Sunday 24 June

We’d been counting down the sleeps for weeks, and they had finally reached zero. The kids were running around like wild horses – encouraging my husband and I to “hurry up!” – so keen were they to leave (pity they can’t be this enthusiastict when it’s time to go to school!). When we were all ready, we were in the car and off to the airport well in time for the short Airlink flight from Cape Town to Nelspruit.

Arriving at a beautifully thatched Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport building, we collected our bags and headed to the Avis counter to collect our chariot. After making the necessary vehicle checks, we were off  for my children’s’ (four and six) very first safari experience! Excitement in our small VW Polo quickly turned to countless ” are we there yets!?” and, after a minor detour, we finally arrived just before 4pm.  Brett, our host, showed us our tents to a collective “Wow!” from the kids.

Khoka Moya Tent Interior

The kids each had their own bed on either side of the room with their own private mosquito nets. Dad and I got the extra large King bed with mosquito barrier – bliss!  We quickly settled in, after the excitement had settled to a more manageable level.

We freshened up and made our way down to reception for our evening game drive but, before we could even get to our vehicle, Brett stopped us because of a large male elephant in camp. I think I heard the kid’s hearts skip a beat, but Ruby was ready to run up to the elephant and make friends!  I tried to explain to her, a four year old, that elephant bulls didn’t make good friends for small children but this was met with some scepticism.  After the gentle giant had wandered off, we were finally off on our game drive – which proved very fruitful indeed. We saw (more) elephant; zebra; warthog; a small spotted gennet; a side stripped jackal; wildebeest and a giraffe.

The kids were ecstatic with the day’s viewing and we toasted the greatest African sunset with sundowners, after a  fantastic afternoon in the Manyeleti reserve!

Drinks around the camp fire followed sundowners before dinner was served, complete with backing drumbeat! We were both exhausted and exhilarated at the same time. Dinner was a fabulously sumptuous affair! Greek salad with a twist; lamb shank and roast veggies; and sticky toffee pudding all combined to knock our respective socks off.

Getting the kids to shut down for bed is a story for another day, but eventually we all crashed soundly in the fresh African air around 10pm.

Monday 25 June

Fast asleep until 6 am, when the sounds of the drumbeat gently woke us up, the Matthews family was ready for Day 2! Fanuel knocked at the door with a tray of hot chocolate and coffee – paradise! Layering up took some time but with the wind chill factor on game drives in winter you need all the layers you can come up with.

We met up with Fanuel and our tracker Douglas for our morning drive. It was cold! But like seriously cold. My cheeks felt like they might freeze and fall off  but it was so worth it because we ended up with a morning of great sightings including elephant; zebra; water buck; impala; duiker; wildebeest;  rhino; warthog; buffalo and the prettiest of them all – a leopard. We were also fortunate enough to hear the magical sound of Africa – the call of the fish eagle – so we were truly content.

Nothing like an African sunset!

Our guides looked tirelessly for the elusive lions, but alas we didnt get to see them. Four out of (the big) five ain’t too bad for our morning drive though! We got back late because of all the action, but waiting for us back at the lodge was a huge breakfast feast. After a great breakfast, we headed back to out to our tent for a well deserved shower and rest which extended all the way through to midday. Lunch and dinner were equally good and it dawned on me that this really was the way to live. The kids agree!

Dining beneath the African stars

By: Liesl Matthews

After all the months of planning and research, I can honestly say that everything exceeded our expectations and then some!  You both provided us with fantastic guidance and our final itinerary of Cape Town, Botswana and Zambia could not have been more perfect for us and our 2 adult children.  Nothing can quite prepare you for the magic that is Africa.  Here then are the highlights of our trip.

As you know, this trip was planned to coincide with our daughter, Mary, finishing her semester abroad program in South Africa.  We arrived in Johannesburg on May 4th and met up with Mary at the airport.  We spent the night in Johannesburg and left for Cape Town the morning of the 5th.  Charlie, our guide in Cape Town, was just the best!  He deftly arranged for us to see all the highlights Cape Town has to offer in 3 full days.  Our tour of the Cape Peninsula, the Eagle and Cheetah conservation projects in Stellenbosch, and our excursion to Table Mountain were spectacular indeed.  Charlie was even able to find a store in the Cape Quarter for me to buy some of the Cape Malay spices to take home.  Of course, having the opportunity to meet up with Jeff at Beluga our last night in town was a special treat.

Camps Bay © Jeff McClay

The morning of the 9th we departed for Botswana via Johannesburg and Maun.  From Maun, we took our bush flight to Savute Safari Lodge in the Chobe National Park where we were met by Gee, our guide during our stay at Savute.  The lodge is just fantastic – our rooms overlooked the watering hole where elephant herds would make regular visits during our stay.  Our hosts, MC and Michelle made sure we had all the comforts of home.  The game drives in Savute were the best viewing we had the entire time on safari.  In the first two days we saw leopard and lions, which according to my daughter, is very lucky indeed!  Gee’s skill at tracking wildlife made the game drives very exciting, and we loved the sundowners out in the field with our safari buddies from the Netherlands.

During our last sundowner, the call came in that lions had been spotted and we literally dropped everything and jumped in the jeep for a wild ride reminiscent of the Indiana Jones attraction at Disneyland!  Our wildlife sightings also included elephant, zebras, cape buffalo, wildebeest, giraffe and warthogs.  After 2 nights, we departed Savute for Camp Moremi in the Okavango Delta (Xaxanaka Lagoon).

Zebra © Jeff McClay

Camp Moremi was a very different environment where we were able to see many avian species on the water (and kept our distance from the hippos!), including a fish eagle who had just scooped up a tilapia and was enjoying his dinner in a tree.  Frank, our guide, was delightful, and even made a necklace for Mary out of a water lily during our afternoon cruise on the lagoon.  We found the elusive wild dogs hanging out under some bushes during one of our game drives.  BK, Hannah and Charity were lovely hosts and we so enjoyed the evening choir concerts before each dinner.  After our 2 nights at Moremi, we left for Leroo La Tau in the Makgadikgadi Pans National Park.

Our rooms at Leroo La Tau faced the channel where we watched herds of elephant and zebra come down to the water.  We even heard lions roaring during the night.  Juan, Priscilla and Fred were terrific hosts, and arranged a lovely 21st birthday celebration for Mary, complete with birthday cake and candles!  It certainly was a far cry from the standard Las Vegas blowout most of her friends have experienced.  How many college students can say they spent their 21st birthday in Botswana?  Calvin, our guide took us on a tour of his village where we visited a primary school and a clinic.  We brought some school supplies and marveled at the dedication of the teachers and the politeness of the students who greeted us as we walked into their classrooms.  By the end of our week-long safari in Botswana, we had seen everything but rhinos.

Leroo Le Tau © Jeff McClay

Our last stop was Zambia and the Isands of Siankaba, located about an hour from Victoria Falls.  Our trip would take us by plane from Leroo La Tau to Kasane, where we were met by a Bushtracks guide who drove us to the Chobe River.  From there we transferred to a boat to cross the river into Zambia, where we were met by another Bushtracks guide who drove us to the lodge.  We were able to experience the African version of Four Corners where the countries of Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe meet in the middle of the Chobe River, much like the states of Utah, Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona meet in the southwest U.S.

The lodge is located on the Zambezi River and is an idyllic setting located in the treetops and connected by rope bridges and platforms above the river.  Nothing can compare to listening to the sounds of the mighty Zambezi at night as you are falling asleep, including the occasional hippo snort!  What an incredible ending to our vacation.  The lodge is truly 5-star with amazing food and lovely accommodations.  Graham, Brett and Claire and their staff are definitely top notch.  They arranged a lovely birthday celebration for Paul’s 60th birthday.  Matthews took us on a tour of his village which included a stop at the preschool where the children entertained us with songs and imitations of Zambian chameleons!  They were thrilled to line up for happy face stickers which we brought along with more school supplies.

Leopard © Jeff McClay

The highlight of our stay was the trip to Victoria Falls escorted by Lucky, our guide.  He took us on all the trails for the best views of the falls, and gamely carried 5 sets of rain gear for us to put on!  Needless to say, I was a bit nervous listening to Jeff and Mary talk about swimming in Devil’s Pool and white water rafting (both of which were closed, thank goodness!).  When they decided on the zip line across the gorge, I felt my stomach turn as I realized they expected me to do it too!  Well, there was no way I was going to wimp out, and on the video you can hear Jeff say, “I can’t believe she actually did it!”  The falls was truly awe-inspiring and like nothing we’ve ever seen.  We left Zambia on the 18th for our marathon flight home to San Diego.

Jeff and Liesl, every aspect of our trip was spot on – no delays, missed connections, late flights or missing transfer drivers.  We came home with thousands of pictures, some of which I have included here, and many incredible memories.  Thanks to your expert consultation, we had the trip of a lifetime and have been smitten by the people and places we’ve experienced.  We hope to plan another adventure to Africa – perhaps Namibia next time and will be sure to call you!

Many thanks to the McClay’s for the kind words and awesome pictures! If you’d like to see more of the McClay’s pictures, check out our Client Submissions pin board on Pinterest.

We’ll begin by taking a look at the Zambian conservationist, Norman Carr.

Norman Carr

Norman Carr was born in the busy port town of Chinde, in what is now modern day Malawi, in 1912. He received his education in England and returned to Africa in 1930 where he worked as an ‘Elephant Control Officer’ in the Luangwa Valley. This majestically titled job entailed mitigating the damage done by the resident elephant herds on the crop of farmers in the area.  After serving for four years in the Kings African Rifles, where he attained the rank of Captain, Norman became one of Africa’s first Game Rangers in the Luangwa Valley’s newly formed ‘Game Department’.  It was in this role that Norman started implementing conservation measures which would be adopted throughout Africa.

Norman had to be alert in the bush

Norman Carr persuaded the then Chief Nsefu to set aside some of his land for game conservation use, and this became Nsefu Camp – the first camp of its kind open to the public in what is now Zambia. Some years later a spinal injury, caused by a run in with a buffalo, necessitated a withdrawal from the scene for a year or so. After making a recovery, Norman returned to work as a Warden for the Kafue National Park. It was here that he famously adopted two orphaned male lions – characters which left an indelible impression on all who met them.  Norman lovingly raised the pair to adulthood and later successfully reintroduced them in to the wild when they were about three years old (inspiring the novel and movie “Return to the Wild”). After cofounding the first hunting operation in the Luangwa Valley with Peter Hankin, it was in 1968 that Norman Carr’s next revolutionary idea came about…

Norman Carr with the orphaned cubs

Midday Stroll

Growing up in the wild, Norman was always very at home in the African bush. His deep understanding of the dynamic between man and animal meant that he read situations between the two very well. For Norman, a walk in the bush amongst the Big Five was part of his everyday life. So much so in fact that he decided to extend the opportunity of a Walking Safari to visitors of Chibembe Safari Camp. The safari walks were a smash hit! Never before had people experienced wildlife in such a manner, where man and nature interacted so harmoniously in such close proximity.

One of the first Walking Safaris

In his later years, Norman Carr continued in his unwavering quest to conserve and protect all wildlife.  In 1979 he devoted two years of his life to the ‘Save the Rhino’ campaign aimed at eradicating the rampant poaching of the Valley’s rhinoceros population. Through the Kapani School Fund, Norman provided scholarships for many children in the area all the while engraining in them the importance of wildlife conservation. These were to be amongst his final acts as the great conservationist, Mr Norman Carr, passed peacefully in 1993.

Norman Carr’s pioneering spirit led to him becoming one of the most important figures in Zambia’s recent history, in the fields of tourism and conservation. His philanthropically inclined nature meant he was well liked and respected amongst his peers, and people in general.

Next time you’re out on that amazing Walking Safari, tip your hat to Mr Carr…

*If you’d like to see more images of Norman and the lions, check out our Pinterest board here.

In keeping with the loving spirit, we’ve put together an amazing Cape Town & Safari Combo special for honeymooners or couples looking for a romantic African retreat.

The Breathtaking Table Mountain

Your partner will love waking up in the crisp air of the African bush as the sounds of nature signal the start of a new day while on safari near the Kruger National Park. Then treat yourselves to a few days in trendy, sexy, cosmopolitan Cape Town.

Cape Town by night

Cape Town was named as TripAdvisor’s destination of the world in 2011 and boasts a myriad of options for you and yours. Whether it’s a ride up the cable car to the peak of Table Mountain for a coffee overlooking the City and Robben Island; a day on one of the many golden beaches soaking up the sun; or a tour of the surrounding cape winelands. Long Street is a vibrant mix of cultures and home to some of the City’s best independent shops and markets while adjacent Kloof Street is a foodie’s haven. Relaxed seaside villages like Muizenberg and Kalk Bay pepper the coast en route to the Cape of Good Hope and are filled with eclectic boutique shops and art galleries.

Boulders Beach

Here’s the deal!  Spend 4 nights at the luxurious Cape Cadogan  AND spend 3 nights on a Big Five safari at Lion Sands Ivory Lodge in the Sabi Sands Game Reserve with a free experience at the über romantic Chalkley Tree House.  Total for 2 people for a 7 night stay = $10 400

The Owners Villa at Cape Cadogan  (4 nights)

Right in the heart of Cape Town within walking distance to many popular attractions and great restaurants, this is the perfect Cape Town retreat. The Villa is decorated in classic olde world Cape Town style with abundance of natural light.  We’re including (for free) your choice of day excursion: EITHER  a harbour cruise around the famous V&A Waterfront – one of the top tourist destinations in the world OR a picnic in the winelands (with a packed basket and free wine tasting) near the famous wine town of Stellenbosch.

V&A Waterfront

Lion Sands Ivory Lodge  (3 nights)

Located in the Sabi Sands Game Reserve adjacent to the Kruger National Park, Lion Sands is well known for it’s superlative Big Five game viewing, especially lions and leopards. Enjoy thrilling safari drives in open 4×4 vehicles with a dedicated ranger and tracker. Back at the lodge you’ll be able to relax, have spa treatment, dine on fine cuisine and have close encounters with nature in the most luxurious of wilderness locations.

Lion Sands

Whether cooling off in your private infinity pool, enjoying a starlit bath, dozing on your four-poster bed or kicking back in the comfortable chill area, the African wilds are never out of sight. Mixing the old with the new, the traditional building methods of the lodge have been coupled with stylised innovations, like floor to ceiling glass walls in each of the six luxury suites with extraordinary views of the canopy of stars at night.

Take in the amazing river views at sunset

An evening at Chalkey Treehouse (which we’re including for free) will be the highlight of your trip as you toast yourselves and the setting sun from this unique and luxurious treehouse set up in the bush.

Valid for travel between 1 May -31 Aug 2012. Excludes flights.

The Kruger National Park is lion country

Contact African Safari Consultants for more

Kids on Safari

1.  Plan the plane ride ahead of time.  You will be flying and on layovers for a very long time to reach Africa.  But it is so worth the trip!  In order to make the flight easier for you and your kids, make it an educational and fun. Buy African themed movies (ie: Madagascar) as well as coloring books and educational games that feature the African animals. Quiz your kids about the animals and where they will see them. This will get them excited for the countries you will visit and keep them entertained for hours.

2.  Pack mix and match clothing.  Because you may be visiting multiple countries and suitcase space is limited, find clothing and kids pajamas that can be interchangeable.  If your kids like superman, you can pack a red and blue superman pajama tops  and a red and blue pair of pajama bottoms, now you have 4 pairs of pajamas for them to choose from instead of having to waste space with 8 pieces.

3.  Get them accustomed to the local food.  If you’re a parent you know that kids can be very picky. You should research the places you will be visiting and look at the menus.  Maybe try a few of the recipes at home so that your kids get to know them and are able to order them when they are in Africa.  Not only will this help you find something they will eat, but they will be excited to be able to order in the native language when you are on Safari.

 4.  Bring something from home.  Going to a resort in the US is one thing, but taking your kids to somewhere that is 100% different from anything they have ever seen and being surrounded by strange languages, is another.  By letting your kids bring one well-loved toy or small blanket, you can help to eliminate any homesick feelings.

 5.  Pack a medicine box. You don’t have to pack your enitre medicine chest, as hotels and lodges have sufficient first aid kits. But be sure to bring the basics so that you have immediate access to brands of medication that you and your kids are familiar with.

Environmental education made fun

Africa is one of the most amazing family destinations. From Cape Town to the Kruger National Park via the Garden Route and then up to Victoria Falls. If you have more time, you should include Kenya and Tanzania and time on the beach near Zanzibar. Your kids will get to see more wildlife than they ever imagined, and will go to sleep each night exhausted and happy so that you and your partner can free to share romantic evenings under the African stars together - enjoy it!

Guest Post By: Adam Riemer

Adam is a blogger who has been to more than 18 countries.  With his sites and his own travels, he has helped travelers plan everything from family vacations to gay weddings  and even finding the right broadway show to see when you’re in New York.

Guests track the mighty mountain gorillas in Uganda’s famed Impenetrable Forest or, if you’re lucky, they track you. The gentle giants are known to frequent the camp on a regular basis, so guests are able to watch them meander through the grounds from the comfort of their room’s deck.  Paradise!

Mountain Gorilla in the Forests of Uganda

The lodge takes conservation seriously  so Bwindi Lodge is run on sound ecological principles, with solar-powered lighting and hot bucket showers to minimise the environmental impact. All local materials were sourced for the camp’s construction, which gives the lodge an authentic rustic feel. The friendly staff too are recruited from local communities and are passionate about their amazing heritage – evident as soon as you talk with them.

Meals are fresh and wholesome, combining local and Western cuisines to cater for even the most discerning palate. The dining room overlooks the valley and the terrace, which juts out into the forest, is the perfect place to soak up the sight and sounds of the surrounds.

You’re guaranteed to leave the lodge feeling refreshed and reinvigorated so be sure to contact a friendly African Safari’s agent here before this great offer is up.

The offer is valid for

• new bookings made between 16 November – 16 December 2011
• travel between 1 December 2011 – 15 June 2012

The Born to Explore clip can be viewed below.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xisxwCK_ozM&version=3&hl=en_GB]

If asked what was the world’s largest mammal migration, most people would probably guess the annual migration of wildebeest across the plains of the Masai Mara. And they’d be wrong…

Fruit bats roosting during the daylight hours.

Every year between October and December, up to ten million fruit bats make the journey from all over central Africa to the Kasanka National Park in Zambia in what is the world’s largest mammal migration. The bats come to the area to feast on the ripening fruits of the fertile valley and usually stay for around six weeks.

Being nocturnal animals, early morning sees a flurry of activity in the African skies as the bats return to roost before sunrise. Once roosting, the animals are extremely difficult to see so it is highly recommended that you join one of the early morning guided walk safaris.

The bats play a highly important role in the ecological system of the area. By coming to feast on all the delicious fruits on offer, and then returning home, the bats unwittingly distribute tree seeds throughout their journey. It is estimated that the bats are responsible for as much as 60% of the seed dispersal of African rain forest trees. How many other animals can say that about their excrement?

Bats in the skies of Kasanka National Park.

Watch the video here to see just what makes the annual migration such a special occurrence.

Day 1:

I arrive at the Mount Meru Hotel in Arusha after a long spell of travelling. It’s the perfect spot for a one night pre or post safari stay, and it has a wonderful day room scenario for the late KLM flights out of JRO.

The Hotel has that old world charm that reminds me of the Mount Nelson in Cape Town… the perfect place to take Gran to tea.

The next day, I headed out to Tarangire National Park. The drive was extremely long but there was lots of good game on the way, including a python in a tree!

Day 2

The rooms at Tarangire Tree Tops Lodge are all built around a big old Baobab and Marula trees. A real tree house feel with great views.

Tarangire Tree Tops

There’s a watering hole right at the front of the lodge where we saw baboons playing (and fighting) while we had lunch.

Swala Sanctuary Camp

This under-canvas camp is right in the middle of the Tarangire National Park, so you can’t beat the location. With 12 tents, this is one of my all-time favorites.  The camp was completely renovated in 2009 and it shows. The place looks terrific. The large tents are permanently fixed on platforms and have full amenities. There is an outdoor shower for each room, with most overlooking the VERY active water hole. Guests at breakfast witnessed a mama lion snacking on a baby warthog this morning. The new managers are in the process of introducing walking safaris, which will be cool.

Swala Sanctuary Lodge

Day 4:

Manyara Serena Lodge

We did not have an appointment here, but Adam, my Akorn Driver/Guide thought it might be worthwhile to see.

We got a quick tour of the Manyara Serena which is right at the top of the escarpment. It has 67 rooms and was built in the 1990s. It was spacious, open, and clean, and had beautiful gardens for the grounds.

The lodge has amazing views out over Manyara and also has a refreshing pool that also overlooks the fertile valley below.

Manyara Serena Lodge

After breakfast at Manyara Ranch, we headed north-west past Lake Manyara National Park and up the Great Rift Valley escarpment  headed to the Karatu Highlands, where it was lush, green, and very pretty.

Karatu Highlands

Gibbs Farm

I loved this place. They were expecting us and made us feel so welcome. We were immediately offered lunch from the buffet, which offered food that was almost completely grown on the farm (yes, the best meal I’d had so far). The front-office manager dined with us and was available to answer all of my questions. The environment was calm, serene and very relaxing.

Gibbs Farm Bedroom

The lodge sits adjacent to the Ngorongoro Crater National Park and has amazing views that overlook the highlands. There are 21 rooms — 3 older ones (2 of which are in the old home), and 18 new ones. All rooms are basically suites with sleeping, lounging and outside terrace areas. They are very, very well done and remind me a lot of LQF in Franschhoek. There are numerous “Rhythm of the Farm” activities offered and guests can basically stay busy all day (starting with bread baking at 6:30 am). Free activities include farm and garden tours, but there are also many other lower-priced activities in the park (hiking, mountain biking, etc.).

Best time of year to visit is June/July/August (especially for birding) and November/December when everything is green and the gardens are blooming.

At the end of the inspection, they gave me a 10-minute massage with a Masai traditional healer. It was amazing. I’m sold.

Masai Traditional Healer

Manor Lodge

I loved this place, too, as it totally hit the JW-POSH button. It’s beautiful, it’s luxurious. The lodge is only 3 years old and it’s impeccable. Every guest will have each meal in a different location (of course, weather permitting). The have 4 horses (retired Kenyan polo ponies), a massage room, and a manicurist/pedicurist on staff.

The grounds are the loveliest I’ve seen in Tanzania. And the staff were all incredibly friendly.

Manor at Ngorongoro Crater

Ngorogoro Crater Lodge

Wow! This place is definitely over the top and understandably the most expensive lodge around. The B&B product is very, very tight and the customer experience is one of the best I’d had this trip.

Each room has sweeping views of the crater, and is huge with separate living, terrace, sleeping, and mombo-sized bath areas. Any one of these rooms would be perfect for honeymooners. The Tree Camp rooms are somewhat smaller and have somewhat obstructed views of the crater, due to the foliage.

The lodge is great for honeymooners and families alike.

Ngorongoro Crater Lodge

Day 5:

Serena Crater Lodge

Best suited for tour groups or those seeking less-expensive accommodation on the Crater, and cannot afford the Ngorogoro Crater Lodge.

Ngorongoro Serena Lodge

Lake Masek Tented Lodge

Actually not in the Serengeti National Park, but instead in the Ngorogoro conservation area. This is a lovely 20-tent property owned also by Tanzanian entrepreneur Willy Chamulo. Tents are nicely appointed with tubs and outdoor showers. Built in 2009, the camp is 100% solar powered – nice one Willy!

Best lodge in the area…

Lake Masek Tented Lodge

Sanctuary Kusini Tented Camp

After a long day of driving, I was so happy to get to this lodge. There’s a large rock formation adjacent to the camp, which is fun to climb and has a stunning 360-view of the Serengeti.

Sanctuary Kusini

Day 6:

After leaving Kasini, we continued through the Serengeti to Dunia Camp.

Dunia is a permanent tented camp lodge. The camp is 100% solar powered and has bucket showers available 24/7. There is also power available in the tents. It’s well appointed and the staff greeted me warmly. The camp feels like a luxury, mobile tented camp, but rustically elegant and a bit nicer than the standard mobile option.

Dunia Camp

Bilila Kempinski / Four Seasons

Built in 2009 this large, luxury lodge hotel is owned by a wealthy Arab investor so its super luxurious, world-class and very pretty. It has 2 dining venues, wine cellar, large spa, pool area, and sweeping views of the plains.

Perfect for guests who want a large, luxury lodge experience. Not for those who want an intimate camp.

Bilila Kempinski Lodge

Kirawira Tented Camp

This camp, built in 1998 is part of the Serena hotel group (which I learned is part of the Aga Khan’s empire). It’s a SLH (Small Luxury Hotel) property and the common areas have a clubby, intimate feel to them. There are 25 tents, all of which are on vaulted platforms offering amazing views of the Serengeti..

The one thing I didn’t like was the decor of the tent rooms. It looked like it had not been updated since opening, and the bedding was definitely not up to international luxury standards (i.e. duvet covers instead of cotton/poly bedspreads).

The management was welcoming and accommodating and the camp is in a great location with excellent common areas and views. I couldn’t find anything wrong with this place other than the outdated room decor.

Kirawira Tented Camp

&Beyond Grumeti Tented Camp

For my 6th night on the road, we stayed in Grumeti camp, which is located on a tributary of the Grumeti river, inside the Serengeti national park. The most interesting aspect of the lodge’s location is the large number of hippo in the river right in front of main lodge. There are 3 families and the hippos are very rambunctious (i.e. active and loud). Across the tributary, on the other side, there’s also a lot of other game viewing (giraffes, monkeys, impala, etc).

The staff here was VERY high-touch, with on-going name usage with all guests. The &Beyond lodges all stand out above the rest in their customer service and friendly, confident levels of service (as opposed to Sanctuary’s very timid, unconfident lodge wait staff). There’s a butler assigned to every guest, who is there for every whim (and meal).

I found the food above-average, and some of the best I had on the trip.

Singita-Grumeti Camp

Day 7:

After leaving Grumeti Camp, we were able to do a site inspection at one of the Singita Grumeti camps:

Singita Sabora Lodge

The first of the 3 Singita lodges in the Grumeti concession, adjacent to the Serengeti national park, this luxury tented camp is run like the other Singita proprieties — all-inclusive with game package. Basically, all the East Africa tour operators drop the clients at the lodge and step away.

There are 9 luxurious tents, built on platforms, that are suite-sized. 6 of the tents are arranged in pairs (but still can be sold as singles), sharing a library tent between them.

The lodge is pure Singita in every aspect. It’s luxurious, serene, and tasteful on all fronts. There is a pool, spa, tennis courts, wifi throughout, and air conditioning in the tents.

Sabora sits out in the middle of the plains and is beautifully located. There’s nothing around besides the resident family of zebras in the camp, just in front of the main lodge.

The game is starting to come back after years of depletion.

Game viewing at Singita

After flying back to Arusha, and then to DAR, I transferred by land out to the Ras Kutani Beach Lodge.

With no traffic, it’s a 1:15 drive from the DAR airport (mine was 1:45 in traffic), or a 12-minute air hop. This lodge provides a very nice, relaxing alternative for an after-safari beach experience. The lodge is part of the Selous safari company portfolio, along with their 2 Selous lodges. The property has 4 suites, with private plunge pools, 9 “castaway chic” cottages, and 1 family cottage. a few of the cottages have lagoon views.

Their cottages have large verandas with hammocks, spacious king/twin rooms, and large bath areas. The resort is super causal, with most guests walking around barefoot. There’s a beautiful beach with very warm water for those mid afternoon dips.

For my return flight out, I had a 7am air hop transfer back to DAR, in more than enough time for my 8:35 am BA flight back to London.

Ras Kutani is a well-kept secret and the perfect solution for guests needing to overnight in Dar es Salaam. Two nights here after the northern circuit, or Selous, is the perfect way to end a safari. It’s also closer than Zanzibar and provides a good alternative.

Ras Kutani Beach

All said, Tanzania is a beautiful country with plenty to offer a variety of visitors. Get in touch with us here at African Safari Consultants and we’ll make sure your trip is as unforgettable as Jeff’s.

Click to view clip :  Red Hartebeest collides with biker

If we sold mountain bikes, helmets, or insurance we’d be focussing on the guy. But this is an African Safari’s blog and so here is a bit more about the antelope (which was unharmed in the accident by the way).

It was a Red Hartebeest, a common species which occurs throughout the grasslands of Southern and East Africa. It is the second fastest antelope in Africa reaching speeds of up to 65 km/h. (The fastest antelope is the Tssesebe) A Red Haartebeest is about 1.5m (5ft) tall and weighs between 120-200kg (265-440lb) The word hartebeest originally comes from the Dutch spreaking Boer settlers who thought it looked like a deer. Hert in Dutch means ‘deer’ and beest is ‘beast’.

Being a common widespread species, and supposedly not threatened, it is a firm favourite in the hunting fraternity. We do not condone hunting AT ALL! Instead we urge you to invest in a good camera and come on a photographic safari. However, if the thrill of mountain biking in the bush appeals to you, it can be arranged. Selected non-Big Five game reserves allow controlled mountain biking trails. For more information contact one of our African Safari Consultants