Author: Michael

Quote of the Week: Bob and Arlene Levitt, Marc and Beth Zweig

We were extremely happy that we chose ADS, and it all started with you [our ADS rep]. Your diligence in communications and working to insure our satisfaction came through. From the moment we stepped off the plane in Arusha, we were met by the ADS greeting group and needed to do no more for our entire stay. Every facet of the trip was taken care of as promised.

Our guide was fabulous, in that no request of ours was rejected. He had a game plan for each day, but any modifications suggested by us was readily accepted. He was knowledgeable, patient, and personable. Our first day we came upon the Wildebeest attempting to cross the Mara River, but they did not do so at the point expected. Each time the Wildebeest moved downstream, [our guide] moved to a location he felt could be a crossing point. We did this four or five times, until the hoped for crossing happened. Not only did he have us placed in a great position, but Wildebeest re-entered within 10 feet on both sides of our vehicle. I can’t describe the feeling we all had, but elation is not strong enough.

There was another instance in the Ngorongoro Crater where we came upon a pride of 2 adult female lions with 4 lion cubs. We were all by ourselves with no other vehicles around. We spent one hour following the pride, and each time they moved our guide repositioned us to be within the best visibility. At most times they were within feet of the vehicle, and the feeling we had was indescribable. Our guide made sure that the lions were comfortable with us, and that they would not scamper off.

 

The accommodations met and exceeded our expectations. The staff in each and every lodge and tented camps were courteous, friendly, and extremely helpful. Our special thanks to Nikki at Buffalo Springs Luxury Camp who made us feel like we had known her for years, and that we were in her private home.

Arlene and I, as well as Beth and Marc thank you for making this an extremely enjoyable journey, and we are pleased to offer our recommendation for Africa Dream Safaris.”

Bob and Arlene Levitt, Marc and Beth Zweig
September 2010

 

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Quote of the Week: Jerry and Candace Briney

From the time our greeter in Arusha quickly acquired our visas until our farewell surprise at Tarangire River Camp, we were in great hands with ADS. As we discussed our day’s sightings in the evenings with other tour groups, we rapidly noticed how much more we had seen each day. Every outing brought new adventures–a beautiful caracal with a rock hyrax in its mouth, a lioness stalking and catching a Thomson’s gazelle, hundreds of wildebeest hurling themselves into the Mara River, a black mamba, bushbabies, or a mother lilac-breasted roller teaching her young to kill a snake only to see the young bird snatched away by a hawk. We thoroughly enjoyed our bird sightings from the large storks, vultures, and ibis to the small lovebirds, kingfishers, and bee-eaters. Our expert guide spotted and identified animals for us every day. We also enjoyed having “Wildlife of East Africa” by Martin B. Withers and David Hosking available to us throughout our journey. Thanks for all of the pre-trip information and help, and the wonderful care along the way.

Jerry and Candace Briney
July 2010

A caracal cat, glancing over his shoulder just long enough for the camera to click!

 

A beautiful Serval cat, pausing in a clearing before disappearing again under grassy cover.

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Quote of the Week: Dottie Shively and Bill Rothschild; Pam and Bob Pierce

As soon as our small plane approached the dirt runway in the Northern Serengeti and the Zebra and Wildebeest ran under our plane, we knew that we were embarking on an adventure of a lifetime! There, our ADS driver-guide and soon to be friend met us. Our guide amazed us as every day he took us to the best spots and maneuvered us into the best viewing situation. We soon valued his knowledge as he increased our enjoyment and insights into animal behavior. Each day added new animals: giraffes, elephants, lions, cheetahs, leopards, hippos, wart hogs, baboons and many more. The birds were also amazing from the ostrich to the crown crane. Watching the migration of the Wildebeest leap into the water to cross to new food sources was truly astounding.

The four of us so enjoyed our private safari. Each evening, we would discuss our day and favorite memories bringing back all events of the day. We will always remember our two evenings in the Presidential Suite with our very own dinner catered to our “private dining room”. And our stay at the opulent Crater Lodge with zebras eating in “our front yard” while we sipped our wine on our balcony was truly incredible.

We laud our pre trip preparation, missing no detail. ADS surpassed our expectations.

Dottie Shively and Bill Rothschild; Pam and Bob Pierce
October 2010

A crowned crane hunting for insects.

 

A leopard polishing off his lunch high in the boughs of an acacia tree.

 

A hyena “finding” a zebra that seems to have died of natural causes; he won’t have to work too hard for this meal!

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Quote of the Week: Dale and Raelyn Cole

We were supposed to arrive at JRO at 1:45AM, but the flight was delayed & we landed at 4:00AM! Some 70 passengers groggily deplaned, but we alone had anyone waiting! Yes, ADS was there cheerfully ready to do whatever needed doing. In minutes we had our visas & were hustling out the door (everyone else was stumbling around bleary-eyed wondering what to do & how to get away from airport in absence of taxis). We’d followed our ADS rep’s advice & had a layover day in Arusha to recover. Next day, at Arusha airport there were dozens of folks milling around looking for planes, boarding passes, destinations, information. ADS whizzed us through & we were effortlessly on our way in less than 30 min.

Our wonderful, delightful driver/guide met us & off we went. Within minutes we were within steps of a pride of lions, followed by herds of zebra, a few giraffes, elephants on the skyline, & antelope everywhere. That entire day we did not encounter another vehicle — the northern corner was ours alone. The 2 nights at Migration Camp were lovely & our first experience of the cold wash cloths & icy drinks on arrival. How do they manage to be standing at the ready as you drive up? We were fortunate enough to witness a few hundred wildebeest gathered on a shingle debating whether to go for it. Eventually a few dozen jumped in & furiously swam. They entered the water at the head of a shallow rapids; in the still water below the rapids the crocs were waiting. Some of the wildebeest were strong enough to prevail, some were swept downstream, & some returned to shore. The crocs grabbed two of the weak swimmers, but one was close enough to our side of the river to scramble out & shake the croc off its leg. Quite a show!

As we moved into the Central Serengeti we began encountering many more vehicles. Our driver/guide has a ‘6th sense’ & quite often we were first on the scene of an ‘event’. One such event involved a pair of lion moms teaching the kids how to dine on a fresh kill — blood & soft parts. Like all children, the kids kept looking at Mom as if to say ‘do I hafta eat this?’ The nearby males hunkered down a few hundred feet away & waited until the family left before feasting on the remainders.

Our 2 nights of private camping were surely a high point of the safari, not least because Gady joined us for dinner both nights. His knowledge of his country, its animals, and people was remarkable as was his informed awareness of the rest of the world.

Ngorongoro Crater lived up to its reputation; one of the fascinating things we saw was 3 lions (one male, two female) stalk a cape buffalo. They circled & circled, eventually cutting their intended prey away from the herd; they slowly closed in, then suddenly the cape buffalo had enough, & charged the lions — who wildly fled in three directions at full speed. They re-gathered near us to discuss their failure & then slunk off.

We almost missed visiting FAME which proved another high point. The folks there are doing a terrific job serving an area of Tanzania that lacks basic medical services. Well worth whatever time & support we can supply.

Of all the tented lodges, Swala most embodied perfection. Some others were more ‘elegant’, but at Swala everything was exactly right. All the furnishings & fittings belonged, the managers genuinely gracious, the food superb, & ambiance sufficient to satisfy anyone’s African Dream. Our 2 nights at Swala were a fitting conclusion to our 2-week safari with ADS.

Dale and Raelyn Cole
October 2010


A mother elephant and her young calf digging a well to search for clean water on the side of a river in Lake Manyara National Park.

 

A rare Kudu antelope taken in Tarangire National Park.

 

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Quote of the Week: Vivek and Deb Kansal

The trip is something Deb and I will remember for the rest of our lives. The experience of being in the middle of the Serengeti with no one else around but the animals is hard to describe.

My main request coming into the trip was to try to stay away from other vehicles (my concern was a zoo type feeling). Our guide did an excellent job of keeping us isolated from the rest. Most of our days in the Serengeti were spent completely alone with no other vehicles around. We were able to watch animals in peace without feeling like we were infringing on their land. He was also completely flexible, allowing us to stay with animals for as long as we liked as we came across them. We spent an hour with a lioness as she hunted two warthogs. Unfortunately at the very end she decided it wasn’t worth the effort and gave up. We spent about 90 minutes following a cheetah as it stalked a Thomson Gazelle and finally went in for a successful kill. The experience of staying with the animals for as long as we did while they hunted was incredible. We truly felt like we were a part of the hunt.

The lodges were very nice, with over the top service (Deb and I are actually not accustomed to the level of service provided and at times felt uncomfortable). The food was pretty good. The best accommodations we experienced BY FAR was the private classic camping. The ADS camp crew was very polite and friendly. They were very accommodating and adjusted when we mentioned we would prefer “less” service. The food, in our opinion, was much better than the other lodges. The picnic breakfast and lunches from the ADS crew were significantly better than the lodges. The camping experience was unbelievable.

Overall, we were extremely pleased with the ADS crew and level of service. We would definitely recommend ADS to any friends. We would also definitely recommend the private camping. I am not sure what we would say about the other lodges though, but in reality this was a small aspect of the trip and I am sure others enjoy the parts that made Deb and I uncomfortable.

I could type alot more but I think this email is already long enough. We had a blast and will never forgot it.

Vivek and Deb Kansal
October 2010

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Quote of the Week: Jim and Maxine Kaler

What, we asked, would best celebrate our 50th anniversary? It came down to France or Africa. Africa, thank goodness, won. And won big. Neither of us can imagine a better adventure, a better time, a better guide, a better people than we found in Tanzania. Everything we were promised came true and then some. If we could, we’d do it all over again.

Highlights? How about a guard elephant running off lions to protect the rest of the wandering herd. Or thinking that the Land Cruiser gear box had gone out when the loud noise was made by another elephant chasing US off. Or the Cape Buffalo who kept chasing lions away from his water hole. After 40 lions we gave up counting.

But it was raw nature that most fascinated. Four lions formed a coalition to grab a wildebeest (without question the homeliest mammal alive). Creeping up toward center and both flanks, one then made a mad dash — all four legs off the ground, dust and birds flying — and missed! Slinking away, all was over for a time.

But not for cheetahs. The pictures tell the story. We came upon a nest with four cubs, and went off road to watch them. There is Mom 20 yards away, and we are in the middle! No worry, we move…and watch. There is a herd of gazelles a couple hundred yards off. Mom gathers the brood, and they follow her as she creeps toward the gazelles. It’s a teaching moment. All of a sudden she explodes — they can hit 70 miles an hour — and so do the gazelles. And so does the land cruiser, with ‘ol Jim holding onto the rear rails photographing for dear life as we bounce along following her. Our guide returns us, and there is Mom with a young gazelle in her jaws. Putting it down, she starts chirping, calling her cubs back. One by one they return and go to the nest. Mom must rest before the meal. And at that point we let them be. But what mixed emotions. We cheer for Mom feeding her cubs. But there is the mother gazelle off in the distance looking back in apparent sadness.

More lions. Strolling with the vehicle, mating, sleeping. Oh my the elegance of the giraffes! And more and more and more zebras, a thousand stretching out to the horizon, rolling in dust, walking in the river, mixing with the wildebeests and gazelles. Baboons are coming at us, watch out! Here is a yawning crocodile, there in the pool hippos are fighting. Eagles fly overhead. We see lions eating the remains of an eland, with the hyenas waiting for their share and the vultures waiting way in back to clean it all up. And we can’t leave out the flowers and the grasses of every description.

Accommodations at night were fantastic. Imagine! You open the door of your lodge and there is a tall Maasai with staff waiting to escort you. And there is a crew of five at our luxury tent with kitchen, chef, and bar — in the middle of the vast African hills. We sleep in a quiet tent with shower and bathroom after watching a glorious African sunset.

We conclude with visiting an actual Maasai village replete with dancers and an elder who invites us into a hut to tell us about his culture. We visit the bottom of the Ngorongoro Crater with its flamingos and rhinos. We watch the Maasai herding their cattle. Even here there are elephants. And then we visit the awesome cradle of humankind, the Olduvai Gorge in the Great Rift Valley.

Relaxing? Up at 5:30 to hit the road (“road”?) at 6, we get to watch all the animals and birds at their best. We are in and out of the vehicle for 10-12 hours, and the time goes by like magic. Our wonderfully knowledgeable guide who could not do enough for us, says hey there is a lion — or you name it — half a mile off, and we follow it. Then later there is time to relax over a fine dinner prepared and served by caring people. Thank you, Africa Dream, thank you Africa!

Jim and Maxine Kaler
May 2010

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Quote of the Week: Diana Gammon and Donna Knox

Fulfilling our “Africa Dream” truly began with our first contact with Africa Dream Safaris. Knowing that the choice of Safari company would make or break our experience, we did a lot of research and communicated with several companies. From our first contact with our sales consultant at Africa Dream Safaris, we knew we had found the perfect fit. Over a period of several months, she got to know us and helped us plan a safari that was tailored exclusively to meet our needs.

At each point along the way, everything was meticulously planned and executed. When we arrived in Dar es Salaam and then in Arusha, feeling somewhat overwhelmed, there were our ADS reps, welcoming us with smiles, taking care of all the details, including giving us a cell phone in case we needed to contact them while on safari!

Our driver was attentive, professional and had the most amazing eyesight. Each day he made a point of showing us something different and we saw far more wildlife than we had ever dreamed of. Being on a private safari meant total flexibility – one day we spent over an hour watching 2 lion cubs play and tussle like kittens right beside our jeep. Another day we drove deep into the bush to find the elusive oryx. Although we were “in the back of beyond”, at all times we felt safe, and when we observed some of the other safari companies in operation, we were very glad we had chosen ADS.

Our accommodations were superb and fully met our expectations. A special memory was our 3 days at the Tented Migration Camp – a magical setting and wonderful hospitality.

There were so many golden moments –the wildebeest crossing the Mara River as the sun rose, a herd of elephant passing single file within arm’s length of our jeep, giraffes “necking”, sipping wine at sunset on our veranda at Swala as the zebra and antelope wandered past to gather at the water hole.

We cannot say enough about our experience. This was a trip of a lifetime, so, of course, we wanted everything to be perfect – and it was. To all the staff at ADS – Asante Sana! You greatly exceeded our expectations and made this truly an African Dream.

Diana Gammon and Donna Knox
September 2010

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Quote of the Week: Max Gottesman

Wow…the absolute trip of a lifetime! All of our expectations were met and exceeded. From arrival to departure, from our amazing guide, airport staff and Arusha staff, everything went perfectly. We saw every animal that we hoped to see including the wildebeest crossing 1-hour after our plane set down. A cheetah kill and the rhinos. We saw an abundance of every animal imaginable because our guide was so experienced and only wanted to please us.

Our fairy book accommodations went from incredible to unbelievable and just kept getting better. Arriving at our destinations tired and hungry and being greeted by warm and caring staffs with wet cold towels to wipe our dirty warm faces was half the fun of the trip.

You arranged an amazing and very memorable trip that we will never forget. The warm and wonderful people of Tanzania and ADS will never be forgotten. Thank you for all your suggestions, emails and helping in arranging our safari. I will certainly recommend you and ADS to anyone who asks. Asante Sana.

Max Gottesman
September 2010

Max himself meeting with several members of the Maasai Tribe as they gather together in song.

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Quote of the Week: Christine & Robin Cadiz

It’s tough to even begin to describe the magic of Tanzania and the Serengeti plains. We are by no means morning people, but it was well worth it to wake up before dawn each day to watch the sunrise over the plains during early morning game drives. Everywhere, we were surrounded by breathtaking views. A herd of zebras sprinting across the plains, a family of elephants easily tearing down a feast of trees, a lioness and her six cubs playing at dusk, a cheetah slowly stalking a gazelle, a hyena dragging a wildebeest carcass away from vultures, hippos play-fighting in a pond, a leopard napping in an acacia tree, a pride with twelve lions peeping their heads up through the tall grass, and the elusive black rhino walking in the distance were just some of the incredible moments of our honeymoon safari.

Our safari with ADS was a truly unique experience; we could not have asked for a more special honeymoon. We really appreciated our guide Joshua, who was extremely knowledgeable and taught us so much. Both of us are biologists and learned a great deal from him. Momentarily, we thought about how awesome it would be to move to Tanzania to enroll in the field studies at the college he attended. We saw even more than we’d hoped for and were able to get up close to observe animals engaging in their daily activities – things that may have been routine for them but fascinating and dramatic to us. We were happy just to watch them do what they normally do.

The entire safari experience was wonderful from start to finish. Serengeti Migration Camp is one of the most beautiful places we’ve ever stayed and private camping in the bush was definitely a highlight of our travels. What a romantic and unforgettable honeymoon!

Christine & Robin Cadiz
July 2010

A herd of zebra quenching their thirst at a water hole.

 

A pride of 12 lions resting in the grass (can you count all twelve?)

 

Two baboons taking comfort in each other’s company.

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Quote of the Week: Denise Cross

I had the best and most amazing time that I’ve ever had in my entire life. I loved each and every minute of the trip and I felt so happy and content and peaceful the entire time I was there. I’m sure you hear some people say that it was “life-changing” and I have to agree that it certainly was that way for me. I hated to leave and I can’t wait to go back.

Thank you so much…to you and Africa Dream Safari’s for doing a wonderful job planning my trip of a life time!!! I have nothing but positive things to say about how great everything was. The people were lovely and everything went so smoothly….it was effortless for us and we just sat back and enjoyed every minute of every day. Our guide was very friendly and easy-going and we hit it off right away. He was fun and liked to joke around, which was great, but he was also good at doing his best to answer any questions that we had. He was a good guide and I enjoyed spending time with him every day.

On our very first day we were fortunate enough to witness the migration of the wildebeest and then we proceeded to see so many other animals that we thought that it couldn’t get any better than that!! But, every day we were amazed at how special each day was and how every day was the “best” day in it’s own special way. I loved Buffalo Springs and all of the wonderful people there. It was a gorgeous location and the tents and lodge were amazing….so beautiful! And I was so happy that we had a chance at doing the night drive…..that was special and different and, as an added bonus, we got to spend some more time with Sukato. When we went to his village the next day he invited us into his boma to meet his wife and new baby…….that was an amazing experience that I will cherish for the rest of my life. We took tons of pictures of the children and it brings a lot of joy just to look at them and see the smiles on their faces as we showed them their own pictures….they giggled and laughed….it was great!!!

I LOVED classic camping….I found it to be thrilling and wonderful and peaceful and all things good! On one of the nights there I heard a lion roar/grunt numerous times and that same night I unzipped my tent just enough to stick my head and shoulders out with my flashlight and, about 30 or 40 feet in front of me I saw 5 or 6 sets of hyena eyes starring back at me…..it was sooooooo exciting! The staff was great and we got a great tour of the chef’s kitchen…the food was delicious!

While in the Crater, we were fortunate enough to see (from a distance) 3 Black Rhinos…..that was very exciting! And, I was thrilled when, on our last day of Safari, we saw over 400 elephants……it was amazing! Overall, we saw lots of lions, about 5 leopards, and 2 cheetah. We saw so many animals every single day that I just couldn’t believe it. And, I couldn’t believe how close we got to them…..we were right beside so many of them….the lions, a leopard, hyena, ostrich, baboons, monkeys, elephants, zebra, wildebeest, etc, etc, etc……my mind is still trying to process all of it. It was the most amazing experience of my entire life and I felt so happy while I was there.

Denise Cross
September 2010

A young lion cub acting especially brave towards his older (and much bigger) brother.

 

The smiling faces of native Maasai children.

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Quote of the Week: Sandy and Dave Bertetti

David and I want to express our sincere appreciation to ADS for an absolutely wonderful and unforgettable adventure to the beautiful country of Tanzania. We have traveled extensively all over the world with Tauck Tours, a first rate American travel company, but nothing even remotely compares to the personal preparation and treatment we were privileged to experience with ADS. On the Arusha side of the globe our ubiquitous guide was fantastic! He was such a gentleman—friendly, good sense of humor and an extraordinary knowledge and ability to look for predators and other mammals and birds and to teach us about their habits and ecological habitats. We saw not only all the big five animals but in fact almost every species on ADS’s Animal Checklist on Northern Tanzania including all types of trees and vegetation! We even saw a leopard kill, a black-maned lion, a rare kudu and a cheetah with her cubs enjoying a kill. But we really worked hard for it-in other words we were gone from morning to sundown searching!

Areas we really enjoyed seeing included the Mara River area especially during Migration-it was amazing to see literally hundreds of wildebeest and zebras all lined up to go across the Mara River-unfortunately a lioness appeared and they all stampeded back down the ravine which in itself was like a dry land crossing-dust everywheres—“a never to be forgotten” sight! We also loved the Serengeti Balloon ride and the champagne breakfast!

Outside the realm of herbivores and carnivores, talking with guide (our Maasai teacher and guide) and visiting a remote Maasai village was a very humbling experience for us. It was mind boggling to see first hand how the natives lived– we have never seen such poverty—grass and cow dung huts, no water nearby, no plumbing and no electricity. It really makes you appreciate how fortunate we are to live in America. We also enjoyed visiting the Poli Village outside Arusha and the Iraqw Village on the way from the Crater to Lake Manyara and learning about their traditions. Our visit to Olduvai Gorge was worth it as [our guide] took us down to the bottom of the area so we could see firsthand the original Leakey archeological site.

All in all we would rate this safari as OUTSTANDING, the most unique adventure we have ever experienced and I hope those reading this will have a similar Tanzanian experience; at least with Africa Dream Safaris you cannot go wrong-it was extraordinary to have our own private guide who would stop anytime (we took over 1200 photographs)! I would like to come back someday to this beautiful country of Tanzania but in the green season for a comparison. And we would not hesitate (in fact we already have) to recommend ADS to our friends. Kwa heri and Asante Sana.

Sandy and Dave Bertetti
August 2010

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Quote of the Week: Joanna Litvack and Family

My husband and I did a lot of research before committing to ADS. We wanted the best for our ‘trip of a lifetime.’ ADS lived up to its reputation and more. We took our three boys with us and each one of us loved the trip. First, we could not have asked for a better guide. He found four leopards in trees — which other trucks simply drove past because their drivers did not know what to look for. We were amazed at how he found lions (we saw three prides), cheetahs (we saw many) and leopards. We spent most of our time going to places where there were no other people. We truly had the safari to ourselves. Second, the lodges and camps were truly luxurious. We preferred the luxury camps and were truly impressed at the level of accommodations and service. I cannot recommend ADS more highly and I would recommend them (and will) to my closest friends. Third, the people of Tanzania were very friendly and the side, cultural trips offered by ADS are worthwhile.

Joanna Litvack and Family
August 2010

Large male lion sauntering over to a shade tree.

 

A pride of lions finishing up some scraps from their dinner.

 

A mother cheetah and her sub adult cub basking in the bright Serengeti sunshine.

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Quote of the Week: Sue Dougherty and Family

The Serengeti was my favorite. On one days drive in the Serengeti we saw everything from cheetah, lions on a kill, leaping gazelles, a leopard kill in a tree, the Great migration AND a Mara River crossing! It was because our guide knew what he was looking for and when to be inconspicuous that we got to experience that one. We had watched the wildebeest go to the rivers edge and balk back and forth for some time, then spotted another group with similar behavior. Our guide drove the Safari truck behind a tree, hiding us, but directly across from where the animals were “testing the waters”. We then heard the first splashes and drove over to the edge and witnessed the amazing river crossing right in front of us…It was spectacular!!!

All in all it was indeed the trip of a lifetime and I am still digesting it all…my main purpose was to see and experience the animals and the perfection of balance that exists in the Serengeti… that was accomplished without question… my experience filled my soul and was so amazing to share with my kids and husband…we will have a lifetime of fabulous memories….and an appreciation of some simple things… the day after we got home, my daughter said that when she filled her water bottle with our lovely Oregon tap water, she smiled, knowing we have clean water to drink… so mission accomplished here in a life lesson for the kids of how basics are simple to us, but not to much of the rest of the world.

Sue Dougherty and Family
August 2010

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Big Cat Action in the Dry Season

The dry season continues to strengthen its harsh hold on the Serengeti. The last bit of green from the few sporadic thundershowers we received last month has faded to brown. Most of the wildebeest and zebra herds are located in the North Serengeti stretching from Lobo Valley northwest to the Mara River and Lamai Triangle. There are also significant herds in the Masai Mara, Kenya (especially zebra). The lagging herds in the West Serengeti and Grumeti Game Reserve we saw in June and July seemed to have moved further north now and we expect these to be arriving in the accessible areas of the North Serengeti shortly, which will mean another round of Mara River crossings. This had been an exceptional year for Mara River crossings and our guests have seen quite a few. In fact, we had one group witness the river crossing in both directions with no doubt some confused wildebeest. The best place at the moment to see the main herds of the migration is just northwest of the Kogatende Ranger Post about 2 kms past the Mara River in what we refer to as the Lamai Triangle or Lamai Wedge.

Despite all excitement in the North Serengeti, it’s the Central Serengeti that continues to steal the show. Why? Let’s just say all the Serengeti’s large carnivores (lions, leopards, cheetahs and spotted hyena) have been showing off their hunting skills. Pictures are worth a thousand words and I will just leave off with these extraordinary photos taken on July 29th just to the east of the Seronera Valley in the Central Serengeti at the beginning of the Eastern Plains. For those familiar or with our ADS map, the area is just to the west of the Sametu Kopjes and Marsh. Thanks to David Y. and his family for submitting these unique photos of 2 young cheetah males attempting to hunt a topi.

Cheetah and Topi Battle0 - July 29, 2010
Cheetah and Topi Battle – July 29, 2010

Cheetah and Topi Battle1 - July 29, 2010
Cheetah and Topi Battle1 – July 29, 2010

Cheetah and Topi Battle2 - July 29, 2010
Cheetah and Topi Battle2 – July 29, 2010

Cheetah and Topi Battle3 - July 29, 2010
Cheetah and Topi Battle3 – July 29, 2010

Cheetah and Topi Battle4 - July 29, 2010
Cheetah and Topi Battle4 – July 29, 2010

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