I curate trips for individuals, families, friends, and small affinity groups. Below is the trip report from one such experience. This adventure was a 2023 trip to Tanzania for the height of the great migration. Check it out!
Tanzania 2023
Dark Skies, the Great Migration, and Big Cats!
August 9: The official start of the trip! Clients were picked up at the airport and escorted to the 5-star Gran Melia Arusha hotel. Featuring a rooftop restaurant with views of Mt. Meru, Kilimanjaro's sister, this 5-star property was a relaxing way to start things off.
August 10: Today's activity was a guided walking safari in Arusha National Park. The first giraffe, zebra, baboons, and flamingos of the trip were spotted. The walk went by a lovely waterfall and was followed by a picnic lunch overlooking the lake.
August 11: After breakfast, the group headed out to Tarangire National Park. The park is famous for its large herds of elephants and the magnificent baobab trees that live here. A day of game drives was capped off with a beautiful sundowner overlooking the park.
August 12: Up bright and early for a day filled with game drives.
Today also featured a nighttime game drive. Getting to see nocturnal animals is a real treat and is only allowed in certain parks and areas. After a late dinner, folks gathered around the telescope to observe galaxies, clusters, and other stellar objects that can only be seen from the Southern Hemisphere. They were also on the lookout for shooting stars all night long as the peak of the Perseid meteor shower was tonight!
August 13: After a wonderful night of nocturnal cats, stargazing, and counting meteors. It was time to depart Tarangire and enjoyed a game drive on the way to Ngorongoro Crater.
August 14: A long full day exploring the Ngorongoro Crater, the world's largest inactive and unfilled volcanic caldera. The scenery was gorgeous and the animal life prodigious! There was a bit of excitement and drama as a lioness strolled through the picnic lunch area. She was nonplussed by the humans, but folks took no chances and quickly retreated to the safari vehicle.
August 15: The day started with a scenic flight to Serengeti National Park. The view from the window was simply magnificent and gave a great sneak peek of what was to come! The first stop was the Mara River to see if anyone was crossing and experience the great migration in full swing! After dinner and a bonfire, the telescope came out for another night of stargazing under amazingly dark skies.
August 16: Morning at the river crossing. It was a scene of noise and borderline mayhem as the herds went into the water!
After an exhilarating morning at the river, it was time to follow the herds and experience the wide array of wildlife at home on the Serengeti. A fantastic afternoon of wildlife encounters!
August 17: Another amazing day of wildlife spotting! There was high drama when a lioness stalked a wildebeest - a deadly serious moment for both animals. It was a very tense back and forth as the lioness tried to get close enough to catch her prey. However, the horns on a wildebeest are not to be messed with! The wildebeest returned the lioness's advances with charges of its own. They went back and forth each advancing, charging, and retreating but in the end, the lioness retreated and the wildebeest ran off.
August 18: Today was the last day of the safari. After a morning game drive folks were taken to the airstrip for their respective flights.
But wait there's more to explore!
Many clients opt to combine their safari with relaxation and the beach. Zanzibar features crystal clear water, world-class diving/snorkeling, white sand beaches, and spices. This unique island just off the coast of mainland Tanzania is relaxing, and a great addition to a busy safari!
Another great safari add-on is Mahale National Park where you can trek to see wild chimps! Nestled on the banks of Lake Tanganyika, the world's second oldest and second deepest freshwater lake, Mahale has just 2 small eco-lodges within the park. Following strict protocols regarding distance, small groups of people are allowed to spend set amounts of time witnessing the chimp's day-to-day lives. Seeing our primate cousins in their habitat is breathtaking!!
Schedule a complimentary time for us to talk at: dynamic-escapes.youcanbook.me
NOTE: Except where noted, all pictures on this site were taken by Ren Schiffer, staff photographer for Dynamic Escapes LLCTM, or Lauren Rock, each of whom retains all rights to ownership. No pictures may be downloaded, copied, or used by any other entity, business, or individual.