Safari Diary

Wildebeest Migration in Seronera! Two more successful safaris!

The Big Five Wildebeest Migration Safari is beginning to capture the imaginations of travelers from around the world at this time of year.

Our guide, Musa has just shared his experience with his client, Benjamin.

First, they had a wonderful trip to Lake Manyara National Park where they saw lots of elephants, hippos, zebras, and impalas. After an overnight in a wonderful Serena Lodge, they headed to the famous Serengeti National Park where they observed the movements wildebeests and zebras.

After the calving and green seasons have finished, the animals are slowly moving to the north of the Serengeti to cross the Mara River into Kenya’s Maasai Mara. Before that, they still need to cross one more obstacle– the Grumeti River.

Besides Wildebeests, Benjamin and Musa were lucky enough to spot lions, buffalo, antelopes, giraffes, and even leopards in the Serengeti. They also spotted rhinos, baboons, and some more hippos in Ngorongoro. In the end, they saw all of the Big Five Wildebeest Migration Safari and more!

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Our clients from Slovenia, Anja, Miha, Ester, and David had a full six days of safari and it was incredibly exciting.

Our driver, Alex shared some pictures from their trip so we can prove it! They started in Tarangire and it was a perfect park to see herds of elephants. Tarangire is most famous for its huge population of these African giants.

The Serengeti treated our travelers even better because they had a chance to meet lots of predators including lions, cheetahs, and a gorgeous leopard in an acacia tree.

As if trying to one up the Serengeti, in Ngorongoro a pride of male lions was so close to the car that they didn’t need to use any binoculars! While not as close,  they also saw the rarest animal from the Big Five Wildebeest Migration Safari– the endangered black rhino. Completed with buffaloes along the way, our travelers had the Big Five Done. 

Their trip continued to surprise, as they were extremely lucky to see the famous tree climbing lions in Lake Manyara National Park.

Just look at the pictures how they are relaxing on acacia tree!

This rare behavior you can see only in only two world famous parks – Lake Manyara National Park in Tanzania and Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda.

Though from our driver’s experience, we can say that sometimes you can spot them in some other Northern Parks of Tanzania and this is even rarer and unique! Tanzania can always surprise guests with its stunning and unpredictable wildlife.

Seven Day Ngorongoro Highlands Trekking Adventure

Our clients from Australia, Peta and Karen had a very special adventure in Tanzania. They decided to explore one of the most beautiful places in the world – the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.Their goal was to see it not just from a comfortable safari jeep, but also to see local villages, trek to Empaakai crater, and to explore off the beaten path places within the Ngorongoro Region.

For people who prefer to explore everything on their own two feet, we have a beautiful Seven Day Ngorongoro Highlands Trekking Adventure.

The program starts with a game drive in Ngorongoro Crater.

It is a home to the Big Five and is also the best place in Tanzania for spotting rhinos. Our clients enjoyed watching lions, buffaloes, wildebeests, and hyenas there.

After a bit of a game drive, Peta and Karen continued on to their trekking venture. They had a hike through the Embulimnuli Depression, where on the way they could see Maasai cattle trails. In the evening, they settled the camp in Kamnana village.

On the third day, they had the breathtaking experience of hiking to the famous Empakai Crater. It is a real green paradise offering an amazing view of the Great Rift Valley, Lake Natron and Ol Doinyo Lengai – an active volcano of Tanzania.

After observing unforgettable landscapes, they had a picnic and finally relaxed in camp.

On the next day, Peta and Karen didn’t miss a chance to visit Naiyobi – a village of the Maasai. There they had a chance to meet some of the local people to see how they are living and what they are eating.They even got to visit a local school.

The Australian ladies continued their trip with some more trekking to get closer to OlDoinyoLengai – an active and very unique volcano that emits sodium carbonate and potassium. Climbing OlDoinyoLengai is an incredible experience and can promise you some beautiful views of Lake Natron and the surrounding lands.

At the end of the itinerary, travelers had a game drive around Lake Natron, famous for its flamingoes, beautiful landscapes and some wildlife.

What do you think of this itinerary? If you are an active person who likes trekking and beautiful landscapes, you should definitely try this one. You will camp in one of the most impressive areas of East Africa! This is a real adventure!

Gorillas, Golden Monkeys and the Big Five

If you are planning for your African trip, there is no better option than cross-country itinerary. Our clients Eric and Michael chose to combine Big Five and Gorillas Trekking in Rwanda with the classic safari in Tanzania. Eric kindly shared with us his amazing photo works and we are truly admiring his talent. 

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Big Five and The Hadzabe tribe

Our clients Riho, Monika, Raivo, and Karin left snowy Estonia to start a new African adventure. Though they are experienced travelers, they seemed very excited when we met them at the airport in Arusha. Our driver Musa sent us some pictures from their Big Five Hadzabe Tribe Safari and they are really impressive!

One of the most unique things about Tanzania is the world-famous Wildebeest Migration which takes place throughout almost the entire year. Our travelers were lucky to come at the time of the calving season and see lots of wildebeest moving in the Seronera region of the Serengeti. This is the time when predators are chasing them and their newborn kids.

Aside from the migration, our Estonian tourists also spotted the Big Five including small elephants and big prides of lions. They even saw a rhino in Ngorongoro in the company of some hulking buffaloes.

After experiencing Tanzania’s wildlife, Riho and his companions woke up early in the morning to experience hunting with the Big Five Hadzabe Tribe Safari which lives close to Lake Eyasi. Meeting this tribe is another unique experience as they have been leaving out of the civilized world for hundreds of years.

At the end of the trip, our clients met the Datoga people – a tribe of farmers and craftsmen. They are neighbors with the Hadzabe and even sell them some metal tools like knives and arrowheads.

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The Calving Season Safari

Our clients Bradley, Risa, Alejandro, and Giovanna decided to go for a safari during the calving season. They had a six day safari with a night in Arusha in order to explore Ngorongoro Crater, Serengeti, and Lake Manyara National Park. In their itinerary, our travelers combined lodges with luxury tented camps. It is the best way to be close to wild nature, but still enjoy a comfortable stay.

This unforgettable journey was a perfect example of a Calving Season Safari.

But of course, the main point of the trip was to see the most famous African animals, and they were lucky enough to spot all of the Big Five, including a rhino in Ngorongoro Crater.

They also saw four Cheetahs, as well as a lot of Zebras, Giraffes, Wildebeests and Antelopes during their  Safari. Our guide Musa shared some pictures from their trip!

Tanzania is one of the best destinations for a safari and every trip of our customers prove it!

From Dubai to Big Five!

Last week we had guests from Dubai to Big Five Safari, UAE. Yevgenia and Ilya decided to have an adventurous vacation this year. They visited four national parks, including Lake Manyara, Tarangire, Serengeti, and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.

They also  visited Africa Amini Maasai Lodge for a night of relaxation and activities with the local Maasai.

Yevgenia and Ilya were lucky to see the Big Five, with some highlights including watching how lions stalk zebras and even witnessing the thrill of a leopard killing a wildebeest!

Of course, it means lots of great pictures and unforgettable memories! Just look at these photos, they are really good photographers, aren’t they?

Active Safari with Empaakai Trekking

If you are active and fit, the best option is to mix your safari with Active Safari Empaakai Trekking. Our clients from Russia, Anna and Ivan had a really impressive itinerary!

They explored four national parks, had Active Safari Empaakai Trekking with the Maasai tribe, and did trekking to Empaakai Crater in just six days!

They started from Arusha National Park, where they had a walking safari and went canoeing in Momella Lake. That was a really remarkable experience that allowed them to see wild animals upclose. They’ve met giraffes, hippos, and buffaloes.

Later, they spent the night at Africa Amini Life Maasai Lodge, where they spent time with the tribe and enjoyed a night in a luxury Maasai style hut. The next day, Anna, Ivan, and our guide, Loma went to Tarangire National Park for a game drive and enjoyed watching herds of elephants there. And of course, they didn’t miss Serengeti National Park to spot lots of predators.

They also had a night in the Ndutu area, where the Wildebeest Migration takes place at this time of year. The Ndutu region is close to Ngorongoro Crater, so the best option was to continue their safari there.

One day they had a game drive in the Crater and the next one, they trekked to the beautiful Empaakai Crater. That was a perfect experience for the end of the trip. A walking safari is a great way to get a really immersive feel for the natural beauty of Tanzania.

Great Big Five Safari!

What an amazing safari experience!

Our clients, David & Jessica were so lucky to see lots of groups of predators starting from Tarangire, all the way through Serengeti and Ngorongoro.

It was truly a Great Big Five Safari adventure.

They spotted twelve cheetahs during their safari, as well as a number of leopards and even a pride of lions who had just finished hunting. Isn’t that great?

They were also lucky enough to see rhinos up close in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.

Even our driver, Edwin was impressed and took lots of pictures! You never can predict what exactly you will see on a +, but in Tanzania, it is never boring!

Kubu Kubu Tented Camp in Serengeti NP

Kubu Kubu Tented Camp in Serengeti NP

Kubu Kubu Tented Camp in Serengeti NP

Great Trip to Selous National Reserve!

Are you a real adventurer?  Then this post is definitely for you!

Jake & Natasa from our Shadows of Africa team had a trip to one of the most virgin parks in Tanzania – Selous National Reserve safari. Four times larger than the Serengeti National Park, Selous’ northern regions can be difficult to get to by car.

Due to the extreme distance, the best option for a Selous National Reserve safari is to take a flying safari. Close to the airstrip you will find the luxurious Azura Camp, where our team spent two nights. The camp is located near the Great Ruaha River, famous for lots of hippos.

The amazing thing is that you can find a pride of lions called the ‘Azura Pride’ within ten meters of the camp! Jake & Natasa were so lucky to follow the hunting of these gorgeous predators. It took them around two hours driving and it seemed to be a real adventure.

They also saw lots of impalas, giraffes, and even two leopards, but the most interesting thing for them was to meet a herd of wild dogs. These animals are very rare on Tanzania’s Northern Circuit and you have more chances to see it here in the South of Tanzania.

Our team recommends spending at least three to four nights in Azura Camp so you will have enough time to explore the most interesting parts of this huge reserve. The camp offers game drives, walking safaris, canoeing, and fishing. You can even request a night game drive for additional cost.

Natasa & Jake admired the amazing work of the chef in the camp. They really enjoyed each meal created by the Azura team. The camp also has free Internet, but it’s not crazy fast because of the location. Though you can still be connected while surrounded by wild nature!

Selous National Reserve safari in this Southern part of Tanzania is mostly for people who really prefer a private safari. You won’t find the usual tourist crowds in Selous. While the size of the reserve means there will be longer drives between game viewing locations, in the end, you can always combine a safari in Southern part  of Tanzania with some time on the famous Northern Circuit! You cannot compare these two destinations, they are too different, but you can visit both!