We would like to join a group of other people for the cost savings. Can you set this up for us?

Africa Dream Safaris offers only “private” safaris.  It is a niche in the industry we have chosen to fulfill, because we believe in the result!

*Most* safari companies out there do the pre-packaged “group tours” which is a completely different type of product and is organized in a completely different way. To facilitate a “group tour”, typically a pre-planned itinerary is set up on specific calendar dates and a block of rooms are booked at specific lodges on those dates, and then various people can “sign up” to join others for that tour until the designated number of spaces are filled.

While out on safari with a “group tour”, strangers are shuffled together and must go along with the group’s decisions despite whatever individual interests they may have. Unfortunately this almost always leads to compromise and disappointment on what is already a highly emotionally charged trip for most people. In contrast, when designing a private safari, we customize the trip based on your schedule and preferences, with our expert guidance of course to make sure you don’t miss anything, and while you are out on safari you have the freedom to explore your specific interests at your pace without adhering to the whims of others. Here at Africa Dream Safaris, we don’t think anyone should have to compromise on a big trip like this one, and that’s the reason we do only private safaris! For more advantages to a private safari, check out the following link: http://africadreamsafaris.com/home_private.html

Consequently, because we focus exclusively on the “private safari” experience, our infrastructure does not lend itself well to matching couples or singles up with each other. Of course if we happen to know about another couple or family who is looking to travel with others at the same time of year as another couple or family who is looking to join others, we are happy to put them in contact with each other. But this hardly ever happens, since the majority of people who contact our company are already looking for a private safari, and the small number of folks who may be open to traveling with others will most likely have different preferences and scheduling requirements.

Here at ADS we continually strive to provide the very finest african safari. This starts with making sure that each and every guest is fully prepared before departing from their home.  It may sound rather obvious but we find that those guests who are well prepared for their safaris tend to be able to sit back, relax and enjoy the whole travel experience to a higher degree. An ounce of preparation is truly worth a pound of cure, especially when embarking on a once in lifetime adventure to a remote corner of the world!

On this note, we are pleased to announce that we have just finished publication of our new ADS Handbook, a comprehensive information guide to ensure that you are 100% prepared for your safari. This new handbook (updated with the latest safari tips, packing recommendations, FAQs, etc.) is now available.

If you would like to receive a FREE copy of our new ADS Handbook, simply email your personal safari consultant with your current mailing address and we can drop one in the mail for you today. At 157 pages long, make sure to get your handbook soon as it’s certainly not a quick read!

Thanks for choosing Africa Dream Safaris.  It is our honor and privilege to facilitate YOUR safari dreams coming true!

Safari Njema (Safe Journey)!

Do you have any Luggage recommendations of what or where to buy?

When choosing luggage for your safari, let the terms “lightweight” and “easy to carry” become your mantra.  Many people will bring a lightweight rolling duffle bag, since it has reasonable capacity and is easy to handle, but the bag itself doesn’t weigh much.  Remember – each person is allowed only 33lbs of checked luggage on the small plane flight to the Serengeti!  But any lightweight bag will do.  Soft-sided luggage is typically preferred because it is easier to pack in the plane and vehicle, as well as typically weighing less than hard-sided luggage.  ‘Wheels’ certainly aren’t required, but having wheels may make it easier to transport your bag through the airports, etc. en route to Tanzania.

Some luggage manufacturers to consider: Skyway; Tutto; Travelpro; Samsonite; Atlantic, Briggs & Riley; Eagle Creek; Swiss Army; Jourdan; JanSport; American Tourister; High Sierra; Traveler’s Choice; Tumi; Atlantic; Andiamo.

Some Internet sources for luggage:

www.ebags.com;  www.magellans.com;  www.travelsmith.com;  www.irvsluggage.com; www.luggageonline.com;  www.worldtraveler.com;   www.luggage-and-leather.com.

A simple approach is to go to Google.com (or your favorite search engine) and type in the search window what you are looking for, i.e. “lightweight luggage” for selection from many sources.

To help aid you at the airport to identify your checked luggage, remember that colorful tags, baggage straps or even ribbons tied to the handles of your luggage are a great way to quickly identify your bag(s)!

You might also consider bringing along an extra bag, tote or foldable duffle (like this one) to carry souvenirs home with you.  You can leave this extra bag, or any extra luggage for that matter (such as winter clothing you might have worn while in transit to Tanzania, etc.), with our staff in Arusha for safekeeping till you return from your safari.

We’re looking forward to a great new year full of safari adventures and exciting new stories to share with you! Stay connected with the ADS community via Facebook, Twitter & Pinterest for Reports from the Bush, Guest Testimonials, and Tanzania Highlights.

Wishing you a happy and healthy 2013 filled with adventure!

From our family to yours,

– The Africa Dream Safari Staff

While watching the endless and fascinating parade of wildlife in the Serengeti, I am always reminded of what extraordinary athletic skills the various animals possess. With many of you gearing up for your safari-of-a-lifetime with ADS, I thought I would share some “leopard facts” with you.

Together with the hyena, this beautiful feline is the most successful of all the carnivores and is certainly the mostly widely spread of all the cats throughout both Asia and Africa. The leopard’s success is due to its adaptability -it is able to live in environments varying from lowland rainforest to desert. In fact a leopard was even found frozen in an icecap on the summit of Kilimanjaro.

In areas where human encroachment has reduced their territory, they are able to live comfortably in an urban environment eating anything from insects to mice and more – many a family pet continues to disappear in Nairobi and seeing that they can easily take down a 300 pound young topi or wildebeest, they are not particularly fearful of man either. This is one reason why you don’t want to walk around unescorted at night when on safari.

Leopards can accelerate up to 37 miles per hour and here are the two points that I find particularly impressive: they can jump up to 20 feet from a standing position (I tried to see how I well I could compete and have decided not to share the results with anyone) and, a female leopard weighing around 128 pounds, can drag a 150 impala ram almost vertically up a tree.

Particularly good places to see leopard include Loliondo /the Buffalo Springs area, Lobo Valley, the Seronera River Valley and Tarangire National Park, so keep your camera ready.

“I am bringing some cash to cover gratuities and souvenirs; do you have any advice about how to do this safely?”

Many guests express concern about travelling with cash, which is understandable. On a trip like this it is somewhat necessary, but luckily it is easy to keep your cash safe by following a few tips and by practicing common sense.

First of all, keep your money with you at all times. I recommend carrying your cash in a neck wallet or money belt, similar to those found at the following link:

http://shop.eaglecreek.com/money-belts-and-neck-wallets/l/312

Luckily most animals aren’t big on pick-pocketing, and since most of your time is going to be spent in wilderness areas without many people around, there is little occasion for concern there. But if you find yourself in a village, market, airport or other public place, simply practice common sense and don’t flaunt your cash or valuables.

While staying at the lodges or camps, don’t leave your cash or valuables laying out in plain sight in the middle of your room while you are out on safari. Most local Tanzanians who are employed at the various lodges and camps each value their  job in the tourist industry way too much to risk losing it for petty theft, but at the same time many of these good folks are far from wealthy and are often using the money they make at their jobs to support the needs of family members back home. It courteous to remember this and simply wise to not put the temptation out there for them. Many lodges or camps have security safes, but better yet just keep your money and valuables with you at all times.

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A few other frequently asked questions include:

“Why aren’t tips included in the price of the safari?”

Tipping may seem like an old fashioned tradition to some, but like other service oriented businesses (restaurants, etc.) it remains a cornerstone of the safari industry. Paying out tips ahead of time, even though it may be more convenient for guests who don’t want to travel with cash, really robs tipping of its original purpose.

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“Can we use a credit card to make purchases while we are in Tanzania on safari?  Are wine, beverages and laundry service included in the cost of my safari, and if not how much should I expect to pay?”

We encourage people to try and avoid using credit cards for small purchases, even at the lodges. It’s not a matter of the shop or lodge’s reputation, it’s a matter of computer security in general in Africa. (Just an aside, many of the lodges and camps ‘in the bush’ are unable to take credit cards anyway).   For more information on credit card use, as well as the cost of beverages and laundry service, please see the following link to my recent post on this very subject right here!

https://blog.africadreamsafaris.com/?p=9921

A special thanks to Teddi Edington for sharing this excellent picture showing Teddi and her family getting ready to embark on their safari over the holidays. What a great present for the family!

Here at ADS we are gearing up for one of the busiest times of the year with over 20 groups arriving in the next 2 weeks. Luckily the weather, wildebeest migration and the game viewing in general are cooperating. Massive herds of wildebeest have inundated the Moru Kopjes area of the Central Serengeti and appear poised to strike south to the plains as soon we receive a bit more rain. The Seronera Valley is home to the biggest herds of zebra at the moment while the Gol Kopjes complex in the East Serengeti has attracted the migratory gazelle herds. Our guides report that the big cat viewing is superb with lots of big lion prides with cubs especially out on the long grass plains north of Naabi Hill. Cheetah viewing is excellent in the East Serengeti from Sametu to Gol Kopjes while leopard viewing remains good immediately around Seronera.

We look forward to welcoming everyone to Tanzania here over the next couple days. Happy Holidays to all!

There are many wonderful places to buy souvenirs. You’ll have some opportunities along the way during your safari, such as local crafts and jewelry from the Maasai Village or the various lodge gift shops that often contain some nice hand selected local items. You’ll see some road side shops along the main road as you are driving from The Ngorongoro Crater to Arusha, near the town of Karatu; just ask your guide to help you find a reputable shop. But by far the most popular places to buy local crafts (woodcarvings, masks, artifacts, jewelry, etc.) is at the Kilima Tembo Shop in Karatu or the Cultural Heritage Center in Arusha.

Cultural Heritage is the largest of the two shops, and since it’s located in Arusha it makes a great “final” stop over place to pick up those last minute souvenirs before you depart for home, so that’s the one shop I’ll address in a bit more detail here.  The prices at Cultural Heritage are generally reasonable; probably not as cheap as the items you could find if you spent the day stopping at roadside shops, but the selection is out of this world. It makes a great ‘one stop shop’ place to purchase authentic souvenirs and has a HUGE selection! Sometimes they have local artists doing demonstrations too. You’ll have the opportunity to stop by Cultural Heritage Center on your last day but since you’ll have a few different activities competing for your attention that day, if you want to be sure and get some shopping in on your last day, please let your guide know early in the day that stopping here to get some shopping in is a priority for you!

The costs of souvenirs span a considerable range, you can buy a nice Maasai bracelet for $8-$10, or you may spend $20 or more for a more elaborate one. You can buy small and simple woodcarvings for a few dollars each, or you can spend hundreds of dollars on more elaborate woodcarvings made of ebony wood (a very hard and beautiful indigenous type of wood that is difficult to splinter or break). Usually the more detail, time and skill involved, the higher the price tag. Then of course there is Tanzanite, a very beautiful gemstone that can only be found in Tanzania; the cost is a function of size, color and clarity, and prices can range from hundreds of dollars to thousands of dollars.

Don’t be afraid to negotiate as it’s often expected, and don’t be afraid to shop around a bit before making a final decision.  You may notice a wide variance in pricing from one shop compared to another for what seems like very similar items, so keep that in mind and try to take it in stride if you happen to see an item advertised for a bit less money than what you paid for it at a previous shop; it’s an inherent risk you run every time you buy something locally made like a woodcarving, basket or beaded Maasai jewelry.  Here at ADS we have no control over the advertised prices at the various shops, but we do strive to take you to reputable places with good selections.  If shopping is your goal, hopefully you will end up with a special souvenir to help you remember a very special trip!