Author: Michael

Quote of the Week: Jo Rakauskas

What a trip we had!!……and a wonderful guide……not much rain….perfect conditions,- no crowds….as a matter of fact there was one night when we were the only people at Kirawira…..and just one other couple at Plantation Lodge……Beautiful accommodations, our favorite nights were spent at the Private Luxury campsite with smiling Jonas and the crew!!….Number of wildlife in the Crater was disappointing, but the fields were bright yellow and beautiful in the sun (although I understand the flowers are not a good thing for the wildlife), and we did get to see Mama Rhino and her baby cross the road in front of us…..the last of the “Big 5″….Have a film of mating leopards in a tree which [our guide] said was most unusual……….Will get some photos together one of these days and a testimonial as well…… Asante Sana for providing us with a wonderful and varied itinerary.

Jo Rakauskas
May 2010

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An April to Remember

April is always a show stopper in terms of wildlife encounters in the African Safari Serengeti and the last two weeks of April were certainly no exception. African Dream Safaris clients and safari consultants were treated to spectacular encounters with the Great Migration: the herd sizes were so vast that they defied description. The mega herd easily comprising a million wildebeest were concentrated primarily in the Matiti and Macau plains in the south eastern Serengeti. This herd stretched west to Ndutu and Lake Masek thrilling clients who were staying in the lodges and tented camps in these areas. Yet just when you thought you couldn’t possibly count any more wildebeest and zebra, ADS clients exploring the Barafu kopjes and those adventuring even further east past Nasera Rock through to the beautiful and evocative Angata Kiti Plains were taken aback at the vast numbers of animals in this area. It was a delight to see so many healthy and robust looking wildebeest calves ranging in age from 3-13 weeks of age. Plains game such as eland, Thompson’s and Grant’s gazelle were also plentiful.

Big cat lovers were not disappointed with the frequent sightings of both nomadic and pride lions particularly around Gol and Sametu kopjes. Cheetah were a relatively frequent sight in the plains and a number of African Dream Safaris clients witnessed successful hunts starting with the stalk, chase and concluding with the kill and subsequent feasting. While this aspect does not appeal to everyone, it was rewarding to see the endangered cheetah, limited to around just 500 in the entire Serengeti, thriving. Leopard were spotted in the Seronera Valley as were members of the Maasai Kopjes and Makoma Hill Lion Prides.

Large breeding herds of elephant were in the Lobo and Seronera Valleys. Moru kopjes had a number of sizeable families while one particularly large breeding herd of about 300 family members kept photographers in the Macau plains busy for hours.

Giraffe and impala were plentiful in all of the acacia woodlands and bird lovers were treated to the sight of many colorful migrants enjoying their last few weeks before beginning on their long journey home across the relentless sands of the Sahara and back to Europe. In our last blog entry we mentioned clients often asking just how close you get to the lions, cheetahs and the like. Here’s our answer:

Male Lion - East Serengeti - April 2010
Male Lion – East Serengeti – April 2010
 

Lake Ndutu - South Serengeti - April 2010
Lake Ndutu – South Serengeti – April 2010

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Africa Dream Safaris – Film Shoot – April 2010

It has been a memorable April here at Africa Dream Safaris. In addition to hosting several large groups on the Serengeti Safari, we have had three of our U.S. safari consultants out on safari with a film crew. Our new film, which was shot entirely in the Serengeti from April 6th to April 11th, will feature the Serengeti’s green season in eye popping high definition. Below are a few stills taken during the filming. People always ask just how close you get to the lions, cheetahs and the like. I guess the answer is pretty darn close! Stay tuned for a proper bush report and a migration update due to be posted at the end of April.

Africa Dream Safaris Film Shoot - 1 - April 2010
Africa Dream Safaris Film Shoot – 1 – April 2010
 

Africa Dream Safaris Film Shoot - 2 - April 2010
Africa Dream Safaris Film Shoot – 2 – April 2010
 

Africa Dream Safaris Film Shoot - 3 - April 2010
Africa Dream Safaris Film Shoot – 3 – April 2010
 

Africa Dream Safaris Film Shoot - 4 - April 2010
Africa Dream Safaris Film Shoot – 4 – April 2010
 

Africa Dream Safaris Film Shoot - 5 - April 2010
Africa Dream Safaris Film Shoot – 5 – April 2010

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Quote of the Week: Mike and Mindy Walsh

We would like to thank Africa Dream Safaris for planning an unforgettable trip for us to the Serengeti. The scenery was amazing and I don’t believe there were many animals we missed seeing. I took over 1300 photos and my husband, Mike, took over 4 hours of video. Every day was a new adventure and experience viewing the incredible game and scenery. It is difficult to describe the majesty and beauty of the Serengeti and must be seen by all those who love nature. Our accommodations were more than we expected and very comfortable. The Maasai people were warm and friendly and we enjoyed our time with them thoroughly. Our guide was the BEST. He had the most incredible “eagle eye” for searching out animals, as well as wonderful knowledge of all of the animals, the people, and the country in general. He was a wealth of knowledge, yet very personable and friendly. A true asset to ADS! We have recommended ADS to many of our friends who would like to experience the Serengeti. This was truly a “bucket list” trip for us. Thank you so much for all your assistance in making it so!

Mike and Mindy Walsh
April 2010

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The Life-Giving Green Season – A Time of Plenty

Imagine an emerald canvas of grassland that stretches for miles, washed in the brilliance of equatorial sunlight and brimming with an abundance of new life. THIS is the green season in the Northern Tanzania Safari – a time of plenty for the animals and a time of splendor for all those who are able to witness it firsthand.

Each year, the green season is marked by extremes. Extreme colors saturate the landscape; verdant savannas are peppered with trillions of brightly-hued wildflowers that beam underneath a burning sapphire sky. Afternoon rainstorms steep in leaden horizons, eventually collapsing to the ground in a short but dramatic burst of life-giving moisture.Rainbows gleam above purple cloudscapes after the sky is washed clean, and the animals bask in the cool green splendor of this life-giving season.

Extreme life dominates the Serengeti plains during this time, as the wildebeest herds take pause in their never-ending migration to give birth on the southern Serengeti plains.Thousands of tiny wildebeest calves have now joined forces with the herd; wide-eyed and gangly, these babies are building their strength on the nutrient rich Serengeti plains before the herds all are forced to move on sometime in May. These young calves have much to learn during the months ahead as the migration resumes its northward course, laden with perils at every turn. Other animals also start their families during this time of plenty, as evidenced by the numerous cubs, pups, fawns, and foals that frolic over green carpets, bringing hope for continued survival of their species to this harsh African wilderness.

Extreme action and thrilling adventures are also inherent to this fast-paced season. The end of the green season including March offers arguably some of the finest wildlife viewing to be found anywhere in Africa. Amidst this world of tremendous color and teeming new life, our clients have certainly had some extreme safari experiences! Guest highlights include several fast paced cheetah chases near Ndutu, a spotted hyena clan battle with the Naabi Hill lion pride, large elephant herds at Moru Kopjes and continuing sightings of the critically endangered wild dog (this time in the beautiful valley of Angata Kiti in the remote reaches of East Serengeti and Ngorongoro Conservation Area).

On the migration front, several medium sized herds of wildebeest remain on the Southern Serengeti Plains southeast of Kusini and also between Lake Ndutu and Naabi Hill, an area referred to as The Triangle. However, the largest concentrations of all four migratory species (wildebeest, zebra, gazelle and eland) that encompass the famed migration are currently located on Eastern Serengeti Plains. The area between Gol Kopjes and Barafu Gorge is thick black with massive wildebeest herds at the moment. Most pictures simply fail to communicate the immensity of these herds. One can stand (assuming no lions) on the top of the largest kopje in the Barafu complex and look upon tens of thousands wildebeest and zebra grazing peacefully from horizon to horizon. Outstanding!

Special thanks to Ralph and Jane Anthony who sent in this spectacular wildebeest migration shot, which was taken on March 20, 2010 near the Gol Kopjes on the Eastern Serengeti Plains. It’s a challenge to capture the enormity of the wildebeest migration on the vast Serengeti Plains in a single frame and all of use here at African Dream Safaris think you did it justice with this beautiful photo!

March 20, 2010 - Eastern Serengeti Plains near Gol Kopjes
March 20, 2010 - Eastern Serengeti Plains near Gol Kopjes
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Quote of the Week: Paul and Phillip Mastoridis (father and son)

We researched and interviewed many Safari companies before we decided upon Africa Dream Safaris. The reason we chose you was because of your flexibility to accommodate our needs and desires; to really customize our Safari. No other outfitter was as accommodating and flexible as Africa Dream Safaris. They were able to organize a tour of the Maasai and Iraqw village. The Hot Air Balloon Ride they arranged over the Serengeti was spectacular! They were able to organize a morning to stop by a school where we were able to give school supplies to the children. This was one of our highlights of our journey. It is great to receive such a wonderful safari but it was great to give back as well. To see the wonderful smiles of the children as they sang for us was truly gratifying! Africa Dream Safaris truly exceeded our expectations! Tanzania is truly a spectacular and miraculous country! I was glad to have chosen such an excellent, flexible, friendly, and experienced outfitter such as Africa Dream Safaris! I would definitely use them again and I highly recommend them; you will not be disappointed! Finally I will leave you with a song my son and I learned while in Tanzania (in Swahili).

Jambo – Hi
Jambo bwana – Hi sir
Habari gani? – How are you?
Mzuri sana – Very fine
Wageni mwakaribishwa – Visitors are welcome
Tanzania yetu – Our (country) Tanzania
Hakuna matata – (where there are) no worries
Verses below (followed by Hakuna Matata)
Tanzania nchi nzuri – Tanaznia is a nice country
Nchi ya maajabu – A beautiful country
Nchi yenye amani – A peaceful country
Tanzania yetu – Our country (Tanzania)
Tanzania wote – All Tanzanians

Paul and Phillip Mastoridis (father and son)
March 2010

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Quote of the Week: Jim and Susan Campbell

Thank you for the most professional, well organized dream trip! Everything went like clockwork from the easy, efficient entry into Tanzania, meeting our terrific Arusha guides, to our very last goodbye in the amazing Serengeti Park. Our guide was extremely knowledgeable and we developed a great friendship. The accommodations were all special and everyday, from 6am to bedtime, was filled with highlights. We never believed that we could be so close to all the animals and experience the sights that left us gasping with wonderment. It was indeed a trip of a lifetime.

Jim and Susan Campbell
March 2010

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Quote of the Week: Larry and Diane Hays

We have just finished our ADS Safari and WOW! March is a great time to go on Safari. It all started with a visit to the web site which was one of the best I encountered while researching our trip. From start to finish this was one of the best organized trips we have ever taken thanks to all those who took such good care of us. Upon arriving in Tanzania we met our driver and our adventure began. We could not have asked for a more enthusiastic and knowledgeable person to share Tanzania with. We did not just point and shoot wildlife. We would spend time understanding what was happening and learning about the Serengeti, the Ndutu Conservation Area and the Ngorongoro Crater. We saw soooo many creatures up close and personal. It is hard to explain how amazing it was. It was one of the best trips we have ever taken and much of it was due to the organization, the accommodations, the people, everything that ADS provides to make it GREAT.

We flew into Nairobi and had to transfer to Tanzania to start out Safari and ADS did a fabulous job of taking care of all our needs along the way. We felt safe and comfortable with everyone we met and everything we did. ADS is the way to travel to Africa and we would not hesitate to use them again.

Larry and Diane Hays
March 2010

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Quote of the Week: Dean and Shauna Kattler

We’re back! We had THE most fantastic trip! It was so incredible. We saw a lot of cubs, baby elephants and one of the highlights of our trip was seeing a Leopard walking on the road. In [our guide’s experience] he told us he has never before seen one that close. Every place we stayed was so unique and each had its own character. The Ngorongoro Crater was THE most perfect way to end our trip! WOW! What an incredible place that is – it is the most beautiful place we have ever stayed. I was so moved by our trip to Africa and the Tanzania people. Because of this trip, Dean and I can’t wait to go back to see more of Africa.

Dean and Shauna Kattler
March 2010

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Quote of the Week: Andrew Dabb

My father and I both had a great time on safari, everyone we met and worked with at Africa Dream Safaris was great. We did get some fishing in (while at Ras Nungwi, Zanzibar) and my Dad managed to hook a Dorado, which he was really happy about. It was an amazing trip!

Andrew Dabb
March 2010



 

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Quote of the Week: Jane and Ralph Anthony

From the moment we got off the plane in Tanzania to the minute we left for home, our time with Africa Dream Safaris was very special. The greet staff was wonderful and took our paperwork through customs while we relaxed in the airport lounge. The first night in Africa was very comfortable, and we felt so welcomed. On Safari, our driver was very knowledgeable about all of the wildlife, including the many species of birds we saw and heard in our travels. We saw each and every creature we had hoped to see, and more! Highlights were the mating lions, the frolicking adolescent elephants, snoozing leopards, playful cheetah cubs and the wonderful people in the Maasai and Iraqw villages. The camps were clean, comfortable, quiet and welcoming. We received white glove treatment from the helpful smiling staff at each of the camps. I got spoiled by the wake-up tea service brought to our tent each morning! Food was delicious, and we had a great time. Thank you for all your help in working with us to plan this once in a lifetime trip. We will never forget it.

Jane and Ralph Anthony
March 2010

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Quote of the Week: Dean and Shauna Kattler

We’re back! We had THE most fantastic trip! It was so incredible. We saw a lot of cubs, baby elephants and one of the highlights of our trip was seeing a Leopard walking on the road. In [our guide’s experience] he told us he has never before seen one that close. Every place we stayed was so unique and each had its own character. The Ngorongoro Crater was THE most perfect way to end our trip! WOW! What an incredible place that is – it is the most beautiful place we have ever stayed. I was so moved by our trip to Africa and the Tanzania people. Because of this trip, Dean and I can’t wait to go back to see more of Africa.

Dean and Shauna Kattler
March 2010

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The Wildebeest Calving has begun!

Africa Serengeti Migration may just be the greatest show on earth! Over a million wildebeest participate in the migration as well as hundreds of thousands of Zebras and Thompson gazelles. Relentlessly tracked by Africa’s great predators, these animals migrate in a clockwise fashion over 1,800 miles of the Serengeti ecosystem each year in search of greener grasses. There is no real beginning or end to the pilgrimage for these animals it is an endless journey in search of food and water that climaxes in a new generation of baby calves born on the southern plains in the early green season.

Many of our guests on our African Safari Tours this month witnessed wildebeest calves at the moment of birth. This never ceases to impress people as new life replenishes the plains in such vast numbers. The saying there is safety in numbers is exceedingly true during wildebeest calving. Instinctually, females join together from different directions to form huge living barricades providing added protection at their most vulnerable time, birth. One of the reasons the females gather on the short-grass plains is to be able to have the best view of approaching predators as there is little vegetation to hide their presence. The other reason is the mineral content of the short grasses, rich in magnesium and calcium which is critical to good lactation.

We witnessed several different female groups giving birth this year (it is typical for the male and female wildebeest herds to range separately during the calving season with the males located further to the north inside the borders of the Serengeti National Park while the female herds tend to distance themselves deep in the southern extremes of the ecosystem). One group ranging about a 1-hour drive south of Ndutu deep within the Ngorongoro Conservation Area in the Matiti Plains area had its birth spike from about 10-Feb to 16-Feb. The largest female calving herd seen this year ranging about a 30-minute drive southwest of Ndutu had its birth spike from about 15-Feb to 22-Feb. We still have reports over the last few days of additional calving including a few on the eastern plains from Gol Kopjes through to Lemuta Hill. It seems the calving is trailing off now. The resident wildebeest herds in the Ngorongoro Crater usually calve earlier then their Serengeti counter parts. This year the herds in the Crater started calving towards the end of January into early February.

It is always a guessing game as to when and where the great wildebeest herds will drop their calves. Entirely dependent upon rainfall and grazing conditions, female wildebeest can hold off birthing for quite some time. In the most extreme dry years, we have seen the wildebeest calving being in early March in the Central Serengeti woodlands. More often then not though, the plains to the south of Ndutu and to the east of Lemuta Hill seem to be the preferred calving ground in February during ideal conditions.

In out last posting, the rains had been quite heavy towards the middle and end of December which finally drew the migration south onto the Serengeti Plains. In January and through the beginning of February we saw a general drying out trend which scattered all the migratory animals far and wide to seek the last patches of green grass and standing water. All of us here at Africa Dream Safaris were beginning to worry about the game viewing conditions (remember the old Serengeti adage that rain means game). Then, during the 2nd week of February thunder showers fell consistently all throughout the ecosystem. The rains continued during the 3rd week of February and intensified quite heavily on the 17th and 18th. The end result is the Serengeti Plains are a brilliant shade of green at the moment and game viewing is absolutely outstanding.

With the onset of the rains in February, we are now seeing large herds of wildebeest and gazelles beginning to shift from the southern plains to the eastern plains. There still remains heavy concentrations of migratory animals in the southern plains around Ndutu and Naabi but we are seeing more and more wildebeest, gazelle and zebra streaming to the eastern plains to Lemuta Hill, Nasera Rock and the Salei Plains. The Gol Kopjes at the beginning of the eastern plains are packed full of wildebeest at the moment.

The calving and the migration in general tends to steal the show in February but game viewing remains great for many other species in the Serengeti. Retina Hippo Pool in the Central Serengeti is quite full at the moment and guests have been getting some great pictures of hippos and crocodiles. The eastern game circuit from Seronera to Sametu Kopjes and further east to the Barafu Gorge and Kopjes has been rewarding with lots of good lion, cheetah and spotted hyena action. The scenery along this road is absolutely stunning, as well. Barafu Gorge has several large pools of water at the moment and has been a magnet for game throughout February.

Further to south there has been quite a lot of action on the plains between Kusini and Ndutu with plenty of lion, cheetah and hyena kills being reported. The Ndutu pride (we counted 16 total members including cubs) has been hanging around the big marsh as the wildebeest have been easy pickings when they come to the marsh to drink. There is lots of cover here for the lions to make a successful hunt. The Gol Kopjes area remains one of the best areas in the Serengeti for cheetah viewing and the Gol Kopjes lion pride has been spotted fairly frequently out on the kopjes.

We have had some very unusual sightings this February including an aardwolf on the road between Naabi Hill and Ndutu, a ratel (honey badger) on the Kusini Plains and wild dogs at Ndutu, which is something truly extraordinary. Wild dogs are rarely sighted within the Serengeti National Park though there is a small population in the Loliondo Game Reserve, which is adjacent to the Serengeti along its eastern border. Lastly, approximately 30 black rhinos (flown from South Africa) are scheduled to be released in the Serengeti over the course of 2010. The first rhinos are scheduled for release in the Lobo Valley of the Northern Serengeti in May. Currently, the Serengeti is home to only a dozen black rhinos, which are vigorously protected in the Moru Kopjes complex in the Central Serengeti. Hopefully, these magnificent animals can repopulate the Serengeti and once again roam the Serengeti.

Wildebeest Calving - February 2010
Wildebeest Calving - Matiti Plains - February 2010
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Quote of the Week: Dennis and Joanne Airoldi

Our Africa Dream Safari experience far exceeded our expectations and we had very high expectations. From the first meeting at the airport with the VIP service through the last good-bye on the way home we felt very comfortable that Africa Dream Safaris had everything planned. While a safari could have been a stressful experience, since we were far from home and in such a different environment, Africa Dream Safaris made our safari a relaxing enjoyable experience.

Our guide was amazing at spotting animals and he gave us tips on how to spot animals ourselves. Since most animals have a unique silhouette, when we were looking for a certain type of animal our guide would tell what shape to look for. More importantly, our guide had the knowledge that allowed him ot place us in the right place at the right time. I had hoped to be able to see a lion or cheetah kill during our safari. On our first day we saw a lion pride stalk and kill a mother Cape buffalo. When we returned in the morning 15 spotted hyenas surrounded the kill, a few male lions and jackals picked at the scraps. We also watched cheetahs stalk zebras, gazelle and wildebeest. This was very interesting since they failed to get in position to attack the zebras and missed on their first attack on the wildebeest. They were successful with the gazelle and the second wildebeest. It was good to see that the predators don’t always win. Over the course of our safari we saw 5 lion kills, 2 cheetah kills, 1 leopard kill and 2 vulture kills. I was glad that we were able to watch both lions and cheetahs in the complete process of the predator and prey confrontation. It was very interesting and we were able to get very close and get some amazing pictures and video.

My wife is an avid bird watcher and our guide seemed to know every bird we saw. While bird watching was not our primary goal we saw numerous unique bird species while looking for larger animals. During one 3-day period my wife saw over 60 different birds. The variety of bird life in Tanzania is truly amazing.

During our safari my wife and I celebrated our 39th wedding anniversary. The staff at the private luxury camp was able to bake a cake for us over a campfire. The staff at this camp did an exceptional job. Our guide brought us to a Maasai Boma (village) where some of his friends lived. My wife and I will never forget the experience on being in a Maasai hut with a Maasai warrior on our anniversary. The people were amazing and spent time with us discussing their way of life. In many aspects it was like going back in time, their knowledge of the world was very limited. They asked us where we lived and had no knowledge of America. In order to try an determine how far we had traveled they asked us how long it would take to walk to America. It was a very special anniversary.

We have been on numerous vacations and normally towards the end of a vacation you start to look forward to getting home. On safari we wished we could stay much longer. When asked if we would do it again our immediate response was that we would go back tomorrow. Every day on safari was special and different; you never knew what was waiting just around the corner.

Dennis and Joanne Airoldi
February 2010

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Quote of the Week: Fred and Lynnette Dubendorf

We have just returned from out two-week trip to Tanzania with Africa Dream Safaris. To say that the trip was life-changing is actually an understatement. Where can we start to try to convey the whole experience to those who have never been?[…] Our guide was unbelievable! We finally decided to call him “eagle eyes” because of the astonishing way that he could spot wildlife. He was able to spot lions even though they were sleeping in tall grass; he spotted a cheetah and pointed it out to us and it still took us several minutes to see it with our binoculars. One morning he spotted a leopard even though the sun had not even broken the horizon and it was quite dark. His knowledge of the animals was equally impressive as he told us to keep our camera on a lion that was preparing to arise from a nap and would probably yawn three times so that we could get a photo with his mouth wide open. Most days we started our game drives at 6 am and didn’t end until late in the afternoon, and the whole time he would answer all of our questions, be constantly on the lookout for animals and birds and was conscientious that this was an experience of a lifetime for us. If we wanted to start a day later or end the day sooner, he was equally obliging. […]

To those who are considering booking a trip with Africa Dream Safaris…You will be glad that you put your trust in them to take care of what will most definitely be an experience of a lifetime. We confidently, and without any hesitation, give Africa Dreams and their staff the highest recommendation that is possible.

Fred and Lynnette Dubendorf
February 2010

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