I don’t mean to sound sappy, but it really was like living out a dream that Prestine and I had cherished for years. Ever since our first safari in 2004, we have wanted to take our children and grandchildren on the same kind of adventure–but we just did not think it was possible. Thanks to the careful planning and hard work that you and Prestine did together, it became possible and we were able to enjoy that dream as a living reality–and to build happy memories that will last for a lifetime.
We cannot say enough good things about African Dream Safari, and your attention to every detail. Every where we went, we were met and cared for by representatives of your company, and they left no stone unturned in meeting our needs and doing all they could to make everyone happy. That did not happen by coincidence or accident, and we thank you. As you and Prestine worked out details of the trip, I felt that you were taking a deep personal interest in us, and almost adopting us as a family. We felt your personal touch in all that happened, and we thank you for that.
All of our drivers (Pokea, Petros, and Thomson) were excellent–each with his own particular personality and special skills– and we came to love each one. Each of the lodges and hotels was different and special in its own way. The game drives were productive and thrilling–“awesome” as the kids say. Prestine and I rotated from land cruiser to land cruiser each day, so that we could experience each group. Our big payoff came in hearing the excited cries from our kids and grand kids as they saw the Big 5 plus gillions of wildebeestes, zebras, gazelles–not to mention giraffes, hippos, hyenas, crocodiles —we even saw a couple of honey badgers! Every day was mind blowing–and we loved it.
We did experience the great beers–Serengeti, Kilimanjaro, Tusker and Safari. Our three college students tried to drink it all–and though they put a serious dent in the beer supply, I think there is some left. This is not to say that the adults did not enjoy it as well–my personal favorite was Serengeti. Of course the South African wines are some of the best in the world–and we enjoyed our share of them.
Thank you for planning and executing every detail which made us comfortable and happy. The first day in Arusha, when we had a chance to rest up from the long flight and visit a school to bring supplies to those children was special. It touched us all. And when the safari was over, we especially appreciated the nice touch of having a day room back at the Mt. Meru Hotel so that we could clean up and change into our travel clothes. We also enjoyed a delicious light meal at the hotel before heading to the airport–again a tribute to your thoughtful planning.
As an added bonus, Prestine and I thoroughly enjoyed being anointed “Babu” and “Bibi” by our drivers and receiving special treatment the entire time–it was great!
My only regret, Lynn, is that we did not get to see you in person–and I hope someday, somewhere–we will make up for that. Certainly if you ever come to our part of the world, we will be delighted to show you some southern hospitality as our guest! Thank you again for all you did for us–all of the Huckabays join me in sending our best wishes and love. God bless you.
Hunter Huckabay and Family
Chattanooga, Tennessee
July 2012
In this video, an ADS guest films their guide Reggie talking about his experience working for Africa Dream Safaris. With over 14 years of experience in the bush, he tells a story of how he handled a close encounter with a female lion on one of his safari adventures with a vehicle filled with eager and excited guests.
For the vast majority of our Africa Safaris Tours we are proud to offer VIP Tanzania Visa service where Kilimanjaro International Airport is your first point of entry into Tanzania, East Africa. This service is highly recommended as after the long flight you will surely appreciate the quick processing of your visa allowing you to begin your african safari before the overwhelming majority of other passengers. Please note that the Tanzanian Government has instituted new security procedures for passengers arriving into Kilimanjaro Airport including the issuance of a new visa application form with additional informational fields. Due to these new procedures we are requesting that you fill out the new visa application form in advance and bring with you to Tanzania in order to help expedite the issuance of your visas. Simply tuck the completed form in your passport and give to our private security officer upon arrival. These new visa forms are sent to all guests the month prior to the start date of your trip. Please contact your African Safari Specialist with any questions.
Check out this thrilling video submitted from Gina Cross, one of our returning safari guests, who has the courage to ‘pop up’ and capture the ending of this amazing video. It’s quite extraordinary how habituated several cheetahs in the Serengeti have become to safari vehicles over the years. This trait is passed down from mother to offspring as young cheetah grow up in the presence of vehicles just as soon as they are old enough to their den. We have been seeing this behavior for at least ten years though it has become more pronounced over the last couple of green seasons.
There are a handful of cheetahs in the Serengeti that our guides know by sight that will exhibit this behavior of jumping on vehicles quite regularly. Our guide Anglebert, featured in the video, is especially adept at getting several cheetahs that he knows quite well to jump on the bonnet of his vehicle. It probably doesn’t hurt that his favorite animal also happens to be the cheetah!
Make sure to watch at about 2 minutes and 53 seconds into the video when the cheetah starts calling to the rest of its family. A cheetah’s vocalization is quite different then other big cats in that it chirps with a bird like call to communicate. It’s really extraordinary to catch this chirping on video in this fashion. Also, watch at about 3 minutes as the cheetah jumps down from the vehicle to reunite with the rest of her family. Awesome!
Thanks again Gina Cross for sharing this video (and also to Ann Eilert who took the photographs below from a second ADS vehicle). We were certainly impressed to see Gina had the courage to ‘pop up’ as Anglebert said!
Close up shot below of the cheetah peering into the front windshield.
‘Pop Up’?
Way to go Gina!
Have a look under the rear bumper!
Here is ADS guide Anglebert posing with his favorite cheetah. It looks like another rough day in the office!
ADS guides JP and Anglebert content with a great day in the bush!
Here is the latest update from our guests and guides currently on safari within the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania, East Africa. As reported previously on July 27, 2012, we received our very first reports of the famous wildebeest migration crossing the Mara River in the Northern Serengeti. This legendary event is the culmination of the migration’s northward journey which began this year about one full month late in early May. We also are receiving reports from guides and feedback from returning african safari guests indicating large herds are still present in the Western Serengeti including the Grumeti Game Reserve. We expect these animals to continue to shift northwards over the course of the dry season. The summer season is certainly one of the busiest tourist seasons in Tanzania with hundreds of african safari tours departing each day from Arusha. Thankfully the Serengeti is such a massive area that it is still possible in many places to enjoy the day out on a game drive without seeing a single other tourist (perhaps just one or two other ADS vehicles). It certainly helps knowing the secret spots!
Thank you, thank you, thank you for not only living up to all the testimonials, but for going above and beyond our expectations. You turned our dream “trip of a lifetime” into a reality. We have been home for a month and have yet to come down from the natural high we’ve been on since our ADS safari. At the risk of sounding like all who have gone before, here is our recap of our ADS experience.
We began planning our trip over a year ago. After much research of Africa safari tour companies, National Geographic’s recommendation led us to Africa Dream Safaris. We checked out the website and contacted ADS. Dawn Anderson was the warm and friendly voice at the other end of the telephone who was also extremely knowledgeable in answering our many questions. Everything that ADS had to offer was just what we were looking for. We knew we wanted a private safari for just the two of us as we would be celebrating our 15th Wedding Anniversary on August 3rd. We also knew that witnessing the Great Migration was a hope and a dream for us. We gave Dawn our dates for a 12-day safari and she put together the most perfect itinerary that would put us in the right place at the right time for both the migration and our anniversary.
We were now living and breathing Africa. The wealth of information provided to us from ADS was invaluable as we read through the ADS Handbook from cover to cover and checked the “What To Bring on Safari” list once, twice and over again. No question was left unanswered, including Dawn’s list for “What To Put In Your Day Pack”. The planning and anticipation became part of the fun as Dawn’s unending help and guidance began to ease my “trip”adation.
Finally, July 26, 2012 arrived and it was time to pack all of our khaki clothes into our khaki carry-on bags. We flew Delta to Amsterdam and stayed overnight at an airport hotel just to get a good night’s sleep. The next morning we boarded the KLM flight to the JRO Airport in Arusha. Upon our arrival Saturday, July 28th, there stood our ADS representatives, a welcome sight from all the chaos. They whisked us through visa and immigration, we collected our additional two checked bags, filled with donations of school and medical supplies, and were out the door while everyone else stood on long lines.
We were met by another ADS representative upon arrival at the Mt. Meru Resort. So far, ADS was proving to be a perfectly orchestrated symphony of caring people. We were given a welcome package, a fully loaded cell phone for emergencies and a briefing for the next day’s schedule, which was to include a tour of the St. Jude’s School and the Cultural Heritage Center in Arusha. Our driver/guide, Ali or Ollie (not sure of spelling), picked us up on Sunday morning. We toured the school with a lovely young lady named Tiffany and were very impressed with the work they are doing. Although no students were present, we received a, much appreciated, e-mail photo of students with the school supplies we donated and a “thank you”.
The Mt. Meru Resort was ideal for the “R & R” we needed after traveling through so many time zones. On Monday morning Ali/Ollie delivered us to the Arusha Airstrip for our flight to the Northern Serengeti. He was really terrific and waited with us until we were on board and taking off. As we neared the Kogatende Airstrip to land, this was to be the moment of truth.
Would the Wildebeest Migration be there? It was, as if “on cue”…there they were below us, looking like a trail of thousands of ants running in the same direction towards the Mara River. Could our timing have been better?
It was perfect! Francis, our driver/guide and soon to be a good friend, met us upon landing. He loaded our bags into the vehicle and we headed toward the Mara River. There, in answer to our hopes and dreams, were the Wildebeests, by the thousands, covering the landscape and following their leaders down the rocky embankment into the swirling waters. Some of them jumped, first with hesitation, holding up the line, while others jumped in with wild abandonment. We were grateful that there were no crocodiles.
They made it to the other side as we watched with a lump in our throats and tears in our eyes. What an incredible sight and sound. It was magnificent and from that point on, the magnificence never stopped.
Francis was not only a wonderful driver navigating the bumpy roads and off-roads for hours on end, but he was amazing knowing just how to get us to the right place at the right time and positioning the vehicle for the best photo shot. He was happy to share his knowledge of Tanzania, it’s wildlife and it’s terrain with good nature and always a smile. He never tired of our many questions, nor of the game drives that took us far and wide. He delighted in our photos and my constant requests to wait as I took “Just one more”. He kept us well-fed and well-hydrated with plentiful picnic breakfasts, lunches and a cooler full of bottled water. He always managed to find us a decent restroom so we never had to “check the tires”.
We saw the “Big Five”, the “Serengeti Seven”, the “Migration Collection” and some of the “Rare, Bizarre and Quirky”. We lunched as a pride of lions snoozed under a tree. We had a picnic breakfast early one morning at the kopjes and encountered two lionesses and their four cubs. We observed and photographed them for over an hour. We came within 50 feet of a leopard in a tree and were mesmerized as it came down from the tree and walked in front of us.
A Cheetah demonstrated her stealth and speed in capturing a Thompson Gazelle to feed her two cubs. We delighted at the sight of a one week old baby Elephant with her elders. We could barely tear ourselves away from the rollicking of the baboons and vervet monkeys. Seeing Giraffes was always a “high” and the Zebras were a favorite. We never tired of or took for granted any sighting. It was non-stop adventure and awe.
Our itinerary took us from the remote Northern Serengeti to the Central Serengeti to the Ngorongoro Crater to Lake Manyara and Tarangire. Most of the time we were out all day with early morning wake up calls of “Jambo” and a tray of coffee and cookies delivered to our tent by the Maasai who escorted us to dinner the night before. We enjoyed a glimpse into the life of a Maasai with a tour of one of their villages in the Loliondo Region of the Northern Serengeti.
They sang and danced for us and we bought some of their beautiful craftwork for gifts and souvenirs. With Dawn’s expert help, we experienced a wonderful variety of accommodations and enjoyed the company of other travelers during sundowners and dinners in the evening. The two Lemala Tented Camps, one at the Mara River and the other at the Ngorongoro Crater were ideally located and made a great “Out of Africa” adventure.
Buffalo Springs Tented Lodge was a wonderful choice located in the Northern Serengeti high on the hills of Loliondo with stunning views of the valley below. The warm and friendly staff welcomed us with a song and a dance. Upon arrival, at each accommodation, we were greeted with fresh scented, ice cold towels and glasses of ice cold mango juice, which was delightful after a dusty, yet exhilarating, day.
The Bilila Lodge was pure luxury right in the middle of the Central Serengeti. Our beautiful, luxurious suite looked out on a natural watering hole where Zebra, Eland and Baboon, just to name a few, gathered to drink.
This was the perfect setting for celebrating our anniversary. Francis joined us for dinner that night and, with ADS, commemorated our anniversary with a cake and a song delivered by the entire restaurant staff. Gifts from ADS, crafted by the Maasai, were a complete surprise and very much appreciated. Thank you, ADS! Plantation Lodge, a coffee plantation, was
casual elegance with green lush grounds located between the Ngorongoro Crater and Tarangire. We had a beautiful suite and the service was impeccable.
From this location we were able to tour the FAME Clinic and their new hospital. We met and dined with Dr. Frank Artress and his lovely wife, Susan. Their hard work and commitment to the people of Tanzania is wonderful and inspiring. We gave them the medical donations we had brought and hope to be able to do more in the future.
Our last two night’s accommodation was at Swala Tented Lodge, which we highly recommend as the best place to end a safari. It was located in a remote corner of Tarengire National Park. Luxury-in-a-tent and every detail perfectly thought out defines Swala Tented Lodge. The staff were absolutely wonderful and extremely attentive in making us feel most welcome. We even had lions roaring right outside our tent at night to enhance this perfect ambiance in the bush.
So many times during our safari it was confirmed to us that choosing ADS was the right decision, especially when we passed another vehicle with eight people packed inside. When the day came to return to Arusha for our flight home, we discovered that KLM had changed our seating and separated us by 44 rows.
Juliet, at ADS Tanzania Headquarters, came to our rescue and KLM returned us to our original seats together. Thank you, Juliet! When it was time to board our flight we looked back and waved good-bye to Francis, waiting to make sure we were ok. He had become our friend and now, sadly, we had to leave. Thank you, Francis! My husband and I have vowed to come back to this magical place with it’s warm, friendly people, magnificent plains lush with animal life and nature at it’s best. It gets into your soul and becomes a part of you. Thank you, Dawn Anderson! Thank you, ADS and the entire staff for the wonderful, incredible safari experience that will forever be our “trip of a lifetime”.
Sincerely,
Ronnie and Martin Roitman
Monarch Beach, California
August 2012
It was Friday afternoon. 48 patients had already been attended at the FAME Outpatient Clinic in Karatu, Tanzania (just outside the world famous Ngorongoro Crater). Four were still being monitored, on IV drips. Our Medical Receptionist, Jacob, received a call from a neighbor. His little boy had fallen into a sharp piece of wood and was bleeding from the head. Jacob arranged for little Baltazari to be transported up to FAME .
He arrived with his mother, bleeding, scared and in pain. Jacob carried him into the Clinic, where Dr. Mwaluko examined the injury, a puncture wound to the scalp just above his right ear. The source of the bleeding was unclear but indicative of a laceration of the temporal artery. After sedating him, he was taken to the procedure room where teams suspicions were confirmed. Dr. Mwaluko successfully ligated the artery and stopped the bleeding much to the relief of everyone.
In rural Tanzania, it is not uncommon at all for neighbors to become ambulance drivers, for doctors and nurses to find themselves providing emergency medical care to family, friends, colleagues and, in this case, the child of a colleague. In locations like ours, there are no other options. It is truly the human spirit at work.
Africa Dream Safaris will match dollar for dollar any $50 donation thus turning your contribution into $100, which has real significant purchasing power in Tanzania. Please click here to contribute to FAME and to learn more about the organization. Make sure to enter ‘Africa Dream Safaris’ in the designation field to ensure that your $50 donation is matched correctly.
Our little West Aussie family of four. Us almost 50. Son in his last year at University. Daughter sitting her final school exams in November. Transitions. A holiday with a difference. A pause before the sprint to the end. A Safari.
An African Dream Safari but…but the ADS office is on the other side of the world. Two long haul flights, 24 hours of non stop travel, Nairobi international airport, quick hop to JRO, midnight African road rules and exhausted to bed.
Tanzania. Cheerful and welcoming. Colours, hard work, busy city, A voice calls ‘Look, white person’, pure happiness on a young face at receiving a football, orphanage struggles and we have still only got as far as Arusha.
Cessna Caravan, snow capped Kilimanjaro way above the clouds, Norongoro collapsed caldera, vast grassland plains, winding Mara reflecting in the sunlight and the Safari begins. First impressions. Impala, Hippo and Giraffe wandering across the airstrip holding up air traffic. Vultures ever present in the trees. Lilac breasted roller.
Ellson, our guide was magnificent. Calm, warm, friendly, an encyclopaedia of knowledge. Everything from the smallest Lovebird to the biggest Elephant was worthy of his considerable knowledge. The patterns on the Giraffe, zigzag of the Zebra stripes and relative plainness of the DickDick. The Black Mamba (the One cigarette snake i.e. enjoy it because it will be your last). The walking safari highlight, the Massai guides making a fire rubbing sticks in a few minutes. Antelope, elephant and giraffe at a safe distance, not forgetting the huge python trail.
The migration. The hillside moves. Barking zebra. Honking Wilderbeast. Hundreds of thousands.
A rhino. Still a few left. A bull elephant, ears flapping we’re in the way, Ellson says I think we’ll move NOW. Cranky and grouchy buffalo, Ellson says I don’t think we will go any closer. The Pride herding the zebra over towards the concealed Lioness, the Kill. Ellson manoeuvring for the best view.
Luxury tenting true to its word. Smoke infused hot water showers, campfires, glowing sunsets, beer and wine to restore the soul, fine dining and meeting new friends from the corners of the Globe. Stars before sunrise, early morning chill.
Roar of the flame. Hot air balloon floating between trees and skimming along at giraffe head height. Roar of the flame. Fire and smoke burning the tall and rank grasses. Sunset magic fading rich red onto the hazy horizon.
Cheetah on the hunt, Lion-King on his kopje, One then two then I don’t believe it eight lioness concealed in the grass, (Ellson says NO, do not get out of the vehicle), Leopards yellow eyes looking down from just up there. Hyena and Vultures arguing over the scraps. Red flash of the Weaver, Blue metallic Starling, Emerald green Lovebird, Golden yellow bee catcher, Pink flamingo, Crested Crane, Bustard and so the dazzle goes on.
Back in Oz. What a trip! Sublime. But more than that, land of spectacle, land of contrasts, land of sunsets, land of the energy, land of surprise, land of wilderness, land of the Safari. Revitalised with thanks to ADS.
Jim, Helen, Alistair and Abbey Leighton
Albany, Western Australia, July 2012
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