This is driver-guide Claude Shitindi and I would like to extend a warm greetings to the ADS community. In the last seven days I was in the bush with a couple from Ohio named Mark and Alice. We started our safari together on September 30, 2013 when I met them at the Kogatende Airstrip in the North Serengeti after they had flown in from Arusha. Our itinerary included 3 nights in the North Serengeti, 2 nights in the Central Serengeti and 1 night at the Ngorongoro Crater.

We had a fantastic time and all the places we explored had good game viewing. The North Serengeti at Kuria Hills Camp was stunning and the game was incredible. We had good sightings of lions with kills, a cheetah with an oribi antelope kill, a mother cheetah with two little cubs, crocodiles, wildebeests and other many other herbivores species.

Down in the Central Serengeti it had just gotten very green after a couple weeks of black ash from the controlled burning. Large herds of elephants, zebras and gazelles were seen in most places. At the Seronera valley we tried to search for leopard for almost one hour and fortunately we got to spot three of them (mother plus two young). They had a kill that one of them was eating on the ground as there was troop of baboons nearby. Baboons can sometimes steal a kill from a leopard. Eventually the baboons were able to spot the leopard eating and one male came and chased the leopard which had to drop the kill.

At Sametu Kopjes in the Central Serengeti we found four cheetahs and the Sametu lion pride with 16 individuals including the big resident male. It was so nice to watch in the quiet of early the morning light and we were lucky to be the only vehicle at the sighting.

Our morning in the crater was beautiful as we spotted a rhino, pride of lions and hyenas hunting a young buffalo. The ambush took more than one hour because the mother and other buffaloes were really trying to protect the baby by chasing the hyenas. However, eventually the buffaloes  finally came to give up from being too exhausted.

I hope you enjoy the following pictures from my safari with Mark and Alice from Ohio, USA.

A cheetah feeding on an Oribi antelope in the Nyamalumbwa Plains, North Serengeti.

A mother cheetah with two young cubs in the Wogakuria area, North Serengeti.

An elephant feeding in the Seronera Valley, Central Serengeti

Mother and calf rhino in Olakira, North Serengeti.

Lions with a wildebeest kill in Olakira, North Serengeti.

Leopard feeding on a gazelle in the Seronera valley, Central Serengeti.

Cheetah in the Nyamalumbwa Plains, North Serengeti.

Lilac breasted roller near the Maasai Kopjes, Central Serengeti.

Grey Crowned Crane in the Ngorongoro Crater.

Thanks,

Claude Shitindi
ADS Guide

Here I am again to display the photos during my most recent safari with a very nice family of four from Massachusetts named Mark, Theodore, Donna and Pam. Our safari began on September 24, 2013 with two nights at Serengeti Bushtops Camp and two nights at Migration Camp, which are both located in the North Serengeti.

We then proceeded to explore the Central Serengeti areas with two nights at Four Seasons Bilila Lodge before finally concluding our trip with two nights at the Ngorongoro Crater split between one night at Crater Lodge and one night at Manor Lodge. The trip ended on October 2, 2013 when the guests departed back home to Massachusetts on the evening KLM flight leaving from Kilimanjaro Airport.

The guests and I had a good time together and they really enjoyed the beauty of the wild. One of the highlights of the trip was seeing a mother rhino with a young baby near the Mara River in the North Serengeti. Thus below are the photos to share with you:

We do hope that the number of lions will increase in the Ngorongoro Crater if we have this kind of male around! We witnessed these lions copulating about every 9 nine minutes. The gestation period for lions is about three months and they can have up to four cubs at a time. Hopefully, we will have some new cubs in the Crater at the beginning of the year.

We saw this lioness that killed a wildebeest around Wogakuria Kopjes, North Serengeti.

When I was driving through the Fort Ikoma area on the way to pick up the guests, I saw large herds of wildebeests and was beginning to think that most of the migration had already crossed the Mara River. However, upon arriving to the Mara River area the story was different and it became clear that most of the migration is still located up in the North Serengeti, which is good news for clients with October safaris. We saw thousands of wildebeests on both sides of the Mara River and even a nice crossing that lasted 30 minutes.

We saw this huge male leopard around Lobo Hills in the North Serengeti. He was eating a Grant’s gazelle. I can say that I have never seen a big male like since I have been a safari guide. My clients were even comparing this male’s size with some of lions we have seen. It was an extraordinary sight!

I was very happy with the game viewing on the safari and especially the situation around Lobo Kopjes and Lobo Hills in the North Serengeti including the Grumeti Game Circuit. The vegetation was green and there were large numbers of animals.

Regards,

Elisson Mkonyi
ADS Guide

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.

After having operated this very challenging CEO Group with Africa Dream Safaris I could never look at an alternative safari operator again. Your team and the logistical handling of this group with all their demands was fantastic, especially as this size group is a challenge on safari. The group of 36 absolutely loved the Four Season Lodge the facility enhanced the entire VIP safari experience and we even had elephants coming to drink at the water hole in front of the pool twice, it was our own private viewing without leaving our sunbeds.

The two highlights for everyone was the river crossing at Mara river where we had the private camp set up just for lunch right on the banks of the river, the service and food was all under canvas and was one of the tastiest meals we had the entire trip. Not sure how you guys got everything there, but thank you Sharon. The other highlight was the hot air ballooning which is an absolute must for any traveller to the Serengeti. The farewell dinner in the bush just put the finishing touch on an awesome safari experience.

We hope to see you in the Serengeti again soon!

Gail du Toit

This is ADS guide Emmanuel Kichao reporting from Tanzania. Having just completed my most recent safari dated September 2, 2013 to September 12, 2013 , I can say beyond a doubt that the game viewing in the Serengeti National Park whether it be in the North, Central or West Serengeti areas has been beyond spectacular this dry season. We have seen lots of amazing sights including huge herds of the wildebeest and zebra migration, big prides of lions hunting, families of cheetahs, large concentrations of elephants, giraffes and hippos, more then 10 species of antelopes, countless species of birds and we have even had several quality sightings of the elusive and solitary leopard.

Of my most recent safari with my two guests from Minnestota, USA named William and Randi we saw all of these things mentioned. It was a very wonderful experience for both myself and the clients, which this was their first time in Africa. After two nights resting in Arusha after their long plane ride from the USA, my guests arrived at the Kogatende Airstrip in the Northern Serengeti on September 2nd where I met them. From there we immediately started enjoying what nature has to offer!  Here are some of the pictures I would like to share from this trip with William and Randi.

Large male lion, Central Serengeti.

A leopard close to our vehicle, Serengeti.

A family of cheetahs, North Serengeti.

Zebras in Tarangire National Park.

My guests Randi and William overlooking the scenic vista of the Ngorongoro Crater.

Maasai dance during the visit to a Maasai village.

Beautiful giraffes near the bank of Mara river, North Serengeti.

Elephants at Silale Swamp, Tarangire National Park.

A pride of lions with cubs which we found after finishing an early breakfast near Lobo Hills in North Serengeti.

Sleeping lion around Lamai triangle, Noth Serengeti.

Huge group of elephants in Lamai Triangle, North Serengeti.

Lioness with a young gazelle kill.

Leopard in an accacia tree.

Lion pride in Seronera Valley, Central Serengeti.

Two brothers from the Sametu Pride, Central Serengeti.

Good morning to the ADS community. My name is Simon Sige, a professional Driver-Guide with ADS, and I am providing my bush report at the completion of my most recent safari. This time I had a couple named Stratton and Jayne from Houston, Texas. They were very nice people and good clients too.

The safari began on September 10, 2013 and concluded on September 16, 2013. We spent a total of 6 nights on safari with 3 nights in North Serengeti, 2 nights in Central Serengeti and 1 night at the end of our trip at the Ngorongoro Crater.

We started our safari at the Mara River airstrip in the North Serengeti at Kogatende on 10th September where we started by viewing the wildebeest crossing. We enjoyed spectacular game viewing in the North Serengeti during our 3-night stay in this area. Not only did we see the wildebeest crossing but we also had magical encounters with both leopard and cheetah cubs. This is very rare! Also, in the Central Serengeti we came across the famous pride of lions at Sametu Kopjes as well as some quality moments with some elephants. Please enjoy my pictures below that I took on this safari.

The pride males (two brothers) of the famous Sametu Lion Pride spotted resting under a tree close to Sametu Kopjes in the Central Serengeti.

The wildebeest crossing the Mara River, North Serengeti.

A mother leopard in the North Serengeti at Wogakuria Kopjes that had two cubs and was shifting them from one kopje to another.

Cheetah with two cubs in the North Serengeti.

Elephant browsing in Seronera river valley, Central Serengeti.

Thanks,

Simon Sige
ADS Guide

Jambo! This is your ADS driver-guide Ellison Mkonyi wishing all the ADS guests a warm greetings from the Serengeti National Park. I had the pleasure of having 2 guests on my most recent safari named Sam and Keith. They were from Missouri, USA. We enjoyed a very comprehensive safari itinerary together that took in all the wildlife highlights that can be found in the dry season.

The itinerary (September 5th to September 16th, 2013) was 11 nights in duration with 2 nights at Lemala Mara River Camp in the Northwest Serengeti, 2 nights at Buffalo Camp in the Northeast Serengeti / Loliondo Game Reserve, 2 nights in the Central Serengeti at Sametu Camp, 2 nights on the rim of the Crater at Ngorongoro Lion’s Paw Camp, 1 night at Lake Manyara at Escarpment Luxury Lodge and 2 nights in Tarnagire at Swala Tented Camp. It was a superb itinerary and an excellent safari experience. I would like to share with you some highlights from the trip and also some snapshots I took with my pocket camera that all the ADS guides are issued in order that we post pictures on this blog. It’s a great idea but I keep saying that I am a better guide then a photographer!

My guests and I enjoying a picnic in the middle of the Serengeti wilderness. It doesn’t get any better then this!

We saw this mother lioness and her cubs during a game drive in the long Grumeti circuit road in the North Serengeti. It was early in the morning and they were really active. We spent almost 2 hours enjoying the lions.

The wildebeest migration crossing the Mara River about 3 kilometers from Kogatende in the North Serengeti.

We found these lions as they were finishing their breakfast and others were drinking water after eating their full. We took beautiful pictures of one of the male lions with its reflection in the water. We also found a mother lioness and cubs near Wogakuria Kopjes and they were relaxing and very healthy.

Regards,

Ellison Mkonyi
ADS Guide

This is Arnold Mushi, senior guide for Africa Dream Safaris, with my latest slideshow of pictures from my most recent safari trip. This time I had another group of 6 persons where we had almost 9 days in the bush with beautiful sightings during the whole time.

My guests named Marie, Steve, Susan, Don, Karen and Marsha were from California and they arrived into the North Serengeti on September 6, 2013. We started exploring the Northern Serengeti around Kogatende including the Mara River habitat, Lamai Triangle and Wogakuria region. Next we headed to Buffalo Camp to explore the Loliondo Game Concession and also the Lobo Valley area of the North Serengeti. We finished our time in the Serengeti at Sametu Camp located in the Central Serengeti around Seronera. After departing the Serengeti we enjoyed game drives in Ngorongoro Crater and Tarangire National Parks before finishing up back in Arusha.

Apart from that we had two nights at Lemala Mara, two nights at Buffalo Luxury Camp, two nights at Sametu Camp, one night at Crater Serena, one more night at Gibbs Farm and the other last two nights at Swala Tented Camp, which comprises the total of ten nights.

The below are the photos to support the fact, regarding the great sightings we saw during the safari.

-143 to 161 – Crocodile at Mara river and wildebeest crossing the Mara river, North Serengeti.

-162 to 165 – A hippo walking in front of a group of wildebeest close to the Mara river.

-166 – Crocs again in Mara river, North Serengeti.

-168 to 194 – Lion pride at Mara river.

-195 to 216 – Leopard at Wogakuria Kopjes – Northern Serengeti.

-218 – This was 6:30am when the pride of the lion finished all the meat from the wildebeest.

-230 – A lion cub at  lobo valley on the top of the kopjes, North Serengeti.

-235 to 237 – Leopard at Seronera valley, Central Serengeti.

-297 to 307 – Cheetah kill near Sametu Camp, Central Serengeti.

-309 – Ngorongoro at the rim – sunrise time.

-310 to 312 – Wildebeest crossing lake magadi at sunrise, Ngorongoro Crater.

-319 – Lion resting in the Ngorongoro Crater.

-321 to 340 – Male ion chasing a lioness.

-343 to 348 – Lions hunting.

-349 to 351 – Flamingos at lake magadi, Ngorongoro Crater.

-352 – Hyena’s trying to hunt flamingos on the crater floor.

-372 – Blue monkey at Lake Manyara National Park.

-379 – Pelican at Tarangire National Park.

-387 – Bee hive in a gardenia tree, Tarangire National Park.

-395 – King fisher , Tarangire National Park.

Regards,

Arnold Mushi.
ADS Guide