Author: Michael

Quote of the Week: Ann Eilert

August 26, 2008June 6, 2017 by Michael

How can one do justice to such a trip by summarizing in a paragraph or two the genuine warmth and kindness of the Tanzanian people, the amazing beauty of the richly filled woodlands, the expanse of the seemingly endless grassy plane, or the raw beauty of nature as it takes its sometimes cruel, often uplifting, but ever inspiring course in the lives of the animals that thrive there? I knew visiting such a place as Tanzania would be a rich and rewarding experience even before we went, but today I am simply in awe of the amazingly spectacular sights, sounds, and deeply rooted emotions that we experienced. […]

Having now lived overseas as an educator for nearly 20 years, and having traveled extensively in Europe, as well as throughout parts of Asia, Africa (Egypt & Kenya), and New Zealand, I definitely expected this trip to be “pretty great” – but I can now say in all honesty and without any reservation that this trip by far exceeded any travel experience I have ever had in the past– bar none! It really was a dream-come-true. Thank you, ADS, for taking all of us on a true “trip of a lifetime!” I, for one, cannot thank you enough!

Ann Eilert
August 2008

Quote of the Week: Gina McKenzie, Doug and Carol Williams

August 10, 2008June 6, 2017 by Michael

WOW! What can you say about the trip of a lifetime? Africa Dream Safaris made it happen for us! From our arrival in Arusha to our reluctant departure eleven days later, each day was filled with the most incredible experiences. By the end of day one, we were privileged to witness not one but two wildebeest crossings at the Mara River. We really thought to ourselves, “what more can there be?” But each day was better than the last – two more river crossings, all the wonderful animals in huge numbers and usually up close and personal, a glimpse into their behavior and the life and death struggles that happen daily. […] We were richly rewarded by the many things we witnessed. Our camps and lodges exceeded our expectations. From the friendly staff, the delicious food and comfortable accommodations, we were treated like royalty. […] This was absolutely the best vacation we’ve ever taken. We all agree we want to return. When we do, we will call on Africa Dream Safaris!

Gina McKenzie, Doug and Carol Williams
August 2008

**Bonus Feature! This short video of the Mara River Crossing was recorded by Mariela Kotun in the Northern Serengeti in August 2008: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6XjkCUCqPws

Quote of the Week: Dan & Lynne Kohlhepp

August 10, 2008June 6, 2017 by Michael

I can’t say enough about our safari and the high level of service we received from Africa Dream Safaris. We saw everything we wanted to see and much closer than we expected. Africa Dream Safaris performed flawlessly from the planning of the trip all the way through to the post trip follow up. After anticipating this trip for months, my expectations were very high and I have to say they were exceeded by the reliable and friendly team at Africa Dream Safaris. […] During our first hour of game driving we saw an amazing amount of animals including elephants, lions, zebras, wildebeests, ostrich, giraffes, monkeys, baboons, eland, and more impalas and gazelles than we could count. The rest of the safari brought even closer sightings of lions, cheetahs, huge herds of wildebeests around the Mara River, rhinos, leopards, entertaining groups of hippos and elephants, many species of birds and much more. […] We were very pleased with all of the lodges, the high level of service and comfort of the accommodations. […] All of you at Africa Dream Safaris were very helpful and friendly. The ADS team did all the work, and all we had to do was enjoy the experience. I will highly recommend Africa Dream Safaris and look forward to planning a future safari with you!

Dan & Lynne Kohlhepp
August 2008

Quote of the Week: Mark Coleman

August 10, 2008June 6, 2017 by Michael

We really had a memorable trip to Tanzania thanks to Africa Dream Safaris whose personnel and attention to detail allowed us to focus on the jewels of Africa – the landscape, people and wildlife. Each day proved as special as the one before. Reflecting on each day we were sure that the next could not live up to the last – but we were consistently proved wrong. From following a male lion down a dusty road to his lioness and young cubs, with no one else anywhere to be seen to intrude upon our private viewing, to a pair of cheetahs who sought out the shade of our Land Cruiser for more than an hour, to the adolescent rough-housing of two young elephants, each trying to exert his dominance over the other, each day held its own unique surprises for us. As eventful as each day was, the service and accommodation that greeted us each evening was beyond our expectations and truly appreciated. As I review the photos of our trip, a smile comes to my face remembering fondly our trip of a lifetime.

Mark Coleman
August 2008

Quote of the Week: Joe and Julia Myer

August 10, 2008June 6, 2017 by Michael

We can’t thank ADS enough for helping arrange a truly memorable and wonderful safari. We brought home so many great memories – and pictures. We’ve received many great comments on the pictures we’ve shared with our friends and family, and all I can say in response is, “imagine what it must have been like to be there, to be in front of that leopard, to chase that cheetah running after a gazelle, to watch that bird swallow a snake whole, to see the 6 lion cubs laying with their mom…” And those stories are just the tip of the ice berg of what we saw and experienced. We couldn’t have asked for a better person to work with during the planning stages, a better host upon arrival to Tanzania, or a better driver guide to lead us on all our adventures. From the time we first contacted ADS to plan our trip to the final goodbye as we entered the airport to come home, we were treated respectfully and at times felt like family. I most definitely would recommend ADS to my friends and family as they were an absolute pleasure to work with. Thank you for a truly wonderful safari – Asante Sana!

Joe and Julia Myer
August 2008

Quote of the Week: Dan and Lynne Kohlhepp

August 9, 2008June 6, 2017 by Michael

I can’t say enough about our safari and the high level of service we received from Africa Dream Safaris. We saw everything we wanted to see and much closer than we expected. Africa Dream Safaris performed flawlessly from the planning of the trip all the way through to the post trip follow up. After anticipating this trip for months, my expectations were very high and I have to say they were exceeded by the reliable and friendly team at Africa Dream Safaris […]

During our first hour of game driving we saw an amazing amount of animals including elephants, lions, zebras, wildebeests, ostrich, giraffes, monkeys, baboons, eland, and more impalas and gazelles than we could count The rest of the safari brought even closer sightings of lions, cheetahs, huge herds of wildebeests around the Mara River, rhinos, leopards, entertaining groups of hippos and elephants, many species of birds and much more […]

Over all, everything was as represented. All of you at Africa Dream Safaris were very helpful and friendly. The ADS team did all the work, and all we had to do was enjoy the experience. I will highly recommend Africa Dream Safaris and look forward to planning a future safari with you.

Dan and Lynne Kohlhepp
August 2008

Quote of the Week: Ann Eilert

July 30, 2008June 6, 2017 by Michael

From the first moment of our arrival in Arusha, where we were warmly greeted by the cheerful and professional ADS staff on the tarmac, to the final moment of our departure, we could not have been made to feel more cared for, welcomed and relaxed. The accommodations at each and every place we stayed were outstanding and comfortable, and we were exceptionally well fed – whether it was in our semi-permanent tent, our permanent tent, in our private luxury camp, or in a lodge. (We experienced them all!) And our safari guide that met us when we landed in the Serengeti – what can I say about our guide to do him justice? After watching and listening to the many other groups that we saw on safari in the lodges, camps, and on the wildlife circuits, I now truly believe one’s safari is going to be only as good one’s guide…and our ADS guide was absolutely exceptional – truly, he was beyond compare! […] This trip by far exceeded any travel experience I have ever had in the past– bar none! It really was a dream-come-true. Thank you, ADS, for taking all of us on a true ‘trip of a lifetime!’

Ann Eilert
July 2008

Quote of the Week: Jon Baird

June 29, 2008June 6, 2017 by Michael

The trip was beyond all of our expectations. We were thrilled with all of the accommodations and especially grateful for the services of our guide. He was without a doubt the supreme facilitator of our amazing experience. We cannot say enough wonderful things about him from the gentle way about him to his very keen understanding of the ecosystems we experienced. He was truly a blessing on this trip and we hated to say goodbye to him…

[Our itinerary] was a perfect balance of game drives and relaxation time so that all could experience the full pleasure of this amazing continent. We all knew this was to be the trip of a lifetime and yet, none of us were prepared for just how impactful this adventure would be. It’s been over a week and we still cannot stop talking about the trip nor finding a few moments to look at the pictures we took. I could go on forever talking about our experiences but let me leave you with one thought: every one of us walks away from this journey an ambassador for Tanzania, Africa, and Africa Dream Safaris. It was truly the trip of a lifetime and one I hope we can repeat some day.

Jon Baird
June 2008

Quote of the Week: Al and Allison Scheflow

June 20, 2008June 6, 2017 by Michael

We absolutely loved our entire safari. We had the BEST guide. How did we get so lucky? He knew where to find everything. The accommodations were outstanding. Al didn’t want to leave Kirawira, the view was spectacular. Marcia celebrated her birthday there and the entire staff came and sang at the table. Everyone was talking about how beautiful the song and singing were. We were only about 5 minutes into our safari when [our guide] said “see the elephant?” What??? Already?? and it just didn’t stop. We saw everything: rhino, cheetah, leopard, plenty of lions, hippo, giraffe etc. […] The service was over the top. Those guys were so friendly and warm […] Asante sana, tena. We will be back!

Al and Allison Scheflow
June 2008

Quote of the Week: Andy Marino

June 10, 2008June 6, 2017 by Michael

The Serengeti in Tanzania is one of the purest, untouched environments left on earth! The abundance and variety of wildlife (Gina was thrilled with all the baby animals), observing their behavior in their natural habitat up-close and personal, the clean air filled with unfamiliar animal sounds, the sweeping landscapes of acacia and baobab trees, the early morning light as it filters across the Serengeti plains, the total absence of mankind (except, of course, for the mighty Maasai people) – all this was brought to life by our Maasai guide with Africa Dream Safaris. This, my friends, was the life-changing trip of a lifetime for Andy, Gina, Karen, and Barbara!

In addition to the wildlife, our lodging experience was also phenomenal. The hospitality shown to us by the ADS team at the private camp was sincere and exceptional. We’ll never forget our African dinner under the stars with the camp staff singing the Jambo song as they brought us our dinner. We’ve traveled extensively, and the Presidential Suite at the Mbalageti Lodge has to have the most stunning scenic view of any lodging anywhere in the world (no exaggeration). The Swala Lodge is at the “end of the earth” with impala roaming through camp. The couple who manages the camp makes you feel welcomed and serve cocktails and appetizers around the campfire before dinner (the food here is superb). Throughout our experience, ADS was responsive and provided personal service both at home and in Tanzania. Your safari experience is only as good as your guide and we strongly believe that a private ADS safari with your own personal guide (who you will bond with) is the ONLY way to see the wildlife in Tanzania …and provides for the best possible experience at so many different levels.

Andy Marino
June 2008

Quote of the Week: Sam and Don Kaeser

May 30, 2008June 6, 2017 by Michael

I don’t think there are enough correct words in the English language to aptly describe our trip. It was the most amazing, exciting, exhilarating vacation we’ve ever experienced. Correction, it was not a vacation, it was an adventure! Tanzania is a beautiful, beautiful country. And the Tanzanian people are wonderful. I am having a difficult time putting it down in words, but we were so overwhelmed by everything we saw and the places we stayed. On our way to the Mbalageti Lodge we saw a HUGE herd of wildebeest take off running through the tall grass. There must have been hundreds of thousands! The sound of them running through the tall grass was amazing. It took our breath away. We saw every animal we could think of and some we never knew existed. To see these animals in their own environment is something we will never forget.

Sam and Don Kaeser
May 2008

Quote of the Week: Sandy Bagley

May 26, 2008June 6, 2017 by Michael

“It [our safari] was the best experience beyond the birth of our kids.”

Sandy Bagley
May 2008

Quote of the Week: Chris Scislowicz

May 24, 2008June 6, 2017 by Michael

As this was our third safari to Africa, and our second to northern Tanzania, our expectations were remarkably high and yet ADS [Africa Dream Safaris] managed to meet or exceed all of them. The structure of your safari itineraries, specifically geared to maximize wildlife viewing opportunities, is what initially attracted me to ADS. I must say the safari did not disappoint. The vast quantity of wildlife we encountered on this safari easily outnumbered the other two combined. From eating breakfast in the midst of the famous wildebeest migration to the 80+ lions we encountered on our trip, the safari was nonstop excitement. Yet as remarkable as all of those sightings were, I am not sure anything will ever top having a young cheetah jump on the hood of our safari vehicle. It was straight out of Big Cat Diaries, and as a lifelong cheetah lover, it was a truly magical experience. […] Please accept my sincere thanks for all of your team’s efforts in planning and executing a remarkable experience that my family will never forget.

Chris Scislowicz
May 2008

Quote of the Week: Kaaryn and David C.

Romantic Getaways

May 22, 2008June 6, 2017 by Michael

Thank you so much for making our honeymoon such a special trip. We will never forget it. [ADS] was great to work with […] the quick responses to all of our questions and knowledge about the lodges and parks were so valuable in helping us pick an itinerary and lodging that suited our needs. Enough cannot be said about the staff in Tanzania. After 20 hours of travel, it was great to have [ADS] at the airport to greet us. [ADS] quickly got us through customs and to our lodge. Our driver-guide was great company to spend a week with. His knowledge about Tanzania’s history, customs, parks, animals, birds and the migration was incredible. He seemed to never miss any game on our drives and encouraged us to get up early to have the best chance of seeing the most game.

As the other safari companies were turning around to stay within their mileage limits and the main roads, we were heading further away from the camps and crowds. It was great to get away from the crowds and truly feel like we had the park to ourselves […] Highlights of our trip: Seeing tens of thousands of wildebeests and zebras during the migration. Three huge male lions on a kopje. Pride of lions feeding on 3 wildebeests that were recently killed. Being able to see 5 black rhino’s at the same time on the crater floor.

Hopefully we’ll be back soon and certainly will book with ADS. Asante Sana!

Kaaryn and David C.
May 2008

Anniversary, Honeymoon, May, Romantic

Quote of the Week: Mason and Nandi O’Dell

May 21, 2008June 6, 2017 by Michael

We have been back from our Safari nearly two weeks and have yet to come down from our emotional high. We have been trying to find the right words to describe the beauty that is the Serengeti – it is truly a unique place in this world, filled with magnificent animals and incomparable landscapes [… ] The experiences we encountered on our trip felt almost surreal at the time, but we now have so many incredible and vivid memories that will always remain dear to our hearts. However, it was not just the natural beauty of the environment which we’ll remember so fondly, but also the people we met along the way. The care and thoughtfulness of the ADS team had a huge influence on making our trip special. Never before have so many people made us feel so welcome. From the early planning stages to our welcome home, every detail was carefully planned to accommodate our best interests. It would seem that only family or friends could be so thoughtful, but each and every member of the ADS team treated us as such, and for that we sincerely thank you. Rest assured that we will go back again someday, but until then we will remain advocates for ADS and serve as ambassadors for the country of Tanzania! Thank you so much for making our experience so incredible!

Mason and Nandi O’Dell
May 2008