A Trip of a Lifetime…Twice!

Every day a new adventure….literally. Our first safari was on July 2011 and was amazing. This one, in March 2013 was so different that it was AS amazing as the one before! The trip was flawless and everything was taken care of by ADS.

Our guide Anglebert was incredible! He knew where to go, what to look for, where to park the car to have the best view. We really can´t say enough about his knowledge and expertise!

We saw lions and cheetahs hunting. Lion cubs of all ages, Serval cats, lions resting on trees, leopards and rhinos, which we missed on our first trip…. the list goes on and on.

The lodges and camps were great! Once again our expectations of a safari were exceeded. Incredible Tanzania, perfect guide, wildlife everywhere what an incredible safari!!

Alejandra M. and Family
Mexico
Safari dates: March 26, 2013 to April 3, 2013

 

We Found Our Pot Of Gold In Tanzania!

What better gift could you give yourself for your 50th birthday than an ADS safari? Absolutely none! And so four good friends who all celebrated the big 5-0 this year embarked on the adventure of a half century.

We booked our 10 day trip without even researching other options after some friends highly recommended ADS after two separate safaris with them. We could not be more pleased with our decision! Sharon Lyon walked us through the planning and booking process addressing all of our concerns and questions same or next day.

The ADS guidebook was a lifesaver-follow the packing list provided and you will want for nothing. No one once weighed or questioned the size of our duffels or backpacks-our biggest concern-we each had 40 pounds total weight. Laundry service at each lodging was inexpensive and efficient. Read some of the ADS recommended books and you will be prepared to observe and discuss wildlife behavior with your guide.

Our guide Francis was more knowledgeable than we could have ever hoped for. He has done research in Tarangire while attending college at the African College of Wildlife management. He was well versed in topics ranging from wildlife behavior to African politics. He was able to correctly identify a wide variety of birds and animals as we jokingly checked his answers against our wildlife guidebook! Most impressive!! 100 percent correct! He even recognized bird calls and stopped to find the feathered noisemakers. We practiced our Swahili words with his help and enjoyed hearing about his life in Tanzania during dinners we invited him to attend.

All of the staff we encountered from ADS and the lodges were lovely gracious people who went out of their way to make our experience memorable. Our visit to the FAME clinic was a highlight and we highly recommend making this stop to see the facility and hear about the fine work they are doing there. We were lucky enough to meet Dr. Artress, the cardiac anesthesiologist who started the clinic years ago after leaving his home in LA.

Now for the animals!! We observed everything from lions mating to dung beetles rolling dung down the road!! We saw 4 of the big 5 animals -tembo/elephant, simba/ lion, chui/leopard and buffalo/nyati in the first day and wondered how our safari could get better. But it did as Francis continued to find new and exciting things for us each day. We loved watching the skittish warthogs running from us with tails held high and the graceful giraffes -the national symbols of Tanzania. We spotted a unicorn as well as the last of the big 5 -the elusive black faru/rhino-upon entering the magnificent Ngorongoro crater. The most beautiful, vivid complete rainbow we have ever seen appeared within the crater walls-a lucky sign-the end of rain!!

We all felt luckier than anyone in the world that day to be in this amazing sanctuary. We found our pot of gold in Tanzania!!!

Ruthanne and Kirk W.
West Bloomfield, Michigan
Safari Dates: March 18, 2013 to March 28, 2013

By David Chando – A Collection Of Photos From My Recent Safari

I have just finished my most recent safari with Tom and Lana D., my guests from Illinois, USA. This was their 2nd safari to Tanzania having traveled previously with ADS back in August 2008. I think they really enjoyed seeing the Serengeti during the green season and comparing it with their previous dry season experience. As you can see from the first picture included here, the Serengeti plains are currently green and filled with immense herds of the migratory herbivores (wildebeest, zebra and gazelle) and also many carnivores.

These repeater clients arrived here 09th April and then landed at the Seronera airstrip the next morning of 10th April where I met them. It was a very nice itinerary for the repeat guests with 4 nights in the Central Serengeti at Mbuzi Mawe Lodge and 4 nights in the South Serengeti at Lake Masek Camp. The following are a few sights seen!

Wildebeest Migration on Eastern Serengeti plains with one of the famous Gol Kopjes in the background. I feel that the area around Gol Kojpjes is the most picturesque area of the entire Serengeti.

Three cheetahs out by Gol Kopjes.

The same three cheetahs looking for prey.

Lion pride on the Southern Serengeti plains.

One tusker elephant.

East African Impala.

Dung beetle rolling the dung ball.

A collection of Serengeti wildflowers.

Male lion at Gol Kopjes with the landmark Naabi Hill on the far horizon.

Serengeti Rainbow.

Lions at Makoma Hill in the Seronera Valley of the Central Serengeti.

Saddle billed stork

One of the Serengeti’s beautiful kopjes

Cheetah with Zebra – South Serengeti Plains.

Flooded Retina Hippo Pool

”Traffic Jam”. Maasai Giraffes.

Male lion at Ndutu, South Serengeti.

An elephant pulling down a branch from an acacia tree.

Thanks for reading my blog posting.

David Chando
ADS Driver-Guide
April 22, 2013