Good morning from Tanzania! My name is Patrick Clement Kivumbi and I am a driver-guide with Africa Dream Safaris. This time I was with a group of four persons from Washington State named Robert, Linda, Kristan and Darcie. We were in the bush from September 21st to October 01st 2013 and w had a wonderful time together with noteworthy wildlife sightings. The following are some of highlights during this great safari.

– Here you can see three lionesses around the lobo valley on the top of the Kopjes. They were enjoying the sun in the afternoon time.

– Two male lions again around the lobo valley.

– Another sighting in Lobo but this time with a big male leopard on the top of the tree with a grant gazelle kill. Everybody was amazed how big this leopard was. I was surprised the way the leopard was active and feeding without any shyness.

– Here you can see the leopard down from the tree protecting his territory.

– Now the leopard is resting under the tree after being full and exhausted.

– Here is a dik dik, the smallest antelope in the Serengeti.

– Zebras migration during one evening around Banagi hills heading to the safety of the Acacia woodlands for the overnight.

– It was a big party for the scavengers including vultures, jackals, and hyenas who were all fighting to feed on a fallen elephant.

–  We saw this action near Silale Swamp in Tarangire where a lioness successfully hunted a reedbuck antelope.

Thanks,
Patrick C. Kivumbi
ADS Guide

This is driver-guide Godson Mbonye reporting from Arusha, Tanzania. I am here to post my latest bush report. This time I was the guide for a group of 3 persons travelling from Oregon, USA named Leslie, Emmaline and Ron. The safari began on September 21, 2013 and concluded on September 27, 2013. It was a short but sweet trip! We enjoyed a total of 6 nights in the bush with 5 nights in the Serengeti split between the North and Central regions (Lemala, Buffalo and Sametu Camps) and 1 final night at the Ngorongoro Crater (Lions Paw Camp).

The wildlife activities started on September 21st at Kogatende Airstrip where I met the guests upon arrival at the Mara River or Kogatende Airstrip. We enjoyed the surrounding game drive circuit and had a good time watching the wildebeest migration cross the famous Mara River. We saw crossings on two different days.

The weather in the Serengeti was on cool side with the short rains taking place, which are small afternoon thunder showers. The bushes and grasses were green, which is a good sign for the grazers and browsers of the Serengeti. The cultural tour with the Maasai at Buffalo Camp was nice and I think a great experience for the clients.

The Central Serengeti game viewing did not disappoint and was as good as we would normally expect for this time of year. In the Ngoronogoro Crater we managed to see six rhinoceros in different areas. We ended with an early morning game to crater where we got enjoy some time with a large pride of lions.

Pictures are as follow:

– Two asinonixjubitus resting under shade by rocks land at Kogatende.
– The same family jubitus, second position.
– L’oxodanta siclotis, crossing Mara River in a way of wildebeest crossing migration.
– Wildebeest seen on crossing way at Mara River, number seven crossing way.
– The same herd on the same time heading on crossing way.
– Wildebeest seen wet after crossing the river. They were passing just in front of us.
– Family of cheetah behind a termite hill, not far from the Mara River.
– A fire ball lily flower shining in a bush as a red candle light during the early morning at Kogatende.
– A long line of Wildebeest seen on que into the water, with pretty vegetation on both rivers bank.
– Lions adults cubs seen hungry looking for prey on the plains at Kogatende.
– A King of jungle seen tired after having his lunch caught by the queen/lioness at Kogatende.
– Here the Queen of jungle prepared to catch a prey for the Kings Food.
– L’oxodanta Africana in a bush of acacia at central Serengeti.
– Food of King Lion eaten a half, had a pose for a while before keep eating his meal.
– Three leopards seen in these two trees while resting in its branches.
– Fish eagle seen standing on dead tree, within a nice view of landscape shown two horizons of Serengeti hills.
– Civet cat while hunting for small rodents in the Ngorongoro crater.

Thanks,
Godson Mbonye.

Jambo! My name is Thomson and I am guide with ADS. I just concluded my most recent safari tour (August 3rd to August 9th, 2013) with two guests from Florida, USA named Natalia and Judy. My clients arrived on time at Lobo Valley Airstrip in the North Serengeti on August 3rd and we begun the game viewing soon after their arrival. My guests were very enthusiastic and I was delighted that they wanted to carry on with the game drive well into the twilight. We saw a lot at the first day around Lobo Valley, Lobo Hill and Kleins Woodlands. It was an impressive safari for them and we were very luck to see the wild dogs at Ololosokwan valley. We conducted a walking safari within a few meters of the wild dogs with an expatriate from the wild dog project and wild vision game ranger.

Pictures include:

– A family of cheetahs at lobo hill.
– African wild dogs – the most endangered species in the savannah, the wild dog project helps monitor and protect them in the Ololosokwan valley
– Great migration crossing the Mara river from Lamai to Kogatende. ”Impessive”.
– A group of hippos sun bathing in the Mara river,  North Serengeti.
– A key stone species – elephant (bull) pulling down a tree to debark.
– African hippo grazing along the Mara river.
– Vultures eating a wildebeest carcass.
– Cheetah hunting.
– King of the jungle roaring.
– Lion marking its territory.

Thanks,
Thomson Malekia.
ADS guide.

Jambo! It is your safari guides Thomson and Arnold from Tanzania reporting after the conclusion of our most recent safari that required the use of 2 vehicles and guides. A family of 10 people arrived at the Ndutu airstrip in the South Serengeti at 10.00am on July 15 2013, and we began the game drive around Ndutu area. Our first day turned out to be indicative of our entire safari as we immediately encountered some tremendous wildlife viewing. Let me explain further our first day. We saw a big pride of lions including nine cubs (they seemed to be the Serengeti’s welcoming committee). Immediately afterwards, we saw a cheetah anxious looking for something to eat. However, a lioness from the big pride entertained us all by chasing a warthog. We visited Oldupai Gorge after departing the South Serengeti and continued on our game drive to Ngorongoro Lion’s Paw Camp with a game drive through the Crater along the way. What a day!

The following are some of the pictures to share with you.

010 – Buffalos at lake Manyara.
021 – Mongoose family at Tarangire.
023 – Mongoose on the top of stone at Tarangire.
025 – Hummerkop nest (small bird but makes a huge nest which were up to 90 – 120 kg)
098 – Lion at ndutu big marsh area stalking a warthog.
104 and 106 – Lion cubs drinking water at the marsh area.
111 – Cheetah in the ndutu woodlands area searching for food.
114 and 116 – Elephant bull at small marsh ndutu.
119 – Hippo in the crater.
122 – Grandkids having good time at Ngorongoro Crater (Ngoitoktok springs – picnic site).
128 – Healthy Olive Baboon at Lake Manyara under ground water forest.
130 – Black faced vervet monkey at Silale Swamp, Tarangire.
134 and 136 – Roaring lions while mating.
151 – Camouflaged female leopard at Lobo valley, North Serengeti.
157 – Sun bathing hippo in the Mara river, North Serengeti.
158 – Migration heading towards Mara river.
184, 203, 204, and 211 – ”Learn from the best”. Lion cub sharing wild experience with his mom.
219, 224, 226, and236 – Dark male lion enjoying a wildebeest provided by the female
257 – Like father like son.
261 – Buffalo herd at Mawe ya Nomad
142 – Avocet standing by one leg at lake Magadi in Serengeti.
147 – A bull elephant debarking yellow barked accacia tree

Thanks,

Thomson Malekia and Arnold Mushi,
August 5, 2013
ADS guides.

Greetings from a warm and sunny Arusha, Tanzania. My name is Thomson and here is my report from current safari that was concluded on May 14, 2013. My 3 guests (a family from Georgia, USA named Charles, Cathy and Rachel) and I enjoyed 6 nights out on safari in the wilderness areas of the Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Conservation Area. We had 2 nights at Serengeti Serena Lodge, 2 nights at Mbalageti Lodge and 2 nights at Ngorongoro Serena Lodge. I hope you enjoy my photos I managed to take during the course of the adventure.

Here are two elands, which are the largest antelopes in Africa. This picture was taken in the Ngorongoro Crater. Note the beautiful yellow wildflowers that are very common this time of year. Elands are usually very shy but in the crater they are habituated to the presence of vehicles.

Here is one of my guests named Rachel. Note the elephants in the background.

Giraffes crossing the road in the Central Serengeti.

Blue monkey in Lake Manyara National Park.

A large tusker bull elephant in the Ngorongoro Crater.

Nile crocodile in the Grumeti River, West Serengeti.

Elephants crossing the road, Central Sernegeti.

The famous wildebeest migration.

Warm Regards,

Thomson
ADS Driver-Guide

My name is Thomson Malekia and I am a guide with ADS. I have returned home from my latest safari with my guests Karen and Brad D. from the U.S. We experienced many wildlife highlights during the course of our 6-night safari in the Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Conservation Area.

Here are some of the highlights and also a few pictures I took with my little pocket camera.

– My first picture above is of the famous Marsh Pride. The territory of this pride consists of a broad stretch of the Lake Ndutu and Lake Masek woodlands in the South Serengeti. The pride is frequently found near the small marsh at Ndutu where they den their cubs and hence the name of the pride. It was my guests dream to see a big pride of lions like this and we enjoyed the sighting for quite some time. The cubs were very interesting to watch while they wrestled each other.

– Watching several lions in a sausage tree. Lions frequently climb trees in the Serengeti during the green season to escape the flies that can be a nuisance to them. It’s always enjoyable to watch these large cats attempt to climb. They are not nearly as skilled climbers compared with leopards.

– A large colony of Banded Mongoose. These animals feed mainly off of insects in the Serengeti and forage in large groups.

-Wildebeests bulls fighting in the Olubaye woodlands

-A large herd of elephants around Moru Kopjes

-A pride of four female lioness sunbathing in the middle of Serengeti plains surrounded by a sea of grasses stretching from horizon to horizon

-Greater Flamingos feeding at Lake Ndutu.

-Giraffe drinking water at the small marsh at Ndutu

– Three cheetah brothers stalking wildebeests. With all the young wildebeest calves currently on the Serengeti plains, cheetahs and various other predators are having a relatively easy time capturing their food.

– The great migration surrounding Matiti Hill in the South Serengeti.

Many Thanks,

Thomson Malekia
March 27, 2013

Beautiful Ngoitokitok Springs, Ngorongoro Crater

The great migration in the South Serengeti

Three cheetah brothers stalking wildebeests

Giraffe drinking water at the small marsh at Ndutu

Greater Flamingo feeding at Lake Ndutu

A pride of four female lioness sunbathing at the middle of the Serengeti plains

Large herd of elephants around Moru Kopjes – Serengeti.

Wildebeest bulls challenging to each other

Lions in a sausage tree

Greetings from the Serengeti! This is ADS guide Thomson reporting with a great wildlife sighting.  I just came across a pride of lions relaxing by the waterhole near Gol Kopjes. It made for a beautiful picture! The lions were patiently waiting for nighttime to begin hunting as out on these open plains it is easier for lions to hunt under the cover of darkness. It is currently warm and dusty and by sitting along the water they can regulate their body temperature. We managed to get very close to the lions (about 10 feet) without any signs of inducing stress on these animals by our presence, which is always important.

Jambo… Im Emmanuel Kichao a guide with ADS, just got back from the bush with my good clients Toni & Richard Olsen.We had a wonderful time and good timing for the Wildebeest calving season as they give birth all in a week or two to fill all the predators bellies  so few get eaten and many survive…… This Leopard had a baby wildebeest kill up on the tree and we got there right on time….

Four cheetah cubs and their mother not in the picture they found this wildebeest calf in the morning, as many of this young’s get lost at night when there is a chase or moving of the big herd. So  mother cheetah  let the cubs learn how to kill and it was so funny watching them.