Tag: July

At First We Were Scared, But…

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Posted on by Michael

We had the most amazing safari imaginable!  It wouldn’t have been the same without our guide Anglebert (pictured above with a friendly cheetah we encountered).  His timing was just right and he captured every opportunity to see and experience the animals in their natural habitats.

He enticed a cheetah to visit us in our car after eating its kill.  At first we were scared, but then he explained that it wouldn’t hurt us.  He knew how to manipulate the car just right and give the cheetah every opportunity to jump on.  At first, it sat on the hood, looking at us through the front windshield as it showed us its teeth. Then, it began eating the antenna and canvass top.  As it became more comfortable, he began exploring the entire car.  As he began walking to the back, over the top, it almost slipped in.  It came within inches of touching us and our guide.  He stayed for about half an hour and it was one of the most exciting parts of our journey.

As we traveled through the Serengeti, we saw many animals enjoying their kills, lion’s mating, baby leopards in their den, a black rhino, and elephants standing right next to us.  Another highlight was that we were lucky enough to see three river crossings as the wildebeests migrated across the Mara River.  Our game drives lasted from early morning to dusk, which allowed us the best times to see the animals.

We kept a list of every kind of animal we saw, and were amazed the Anglebert could identify every kind of bird, insect, and animal.  He was respectful, thoughtful, and considerate of our needs.  He even spoke with many of the chef’s at the different camps and provided us special meals.

Through the combined efforts of Dawn, at ADS and Anglebert as our guide, the trip was fantastic and unforgettable!

Marla G. and Lauren R.
West Bloomfield, Michigan
July 5, 2013 to July 12, 2013

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Small Wonders

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Posted on by Michael

Our safari turned out to be a different experience for everyone of our family members. For me; personally, our safari was a collection of small wonders and a big finale. I found wonder in being surprised by animals that had become almost too familiar to us as the days went by.

Antelopes were a plentiful sight. Just when I thought I had seen enough of them they turned up at the center of a wonderful moment. I was under their spell as they hesitated before jumping over a small creek; puzzled over another group as they surrounded our moving vehicle in a sudden stampede; and surprised at the sound they make (a loud hiss/growl) when they warned each other about the close presence of a predator.

I heard baboons “barking” to warn a heard of wildebeests and zebras about coming near the watering hole where three lions awaited. I saw hippos doing 360 turns; their bellies and stumpy feet floating above water as they rolled over. I locked eyes with a servile cat for a long time as he confused my moving swatter with perhaps a tasty bird. We played hide and seek with a bush baby during our night game drive.

The big finale was a close encounter with a black rhino. Unbeknownst to us, Claude (our wonderful guide) had dreamt about the black rhino the night before our encounter. It was our last day on safari and we descended the crater at 6 am. Claude kept saying that if we were going to see it, the area we were driving around was the spot. We had looked for a while and I was feeling my eyes were going to pop out as I pressed them against the binoculars to “see better”. Then I spotted it amongst a close herd of buffalos and zebras. We were the only vehicle around. The rhino crossed the road twice right in front and behind our vehicle, strutted in circles and stopped several times to look right into our camera. This was our moment. Only ours!

Did we see the big five? The ugly ones and the small ones? Of course we did. For me; however, it was the small wonders like the ones I described above that stayed with me the most.

I savored every minute of our 12 hour drives with Claude. He was our wild life teacher and our window into Tanzania’s people, economic aspirations, and culture. I came back to the tented camps every day with my face covered in dust and with a feeling of having conquered the world. Every animal sighting felt like an accomplishment. Every little one of their movements filled me with joy.

Here are a few pictures. Erick reminds me they are not our best pictures. I say he is right but they are the best reminders of my small wonders.

Thank you Lynn, Claude and ADS for making possible my collection of small wonders!

Ana and Erick C.
Alec and Adrian C.
McLean, Virginia
Safari Dates: June 27, 2013 to July 4, 2013

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A Fantastic Family Safari

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Posted on by Michael

Sharon, the animal encounters were amazing. We started seeing zebras before our entrance into Tarangire National Park. The pictures that we took do not do the safari justice. We experienced a lion and lioness mating and saw a deep cut on the lion’s hind leg from a former battle as he walked away from his mate. A lioness was resting at the side of the road to where we thought she was full from breakfast, but in fact was pregnant and ready to deliver any day. The ostriches were flapping their wings across the Serengeti to call their mate we then experienced them mating as well. Baby lion and cheetah cubs were playing at the side of the road while towers of giraffes were munching on the treetops.

One of the highlights of the trip was on an early morning game drive. We observed a cheetah surveying 3 gazelles for her tasty snack. The cheetah bolted like lightning speed and conquered the gazelle in a matter of minutes. We were fortunate to stumble upon this great feat along with the vultures picking up the pieces once the cheetah left the area.

Another highlight was the buffalo confrontation. While on a walking tour, a buffalo came out of the bushes unexpectedly. Our guide threw his walking stick at his head to steer him in another direction while the African warrior shot 3-4 rifle shots at the buffalo to scare him away. The buffalo was literally 30-40 feet away from our group and we could clearly see the magnitude of this animal up close and personal.

While we watched the elephant parade, an enormous elephant blocked our path in the road. We waiting patiently, but the big guy wasn’t going to let us drive down “his” road. Our guide drove around the elephant as we weren’t going to tangle with this huge elephant. But to see that large beast up front was incredible as you can see the wrinkles in his hoofs and eyelashes on his eyes.

The birds and trees were truly something that you have to experience firsthand. The colors and shapes are pictures of artwork. We purchased a large African mask from the Cultural Heritage Center in Arusha and had it shipped back to USA. It arrived safely in North Carolina about 3 weeks after our departure and it hangs beautifully on our wall to treasure for years to come.

The visit to the Maasai tribe was an experience like no other. The African people are so very genuine and we felt welcomed at every place that we explored. Sharon, & Africa Dream Safaris did a fantastic job with our animal observations and our experiences were very memorable and will be treasured for many years to come!

David and Mary D. and children
Cecilia (age 13) and Henry (age 6)
Burgew, North Carolina
Safari start date: July 7, 2013

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Spectacular, Serene, Superb, Magical!

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Posted on by Michael

Lynn: My wife and I just got back from our safari last night. Your company made our safari adventure, truly a trip of a life time. And although we never return to the same place twice in our travels, we are already considering returning. Everything met or exceeded our expectations.

And I cannot say enough about the professionalism shown by your guide Russell (who actually became “our guide” for the 7 days of safari). Although there is definitely danger out in the bush, we never once felt unsafe. He also made the other challenges of the bush enjoyable and inspiring. And while the number of animals and their environment presented all kinds of questions from our group, Russell knew the answers and provided additional insights that were not only educational and informative, but also pleasurable. He made our safari an adventure that we already cherish.

We asked out group to describe the safari in one word and here are the words suggested: Spectacular, Serene, Superb, Magical. Thank you again for putting us in such good hands while we were in Africa.

Patrick and Nancy S.
Pewaukee, Wisconsin
Safari Dates: June 25, 2013 to July 1, 2013

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The Wonders Of Tanzania

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Posted on by Michael

We cant say enough good things about our experience with ADS and the wonders of Tanzania and we are more than happy to share some of experiences.

An upclose safari has been a dream since watching David Attenborough on TV as a child and the experience with ADS more than lived up to our wildest expectations. We wanted to do something special to celebrate our 50th birthdays this year and it seemed time to fulfill those childhood dreams. I did feel a certain skepticism about the other testimonial pictures as they did seem almost too good to be true. But now look back at our pictures this is not definitely not the case.

Our guide Ally picked us up from the airport and the adventure began! Ally took great care of us for the entire stay and the welcome at the hotel has now set new standards for all of us. Peter gave us a wonderful introduction to Arusha and the experience of driving through a Sunday afternoon market, watching women cook maize at the side of the road and drooling over some enormous tanzanite stones at the cultural heritage center set the stage for the most amazing trip.

On our flight out to Seronera, we all wondered whether we would really see animals within a few hours of starting our safari. It must have been less than 15 minutes before we saw the first family of elephants and it was a completely jaw dropping sight. From family groups, to a lone elephant having a good scratch on a tree that first 30 minutes set the stage.

We all came with a list of what we would like to see and we were all delighted. From watching baboons coming down from the rocks at sunrise at Mbuzi Mawe to the sounds of migrating zebra and wildebeest, lions enjoying a siesta under an acacia tree every day was full of surprises. Watching a pack of hyenas nursing, playing and “laughing” with a couple of cheetahs off in the distance while the sun came up was magical. Some of the smaller animals were also fascinating: bat eared foxes running around was always a source of amusement and the antics of a serval cat were completely out of the ordinary and we all laughed at the many warthog families running through the grass with their tails held high.

Ally was a fantastic guide, his passion and knowledge covered interests of both adults and children. The drive almost up to the border with Kenya was amazing, remote yet beautiful and we really got to see what the great migration looks and sounds like! The accommodations were fabulous. The intimacy of Mbuzi Mawe and their wonderful staff (and the elephant, giraffe, buffalo and sounds of lions roaring around the camp) made this a very special place. The food at all the lodges was delicious both for adults and children and we all loved the Tanzanian hospitality. Mbalageti lodge was amazing and we loved the views from the dining room, the luxury of a post game drive and watching the sun go down from the deck.

We all found the 6 am drives magical, watching the sun rise while cheetahs wander through the grass or lions showing cubs how to hunt zebra were amazing experiences. The drive across the Serengeti, through Nabi gate and down to Ngorongoro reinforced the scale of the Serengeti and there and then we started planning a return trip during the rainy season. The thought of those incredible plains covered with animals seems incredible.

By the time we left Ngorongoro we had seen everything on our pre-trip lists (including the reclusive rhino) and so many unexpected delights and Ally made sure we had time to absorb as much as we wanted. Including on our return trip back to the airport during a lovely clear view of Kilimanjaro and he stopped so that we could collect some final pictures. He seemed to find the most secluded and interesting spots: enjoying a breakfast picnic one morning while watching a family of baboons play and groom beside a river, while crocs and hippos swam past and the occasional group of impala stopped by was magical.

Many thanks also to ADS for the after dinner surprise during our final dinner at Ngorongoro Sopa lodge. The staff were fabulous but then when the lights went down and they came over to our table carrying torches and singing we couldn’t believe it was for us. The children still talk about this and hearing the phrase “hakuna matata” was a highlight for them too!

This was a completely fabulous experience from the first info package with DVD and sample itineraries, through the pre-departure planning with Dawn through to kindness of everyone we met in Tanzania. ADS and Ally took great care of us and we cant wait until the next time.

Karen, Alan, Alexander (age 13) and Isobel (age 9) S.
East Lyme, Connecticut
Safaris Dates: June 23, 2013 to July 1, 2013

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We Were In Awe Of The Beauty Of Pure Africa!

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Posted on by Michael

Hi Sharon we just wanted to thank you for the wonderful safari you planned for us. Bill and I had a super time; we have so many great memories. The animals and the experiences went way beyond what we could have imagined. Not sure if you heard but we did have an encounter with a Cape Buffalo, pretty scary at the time but what a story. The lodges were all so beautiful and the service at each one; 5 star!

From our first 15 minutes into the park we were in awe of the beauty of pure Africa! We saw so many animals, to the smallest little turtle to the most amazing elephants. We had so many experiences that we never thought could never happen to us. A lion and a lioness mating, a cheetah kill, a encounter with a cape buffalo and dinner in the middle of the Serengeti as a spotted hyena walked up to us to get a better smell.

The photos can only remind us of the wonderful time we had and then bring our memories back to the most real moments. I loved every minute of our experience from the dust on my face to the picnics under the acacia trees to the many remarkable, stunning and truly inspiring natural wonders of Tanzania. We truly appreciated the knowledge, professionalism and patience our driver Petro gave us each day with a smile. ADS made our trip of a lifetime a most enjoyable one meeting every expectation and beyond.

Asante Sana!

Bill and Cindy B.
Wilmington, North Carolina
Safari Dates: July 8, 2013 to July 19, 2013

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Six Days On The “Endless Plains”

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Posted on by Michael

Marty and I want to thank you Lynn for helping bring our once in a lifetime trip to fruition. It was truly memorable in the very best sense. Marty caught a cold the day of the flight back home and hasn’t yet shaken it off completely, but that has been the only down side. I love telling everyone about our trip and love looking at my favorite pictures. Yes, I have culled through my literally hundreds of pictures that I took and have chosen about 20 as my fav’s. Let me summarize as succinctly as possible our thoughts/feelings.

We came away with so much more than we expected, even though I hadn’t really know what to expect. Actually I thought it would all be desert sand – that’s how little I really knew! It was such a good idea to spend an extra day recuperating first recuperating from our long flight to Tanzania. We then took the internal flight up north and were greeted by our guide and driver, David Chando. He turned out to be not only knowledgeable but also enthusiastic about sightings, as well as patient about stopping for my photographing as much as I wanted.

As you know, we spent 6 days on the “endless plains” (July 3 – July 8. We were driven from the Northern Serengeti down south into the Ngorongo Crater and then through Lake Manyara National Park. Even though we went in during the country’s winter, we saw so many animals. Some of my favorites were the beautiful zebras and giraffes, who became more numerous in the south. I also loved seeing some of the mothers and their young ones, especially when they were nursing, though I wasn’t able to photograph any. I even grew somewhat fond of the wildebeest.

I’m about to describe photos shown below. Marty and I found it most exciting to see two different lionesses laying in wait and then pounce and run after a warthog, but they were too slow to catch them! However, we did see the end result of a lioness dragging her kill – a lovely Thompson’s Gazelle. 1) That is pictured below. 2) Another special picture is the leopard, since they’re often difficult to spot. Indeed, I can see the details of this leopard better in the photo than I could that day in person.

I also loved viewing the elephants. We saw many different compositions of them – in small groups and a larger herd. Actually, we saw the different groups then walk from different places, as we were driving, and then come together at a large pool. Very cool! 3) The photo below of the two young elephants was taken at a distance. I think it’s so cute! 4) I also love the 2 hippos play fighting on land, since we so often see them resting their large bodies either on land, or in the water. 5) an adorable set of zebra I had to include, and 6) finally, a cheetah and her cubs hidden in the shadow of a tree and the grass; that might be too difficult to really see, but I couldn’t resist including it. I’ll stop myself from giving you more. I love so many of them.

Thanks again for ushering us through what was an extraordinary event.

Warmly,
Louisa and Marty L.
New York, NY
Safari Dates July 3, 2013 to July 8, 2013

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Africa should be on Everyone’s Bucket List

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Posted on by Michael

From the moment we started our research on what safari company we would choose to create a ‘trip of a lifetime’ for our family, I was immediately attracted by the way in which African Dream Safaris (ADS) made us, as the prospective client, an important part of the trip design and outcome. We were impressed by the detailed information supplied and the weekly updates that immersed us in the adventure of other people’s previous trips and photos. This was a major decision-maker when becoming a client, particularly when we selected a company half way across the world.

We live in Australia and you would think that the time difference would concern us when working together at such a distance. However, there was not one email that wasn’t answered in a thorough and timely manner, with clear information, details that surpassed our expectations. This never wavered throughout the long planning stages of our special surprise to our sons and their girlfriends.

It has to be said that working with Lynn Newby-Fraser made the planning of this amazing trip very easy. I believe she was as passionate about making our trip the ultimate surprise for our adult children and their girlfriends at Christmas 2011 as we were. If we had any concerns or difficulties, even if the problem didn’t relate to our safari or ADS in any way (and notably not the responsibility of ADS), Lynn would nonetheless make every effort to find a solution. Nothing was ever too much effort. Lynn never failed us on any detail, solution or on-going support throughout.

I can certainly give her and her team (in the background, as all teams work) the highest accolades for so many things, least to say their care for their clients and making sure that the trip is as good as they promise. Trust me ADS is not just good, they are professionals in what they do . . . they are ‘brilliant’, they have staff that actually want to be part of your process right to the end and this is what we all want, let’s face it!

The trip itself took place at the beginning of July 2012 and I have plenty to say about the outcome of our surprise “African 8 day trip into the Serengeti”, least to say that it was perfect in every way. Francis, our driver and companion, was a delight. His knowledge of this amazing country was outstanding. His ability to identify and name wildlife was well studied and never boring. Francis was fun and funny and remained that way regardless of the long days he spend behind the wheel. Francis dedicated all his day to making sure we got the most out of ours.

We would start early and finish our days in the early evening, never bored, never tired (until our heads hit the pillow), and always happy, all of us filled with more “wow’s” of the day. Not one day went past without the word “wow” being uttered many times over. How good Gerard and I felt when we knew our gift was an overwhelming success.

I remember wondering if my ‘fantasy’ of how this trip would turn out would meet up with the reality of the actual experience . . . it did and more! Thank you Lynn for following up every step of the way. Africa is something that should be on everyone’s ‘bucket list’. It’s an amazing place and I know that ADS made our experience something we will never forget.

Barb & Gerard Savage (and on behalf of Tim, Jess, Dan & Hannah)
Melbourne, Australia
July 2012

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Summer in the Serengeti

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Posted on by Michael

Dear Lynn, We want to express our thanks and appreciation for your effort, care and personalised service for our recent african safari trip to Tanzania . As you know this has been a long time in the planning stages but once we were in touch with you everything right down to the last detail and question has been taken care of. African Dream Safari provided excellent customer service and obviously listens to their clients regarding any concerns.

The moment we entered into the Arusha airport, Kayfus met us and expedited our customs and luggage transfer. Then we were introduced to Emmanuel and the first leg of our incredible journey began by delivering us to Mt Meru Resort-definitely a five star resort. He ensured all our immediate needs as well as presenting us with a personal gift for the ladies-a lovely bracelet that I love and will wear eagerly and explain where it came from. He also was there for the return part of our trip ensuring that everything was taken care of.

We were lodged in first class accommodations. All five lodges provided wonderful clean, comfortable accommodations and safety was a top priority at all of them. The meals, including the boxed lunches, were delicious, healthy and plentiful. The lodge staff also went out of their way to provide excellent service and always with a smile and sense of humour. There were times when there was new staff being trained and they worked so hard to understand and speak English but also willing to teach us a few words. They seem very proud of their efforts and rightly so.

I need to address our guide personally. Thomson was absolutely brilliant. He has many skills that made our trip a trip of a lifetime. His knowledge, love and respect of the animals and their behaviour were remarkable and are what made our safari so successful. His ability to drive with our safety in mind but also sight the obvious, the hidden, the rare and the very small animals was extraordinary. He was concerned for our comfort, safety and our personal goals regarding the animals and their behaviour.

He had the patience needed to deal with six of us who had different expectations and outlooks. He had an excellent sense of humour and it made for a good time driving and looking for the animals. Thomson is also well respected by his peers and it was evident many times when our paths crossed with other companies and drivers. Our questions and conversations indicate that he is dedicated to the animals’ well being and protection in the bigger scheme of things within the country of Tanzania . All in all an impressive person and we will think of him often. Thank you Thomson!

We have included a few favourite pictures-it was hard to choose. We wish we had a picture to describe all the feelings and emotions felt on this trip of a lifetime. Thank you for all you have done to make it so wonderful!

Marg & Glyn Cook
July 2012

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Father and Daughter Journey to Tanzania

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Posted on by Michael

My name is Caroline. I would like to share my experience of doing safari in Tanzania with my dad. He set the trip up through African Dream Safaris. We arrived by plane on a dirt airstrip near the Mara River. After meeting our guide, Pokea, we were off on safari. Safari means you are riding in a vehicle looking for animals that you have only seen in a zoo. The first animals I saw were the hippos and then the antelopes followed by my first zebra encounter. Lions, elephants, giraffes and wildebeasts more numerous than you could imagine followed. I think the coolest animal we saw was the leopard in the tree and the cheetahs hunting in the grass. My personal favorite animal is the giraffe. They tower over everything and walk like they are stepping on marshmallows. We saw a lot of hippos but they were hard to photograph as they were always in the water. Giraffes are easy to take pictures of and maybe that is another reason that I like them.

Our camps varied as we traveled through the Serengeti. My favorite camp was Serengeti Soroi. We had a thatched roof, a pool on the ledge and views that stretched out before us. Everyone at all the camps made us feel special. The meals varied with different amounts of salad, fish and meat, and deserts but all were good. I liked the pumpking soup with almond the best.

Now that I am back home, it is like a dream that we went to Africa and did safari. It was the best trip I have ever had. My safari made me realize how much the world has to offer and how you need to try new adventures. I don’t know if I will ever equal this trip but I am glad that I had the opportunity to do it and I’m glad I went with my dad.

Sincerely,

Caroline
Oneida, Wisconsin
July 2012

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Thank you ADS for fulfilling a lifelong dream

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Posted on by Michael

When people ask us what our favorite part of the safari was, we answer our guide Claude! That is because of his expert knowledge and abilities that truly enhanced our safari and made each and every day as exciting as the first.

But let’s back up and see how we got to this point. We began our search for a safari provider by going on the internet. After a lot of reading we narrowed our search down to three providers, and then two. When we engaged Sharon Lyon on the phone several times with our many questions and she understood our interests, it became clear to us that ADS was going to be our choice. We really liked the straightforward business plan of ADS, with the costs being clear as to what was included and what wasn’t. We were able to make our final decision once we realized that the other option under consideration simply could not match the value we were after.

Just prior to the safari we decided to learn more about birding. Wow, what a treat birding turned out to be and so enriched our safari! Our guide Claude was an extremely capable birder and with his help we identified 186 species. What made it even more fun was the neat adventures that the birding led us to. For example, one day we were going our usual way, on the alert and watching for anything and everything, when we spotted a White-browed Coucal sitting in a tree. We headed for a better look and decided to enjoy the shade of the tree for our picnic lunch. While there, out of the corner of an eye, were a cheetah and her five small cubs passing into the grass.

You know how the literature says you should be the first into the Ngorongoro Crater in the morning? Well, ADS positioned us perfectly, and we actually were the first in. To our delight, our guide took us right to a spot where we enjoyed the next forty minutes of watching two rhinos all by ourselves.

After several days we realized how superior our safari was to others we observed. We had the best vehicle, the most conscientious driver, we were first on lions several times, first on the rhinos, observed four snakes, saw many animal interactions as we were paced just right not to ever be in a hurry.

Every day was new and exciting. With our guide’s knowledge we were able to learn about animal behaviors, how to identify giraffe gender, where to be at what time of day to see the most things, and even could discuss plant life and geology. Thank you ADS for fulfilling a lifelong dream.

Heimke Family
July 7-17, 2012
Anchorage, Alaska

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Thanks For Making A True Dream Safari!

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Posted on by Michael

I can’t begin to describe to you what an impression this adventure had on both Adrian and myself. It definitely exceeded our expectations!

We want to commend you, Thomson, and the whole ADS team for delivering everything you promised us and so much more! We were thrilled from our very 1st day of arrival to our very last minute at Mt.Meru Lodge. ADS really knows how to do it right! Our Lodges/tented camps were fantastic! The service was impeccable and the people, so friendly and happy to help. We literally had no complaints on our whole trip-nothing!

Thomson was such a pleasure to have as our Guide. All of us really enjoyed his sense of humor and lovely easy going personality. What a wonderful guy! He was extremely knowledgeable, patient and so respectful of the wildlife and their environment. We always felt safe and comfortable while game driving with Thomson. We couldn’t have had a better person for our safari! He was a gem!

We also certainly appreciate all of your help and information that you gave us Lynn. All our questions and more were answered so promptly and completely. This was a huge trip for us, and we were anxious about so many little things before we went, but you put our minds at ease and we were very comfortable knowing ADS was going to be there for us in every way! Even to our very last evening at Kikoti tented camp-our goodbye cake from the ADS team, delivered by their happy staff singing “Jambo”! We all loved it and shared it with the rest of the camps guests.

We will definitely (and already have been) recommending ADS to our friends and family. We just can’t say enough about what a wonderful company ADS is!

Many thanks again Lynn for all of your assistance and to the ADS team for making our safari a true Dream Safari!

Julie and Adrian Allegri
Trip Dates: July 8, 2012 to July 20, 2012

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A Leopard’s Return

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Posted on by Michael

It was a wonderful experience – the people, animals, landscape, lodgings, and food were extraordinary. We feel so lucky to have had the chance to make this trip – memories that we can keep for a life time.

The best moment was seeing the Great Migration. We were in the north Serengeti in mid-July and the animals were moving north. Our guide found one particular spot along a river where thousands of wildebeest and zebras were moving north. The endless parade was mesmerizing as we watched them run down into the river valley and cross the river. We stopped for a long time to take it all in.

The next best moment was on the last full day of the trip on a game drive in Tarangire NP. We were out early in the morning. Our guide identified a dead gazelle straddling a tree limb up in a tree maybe 20 feet off the ground. Our guide was convinced that a leopard had killed the gazelle during the night and carried it up the tree to return for it with her cubs. Sure enough we identified a leopard moving through the grass towards the tree. Initially she was reluctant to climb the tree because of our presence. However, eventually she climbed the tree and carried it down to her waiting cubs. They quickly carried the gazelle further away to eat in solitude. Fortunately we were close enough that everybody had excellent pictures of the event.

George Shortle and Family
Santa Barbara, California
July 2012

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A Family Adventure – Crocs, Wildebeest and the Big 5

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Posted on by Michael


Africa Dream Safaris provided a spectacular safari.  We were a varied group, with travelers from 22 years old to 65 years old. Judy (my cousin) was a list keeper and note taker, and she listed 41 animals and about 110 birds that were identified during our safari. Our guide, made sure that we saw the “big five” and some of the “little five”.  He has eagle eyes!

In the northern Serengeti we witnessed the wildebeest migration and the famous crossing of the Mara River.  The crocs were also in attendance at the crossing!

Not only did we see many, many animals on safari but we saw the majority of them very up close and personal.  We shared the road with a pride of lions.  We stopped along the side of the road to watch and the fearless lionesses and the cubs walked right past us. When a herd of elephants crossed the road we were surrounded by the huge animals.  We were close enough to smell the hyenas. Giraffes looked at us as curiously as we looked at them and then strolled by.

The cultural and educational stops were worthy also.  The visit to the F.A.M.E clinic and hospital was especially interesting to those of us with a medical background.  We’ve investigated the project since we arrived home to find out more about their mission. Emily (our 22 year old anthropology student) enjoyed the Olduvai Gorge Tour. Judy was especially amazed by the Maasai village visit. George and Judy were interested in the Maasai shepherds, coffee plantations and the fields of maize and rice.

We loved the mix of rustic and luxury that the tented camps give.  The Bilila Luxury Lodge was a welcome haven in the middle of the safari, and Swala Tented Lodge was hands down our favorite. Thanks to ADS for giving our family the opportunity to enjoy each other on a spectacular adventure of Tanzania.

Rebecca and John McKay and Family
Greer, South Carolina
July 2011

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A Memorable Honeymoon in Tanzania

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Posted on by Michael

I wanted to contact you and tell you thank you so very much for helping us plan the trip of a lifetime. I cannot put into words how amazing our trip was and how beautiful the sites were that we saw!! We loved every second of everyday we were there and hated the moment we had to depart.

We truly believe our guide made the trip extra special – there was not one animal that we wanted to see that we were not able to get up close and personal with by the end of the trip. He was so knowledgeable about the land and all the animals – he was constantly educating us and entertaining us with his stories. He was very personable and we felt as if he was a true friend of ours by the time we departed.

We want to thank everyone at ADS for making our honeymoon so very special. We have been entertaining all of our friends and families with stories and pictures since we returned. We started planning our next trip and saving our funds so that we will be able to extend our stay on our next trip – we cannot wait to return. Thank you so very much for your help all the way through the process. We have attached some of our favorite photos for you to see – of course it was so very hard to narrow down. Thank you again and I look forward to contacting you to let you know we are ready for our next trip!

Kristen Payne and Jason Deweese
Columbus, Georgia
July 2011

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