A trip to Africa had long been on my ‘Bucket List’ and a dream of mine but there was never anyone who could or would go with me. Little did I know that my wife, two sons and Africa Dream Safaris (ADS) planned the trip of a lifetime for me and my two sons for my 70th birthday. ADS had prepared us for every detail before we arrived in Africa with not only their outstanding website information but also personal interaction. We arrived at Kilimanjaro WITHOUT my bag as it stayed over in Amsterdam for an extra day. However, ADS didn’t leave me stranded and went out of their way and made this issue a priority until they had gotten my bag from the airport and delivered it to me out in the Serengeti. It was a real pleasure dealing with a company who knows that customer service does not stop when the check clears, but actually just begins.

It is an understatement to say we had an amazing 10 day safari. Our guide had to be ADS’s best and made us feel comfortable and welcome from the moment we met him. He was very enjoyable to be around and was an expert at spotting game we had not even seen with our binoculars. His knowledge of the animals (and birds), their habits and characteristics was simply amazing. The lodging throughout the safari exceeded our expectations. Every place we stayed had great food, cold beer, and great rooms (even the tented lodges). Every lodge had a wonderful staff and we were treated like royalty. The game drives and animal experiences are really hard to fully explain to those who have not experienced it. The magnitude of the great migration, lions basking on a kopje, cheetahs, lions or hyenas feeding on a fresh kill and herds of elephants so close you could almost touch them. Even the pleasant weather and beautiful scenery was more than we could have imagined.

Africa Dream Safaris really took care of us from the time we stepped off the plane until the time we stepped back on. They are truly a first class organization! We went into the trip thinking it would be a once in a lifetime experience but are now looking forward to our next experience with Tanzania and Africa Dream Safaris.

Don Reichert
June 2009

The 4 sequential photos document the story of a pride of lions hunting their prey, from stalk to feast.  A haunting illustration of the triumph and tragedy that must coexist out here on the Serengeti Plains.

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

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

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