Adam’s Top 10 Experiences of Tanzania Part 1

Its a tough job Adam has. Back in May he had to tear himself away from the office to hop on a plane to Tanzania with Mahlatinis director Greg Fox. Together they spent a week travelling the ‘northern circuit taking in the famous Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater with a short visit to Lake Manyara National Park. Throughout this incredible safari they were hosted in And Beyond lodges and camps; all of which were not only incredibly luxurious but offer outstanding guiding and service too. This was followed by a hop over to the island of Zanzibar for even more ‘hard work! Here are Adams top ten memories from his trip.

1. Migration

I was lucky to catch the wildebeest migration while in the Serengeti, one of the greatest experiences one can have on a safari. The sheer number of animals was mild blowing! We were able to see it on a few occasions – firstly from the air where the huge herds looked like ants on the landscape and then twice from our game drive vehicle in the Serengeti. It was very special taking the time to watch the herds crossing a road in front of us and the animals kept coming and coming and coming…. Trying to take a panoramic photo of them all together is simply impossible the herds are that large.

2. First caracal

I have always been a fan of cats and have been privileged to have had brilliant sightings of the big cats (lion, leopard & cheetah) on trips to both South Africa and Tanzania. The smaller cats are much rarer though and if you spot one you are very lucky. On a particular game drive in the Serengeti our ranger said that a caracal has been spotted so we raced off in search of this fantastic sighting. Unfortunately by the time we got to the site the caracal was disappearing into the long grass, however, I was able to watch it for 5 minutes or so through the binoculars, a memory I have treasured.

3. Seeing the awesome Ngorongoro Crater

The famous volcanic crater at Ngorongoro is like nothing on earth and I had a ring side seat! One of the best positions of any lodge in Africa the And Beyond Crater Lodge is perched right on the rim of the crater and every luxurious suite has a spectacular view. Waking up and watching the sun break through the clouds shining down on the crater is simply magical. If the scenery isnt enough the concentration of game within the crater is insane, everywhere you look there is something new. Our game drive provided endless photographic opportunities. I was so pleased with my shot of a golden jackal and the huge tusker bull elephants that the Crater is famous for.

4. Sundowners at Grumeti

‘Sundowners (toasting a sunset) are an essential part of any game drive. Nothing beats being able to leave the vehicle, crack open a cool drink (traditionally a G&T) and watch the magnificent African sun setting over the horizon. During our game drive from And Beyond Grumeti Serengeti Camp we pulled up right alongside a great plain teaming with game. So not only did we have the magnificent orange sky as a backdrop but the silhouettes of various animals to marvel at. The climax of the experience was when a crowned crane landed right in front of us – you couldnt have planned it better!

5. Flight over the Serengeti

The flight to the camps is an experience in itself. This was my first experience of light aircrafts so I was excited to say the least. The most eventful flight was our first flight from Arusha to Seronera (in the Serengeti) where we got a birds eye view of the Rift Valley, Mount Kilimanjaro, Mount Meru, the wildebeest migration and huge herds of buffalo. On landing we even had to swerve for a hyena on the runway. Now THAT is some flight!