Where to start….

From our first contact with Proud African Safaris to our flight home from Kilimanjaro, PAS far exceeded our expectations.

This was our third trip to the Serengeti. On a previous trip Adam had been our guide and we were very keen to have him guide us again. So it was with great delight we discovered that he had started his own company; Proud African Safaris. We immediately contacted Nandi, the Director of Sales here in the US, and began our planning.

Although we had a good idea as to where we wanted to go, what we wanted to see and at which lodges we wanted to stay, Nandi was able to make suggestions based upon her knowledge of what the weather would be like during the period we travelled, where the Migration was likely to be, and which areas would offer the most game viewing potential. She was also able to suggest some different lodges that we had not considered which happily we took her advice on. I spoke to Nandi numerous times leading up to our trip with ideas, comments and questions and Nandi happily answered everything. What made Nandi stand out from other outfitters we had contacted was that she ensured the information she gave us was accurate, and if she was unable to answer a question immediately she would let us know and get back to us the next day after conferring with her colleagues in Tanzania.

Upon arrival after a very long flight we were greeted by Zubeda and, to our surprise, Adam who would not be leaving for the bush until the next day. As we relaxed in the van heading towards our first lodge (Mountain Village Lodge) Zubeda was excited to tell us what we could expect in the coming weeks. We planned to have a “rest day” in Arusha the following day which turned out to be very fortunate because when we had passed through customs in Amsterdam (we had not checked luggage) they would not allow Jill’s contact solution on board the plane (different rules in Europe with regards to container size and what is classed as medical supplies). Zubeda was quick to offer to drive us around Arusha the next day to find a replacement bottle for us. Upon arriving at the lodge Zubeda and Adam ensured that we were settled in for the evening before arranging to meet us the following day to take us into town. The rooms and food at the Mountain Village were outstanding, just the right place to relax before starting our safari. The next day, even though he was going to be heading up to the Serengeti that afternoon, Adam came and picked us up and took us into Arusha. Whether it was luck or fate, the very first optician we stopped at had the exact same size bottle and brand of contact solution that had been confiscated in Amsterdam. Having found what we were looking for so quickly, Adam asked if we would like to visit the Cultural Center in Arusha and perhaps buy some souvenirs there which they could hold for us until we returned from the bush; we happily accepted. He then drove us back to the Lodge in time for lunch.

The following day Zubeda picked us up at the lodge and drove us to the Arusha airfield for our quick one hour flight to the Serengeti, not leaving us until our flight was ready to leave.

Adam was waiting for us at the airstrip (when we landed) and after a discussion on what we wanted to achieve and see we were off into the Serengeti. After less than 10 minutes we spotted our first Cheetah (one of seventeen we were to see over the coming days). Adam is a wealth of knowledge not only about animals, their habits and interactions, but the fauna around them, the trees dotting the landscape, and entire ecosystem that makes the Serengeti what it is. He soon reminded us about what to look for when it came to game spotting; the subtle changes of color in the grass (could be a lion), how to spot a leopard resting high up on a tree branch, how you can tell the difference between a termite mound and a male lion (from a distance they sure look the same J) and how other animals tell you if there are predators around. Adam listened to our questions and explained the answers in great detail. Adam did not follow the other tour operators but using his experience set off to places that he suspected there would be something interesting and 99% of the time he was right.

That first day we saw lions, a cheetah and a leopard and we were to see plenty more throughout our safari. From the early morning starts with both breakfast boxes (I cannot think of anything more relaxing than to be sitting at a table in the middle of the Serengeti eating our breakfast!) and lunch boxes to the late returns in the evening, Adam ensured that we maximized our game viewing every day. Throughout our trip Adam constantly reminded us that this was our trip and ensured that we were doing what WE wanted to do, including taking a couple of afternoons off to relax at some of the wonderful lodges. There was no agenda, we did not need to rush from one animal to the next as we saw other tour operators do (stopping for a few minutes to allow a couple of pictures to be taken before heading off again). On numerous occasions when we found a lioness or a cheetah family; Adam would suggest we stop and wait for a while to see what happens and, because of that, we have some wonderful photos of 3 week old lion cubs, a mother cheetah teaching her cubs how to hunt, a baby elephant trying to learn how to use its trunk and many more incredible sights. Over the course of two weeks Adam was our guide, our teacher and, perhaps more importantly, he was our friend.

I would be remiss if I did not mention the lodges that we stayed at. Although we were familiar with a few of them and knew what to expect (excellent service, great food, etc.), we were delighted with the lodges that Nandi had suggested.

I highly recommend Proud African Safaris and will not hesitate to use them for our next trip!! The whole team was a delight to work with and if one thing stuck out above everything else that would be their insistence that it is your safari….they just make it happen for you!

Asante Sana PAS

Bill and Jill Carr