Back in 2015, my wife and I embarked on our first safari with Africa Dream Safaris. It was a trip of a lifetime for both of us. So in 2023 we started to plan for our second safari after my retirement. Because of our first experience with Africa Dream Safaris, we reached out to Dawn to begin planning our September 2024 safari, which would include our daughter, son-in-law and our nine- year old granddaughter.
A Tanzanian safari, and specifically the great migration, had been on our bucket list for more than 30 years. When we finally started planning, we knew we wanted to do it right. For us, that meant a private safari. We did our research, and decided to go with Africa Dream Safaris, and Dawn helped put together an itinerary that covered our extensive wish list! After 18 months of looking at photos, the ADS website, Facebook page, and ADS handbook, it was finally time for our safari.
Serengeti. In the Maasai language it means “endless plains”. But it is a land of deception. Born from a volcanic eruption three and half million years ago, she has not forgotten her past. She harbors vast savannas, wetlands, and forests. From the heights of Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru to the river Mara. You cannot trust your own eyes. Beauty and violence side by side, one and the same. As the day begins over the river, you don’t see the hippos and crocodiles just below the surface. The shadows and reflections hide the danger.
We just returned from our safari and it still feels like it was all a dream come true. Hundreds of thousands of animals in all directions to the horizon. A diversity of animals beyond belief and lots of baby animals. The circle of life was vividly and dramatically illustrated and the connectivity of all the animals in this amazing place was beautiful.
All I can say is what an amazing time we had touring Tanzania with African Dream Safaris. It was an incredible journey from the beginning planning stages working with Dawn. She helped with planning and scheduling with our changes and ultimately gave us an incredible anniversary trip.
A safari across the Serengeti has long been a bucket list adventure we’ve been looking towards as we embarked on our retirement years. Then COVID hit and our plans were put on hold. We did not want to experience a safari with a group of 10-12 strangers following an itinerary where we were one of a dozen other tours staying at the same lodges. We were seeking a unique intimate experience that we would remember for the rest of our lives! African Dream Safaris (ADS) provided just such a custom experience.
This trip was a long time in the planning. From our first contact back in 2019, our Safari consultant Dawn Anderson was encouraging, a wealth of knowledge and patient. We knew we wanted to do a safari for our 30th Wedding Anniversary in September 2022 and we knew we wanted Tanzania – the migration, the Serengeti, the Ngorongoro Crater. We also wanted a private experience so we could go at our pace and see what we wanted to see.
September 2022 marked our third visit to Tanzania with Africa Dream Safari. It was our best trip yet. I am frequently asked, “If you’ve been there, haven’t you already seen it all?” My response is that since this isn’t like visiting a zoo, every trip is unique and exciting. This trip was no exception.
Excellent, Outstanding, Amazing, Unforgettable are just some of the words I would use to describe our Africa Dream Safaris trip. From our first contact with ADS until the end of our tour, ADS was there to answer our questions, make recommendations and provide support for this amazing adventure. As this is the year of Covid, ADS made sure that every place we stayed and visited was safe.
WOW! A second five star, truly memorable safari with ADS. Let me first answer the following 2 questions. Why did we select ADS for our dry season safari after having just gone with them for the green season this past February and secondly why was our second experience so close temporally with the first.
We’ve just returned from our Africa Dream Safaris adventure and are in awe of the experience. The prep guidelines that Dawn provided were on point. After landing at Kilimanjaro airport we were ushered through COVID testing and immigration ahead of the crowd.
Our trip started quietly with a visit to the School of St. Jude to be with one of our two sponsored students, a charity that ADS encourages. Very proud of Henry. And then a special Anniversary moonlight dinner at the Arusha Coffee Lodge.
The trip we thought would never come (due to COVID-19) was finally here! My entire family was very much looking forward to spending the next two weeks in the beautiful country of Tanzania!
To go or not to go
“In the circle of life…it’s the wheel of fortune…it’s the leap of faith…it’s the band of hope…til we find our place…”
Well, we took a leap of faith and found our place in an unbelievable Serengeti safari experience! Where to begin? I’m sure so many of you fellow travelers are wondering about what traveling is like now, so I will give you an honest and extremely thorough account of our travels and sights during this crazy time. Get ready if you choose to read this, because it’s a very long blog!
Extraordinary! Unbelievable! Amazing! Fabulous! A dream came true. The minute I stepped out of the bush plane on Serengeti soil in the Lobo Valley an indescribable feeling of peace and serenity encompassed me. Our guide Arnold greeted us with his contagious smile and wit. I continue to enjoy (nearly 5 months later) the burden-free peacefulness and serenity felt those amazing days during September 2019.
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