just back from great trip!
It has been pointed out that some consider this too detailed.
WARNING: don't read if you want to be surprised. Other post gives some general thoughts.
My wife and I were on the August 11 trip and I kept a blog of sorts, which I hope will be helpful for those lucky enough to be going. Everyone who posted here before me was a great help for our journey.
This will be two parts: first, day by day notes, and in a second post random thoughts that may be of help. I will monitor for a while to answer other questions, although British, Sealord, Alan do this very well.
Wednesday August 8- Home to Dulles
We drove to Hilton at Dulles. It was nearly impossible to find at night as there were no signs whatever. That goodness for Google maps. The Hilton itself was beautiful and we were able to park car there for the entire trip. At this point my bill didn’t seem to even include a parking up charge for 18 days despite being told it was $25 per week.
Thursday-Friday August 9-10 Ethiopian air to Tanzania.
Long flight ~13 hours to Addis Ababa. 3 hour layover to get to Tanzania Mt. Kilimanjaro airport. A little bit 3 world although modern airport in Addis Ababa and nice business lounge. Once again, business class is the only way to go!
Customs entry in Tanzania was a zoo, very slow with fingerprinting!
Trip to Serena hotel in Arusha was over an hour with 2 lane road and 5 mph vehicles ahead of us at times. Many small market towns. Free ‘massage’ over last mile over relatively unpaved road.
Hotel very rustic and peaceful.
Interestingly problems with Verizon.net account working on Cyndie’s but not mine but ok on AOL website.
Saturday August 11- Arusha National Park
Still before actual safari and Tauck tour. Large group arrived 10PM last night, so no sign of them this morning.20% of group didn’t get luggage.
Anyway, on to park: we were only ones going so we cold move around in Jeep with pop-up top too take pictures. We saw lots of animals- buffalo, zebras, white tailed monkey, and then 2nd half we came upon about 8 gIraffes in the road and ultimately saw about 30 of them. Then about 1000 flamingos including a long line in the water that looked like a coral reef. Finally we saw dozens of baboons including again many in the roadway. None had any real fear of people since there were no predators in the park.
Sunday August 12 a lake Maynard national park
Left to start actual safari. Saw lots of animals although nothing unexpected on way to Serena Ngorongoro lodge at 7500 feet up. Beautiful property with better food????. Quite cold. Could see our breath and woman had symptoms of anxiety plus altitude sickness. Had Masai troop dance for us pre dinner plus open bar reception.
Monday August 13 Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Down into a giant crater(102 square miles)where we saw an incredible amount of animals- massive numbers of wildebeests, gazelles, as well as warthogs, hippos, buffaloes, zebras. We also saw several lions and elephants in the distance. However, on the way back to the lodge, at the entrance we saw 3 elephants no more than 10 yards away. We also had baboons at a rest stop for which we had to close windows and keep doors locked as they have learned to open doors and steal everything..some had babies no more than a few days old being carried on back it stomach.
Tonight at ledge had acrobats pre dinner.
Tuesday August 14 Olduvai gorge and Serengetti savanna
We drove to Olduvai gorge where excavation has led to it being known as the ‘cradle of humanity’. We had an excellent presentation by a native and then toured a very nice little museum. Then on to Serengetti, which started as a little disappointing but ended up with us seeing a rare cheetah and then we watched two lionesses hunting a gazelle. Final score: gazelle 1 lions 0.
On to four Seasons lodge which is beautiful.
Wednesday August 15 Serengetti
Actually a little disappointing with not too many significant seeing opportunities. We did see a hippo pool with lots of very smelly hippos with one crocodile wanting to eat them but not likely. We also saw 3 giraffes relatively up close. More importantly a leopard was spotted, which is unusual. Fifty tour vehicles approached, but he didn’t really get too close and was mostly crouching in grass. We all took an afternoon off before a BBC guest speaker gave a special presentation before dinner.
Thursday August 16 Serengeti to Amboseli National Park
Very long day. Up at 4:45 AM to leave 6:05 for flight to Arusha. On way to airstrip we saw another cheetah.
We left in 3 12 passenger planes. On arrival one person was pulled out of line when duffel bag was searched and rock she attempted to take from Park found and confiscated. Morning visit to Cultural Heritage Center with multiple shops run by very nice individual who owns all the mines in world(only Tanzania) and controls industry. Then on to Kenya with relatively easy border crossing. No issue with Yellow Fever vaccinations.
Trip to Amboseli lodge with some giraffes, elephants, other animals seen. However best thing was incredible bird population in marshes with storks, pelicans, flamingoes everywhere. Check in with short game drive where we saw incredible numbers of elephants in herds->100. Saw a pride of 6 lions but not close enough for pictures.
Before dinner 45 minute lecture on elephant conservation.
Friday August 17 Amboseli and Masai village
Another early morning game drive with loads of elephants. We saw large herds of them, with one group having 3 ‘bachelor’ set that spent time fighting with each other. Also we saw a male chasing a female chasing her baby trying to entice her- female won..
Back for 8:45 breakfast, then visit to Masai village for a very informative session about them, their culture, their medicine and then some shopping. Wife bargained well.
Late afternoon game drive-many more elephants including a 5-legged one who claimed to be Donald Trump. He was with a female and another male, who was there to learn how to do it.
Saturday August 18 Mt. Kenya lodge.
45 minute air flight to William Holden lodge with multiple activities- 9 hole golf course, horseback riding,biking,swimming,most of which are paid items. The lodge is very British. However I found the food and service to be lacking.
Sunday August 19 Mt. Kenya lodge
Morning game drive and saw our first rhinos. Then went to Jane Goodall chimp sanctuary and a place where a woman set up business 40+ years ago for abused women and, with help, has >100 women employed spinning and weaving wool, as well as schooling several hundred children.
In after noon went to Mt. Kenya animal orphanage and saw many animals, including cheetahs and leopard.
Monday August 20 Fairmont Masai- Mari lodge
Flew to Masai-Mari preserve and stopped to see many hippos in the Snake rive, but no crocodiles. There was an afternoon game drive where we saw a lioness and her two cubs. This was the first area we could go off road and we took full advantage of it. We also made a special trip to see two rhinoceros in the wild, where we got out of the vehicle and got within 15 yards. There were several Park Rangers there with semi-automatic rifles to guard 24-7 against poachers for the animals.
At night our tents were right above the river and the hippos made incredibly loud noises into the night.
Tuesday August 21 Masai-Mari
Up at 4:45 for hot air balloon ride. We got into basket (very interesting method), balloon blew up and then it was decided it was too gusty, so all out and onto game drive both before and after a champagne breakfast in the field. This morning was by far the coldest of the trip with biting wind and even layered clothing was not enough. Be warned! We saw lots of animals, including two cheetahs close up. We also saw a pride of lionesses with cubs. They laid there and then went off to look for prey. We got very close to them and they basically, as did all animals except gazelles, ignored us. We later saw a lion away from pride as is is typical.
Free afternoon and then night drive-saw several hippos, antelopes and other small animals.
Wednesday August 22 Masai-Mari
Morning balloon ride which we skipped, having done one previously.
Off to Masai school. Very inspirational to see what is being to educate Masai children. Short game drive followed with no notable new animals.
Evening get together as farewell..
Thursday-Friday August 23-24 Nairobi-> home
Flight from Fairmont lodge to Nairobi, with day room provided but we left right after lunch for flight to Addis Ababa and then transfer to head to Dulles with Friday AM arrival. Uneventful return home although a little 3rd world-like at Nairobi and Addis Ababa airports. Would definitely use Ethiopian air again.
WARNING: don't read if you want to be surprised. Other post gives some general thoughts.
My wife and I were on the August 11 trip and I kept a blog of sorts, which I hope will be helpful for those lucky enough to be going. Everyone who posted here before me was a great help for our journey.
This will be two parts: first, day by day notes, and in a second post random thoughts that may be of help. I will monitor for a while to answer other questions, although British, Sealord, Alan do this very well.
Wednesday August 8- Home to Dulles
We drove to Hilton at Dulles. It was nearly impossible to find at night as there were no signs whatever. That goodness for Google maps. The Hilton itself was beautiful and we were able to park car there for the entire trip. At this point my bill didn’t seem to even include a parking up charge for 18 days despite being told it was $25 per week.
Thursday-Friday August 9-10 Ethiopian air to Tanzania.
Long flight ~13 hours to Addis Ababa. 3 hour layover to get to Tanzania Mt. Kilimanjaro airport. A little bit 3 world although modern airport in Addis Ababa and nice business lounge. Once again, business class is the only way to go!
Customs entry in Tanzania was a zoo, very slow with fingerprinting!
Trip to Serena hotel in Arusha was over an hour with 2 lane road and 5 mph vehicles ahead of us at times. Many small market towns. Free ‘massage’ over last mile over relatively unpaved road.
Hotel very rustic and peaceful.
Interestingly problems with Verizon.net account working on Cyndie’s but not mine but ok on AOL website.
Saturday August 11- Arusha National Park
Still before actual safari and Tauck tour. Large group arrived 10PM last night, so no sign of them this morning.20% of group didn’t get luggage.
Anyway, on to park: we were only ones going so we cold move around in Jeep with pop-up top too take pictures. We saw lots of animals- buffalo, zebras, white tailed monkey, and then 2nd half we came upon about 8 gIraffes in the road and ultimately saw about 30 of them. Then about 1000 flamingos including a long line in the water that looked like a coral reef. Finally we saw dozens of baboons including again many in the roadway. None had any real fear of people since there were no predators in the park.
Sunday August 12 a lake Maynard national park
Left to start actual safari. Saw lots of animals although nothing unexpected on way to Serena Ngorongoro lodge at 7500 feet up. Beautiful property with better food????. Quite cold. Could see our breath and woman had symptoms of anxiety plus altitude sickness. Had Masai troop dance for us pre dinner plus open bar reception.
Monday August 13 Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Down into a giant crater(102 square miles)where we saw an incredible amount of animals- massive numbers of wildebeests, gazelles, as well as warthogs, hippos, buffaloes, zebras. We also saw several lions and elephants in the distance. However, on the way back to the lodge, at the entrance we saw 3 elephants no more than 10 yards away. We also had baboons at a rest stop for which we had to close windows and keep doors locked as they have learned to open doors and steal everything..some had babies no more than a few days old being carried on back it stomach.
Tonight at ledge had acrobats pre dinner.
Tuesday August 14 Olduvai gorge and Serengetti savanna
We drove to Olduvai gorge where excavation has led to it being known as the ‘cradle of humanity’. We had an excellent presentation by a native and then toured a very nice little museum. Then on to Serengetti, which started as a little disappointing but ended up with us seeing a rare cheetah and then we watched two lionesses hunting a gazelle. Final score: gazelle 1 lions 0.
On to four Seasons lodge which is beautiful.
Wednesday August 15 Serengetti
Actually a little disappointing with not too many significant seeing opportunities. We did see a hippo pool with lots of very smelly hippos with one crocodile wanting to eat them but not likely. We also saw 3 giraffes relatively up close. More importantly a leopard was spotted, which is unusual. Fifty tour vehicles approached, but he didn’t really get too close and was mostly crouching in grass. We all took an afternoon off before a BBC guest speaker gave a special presentation before dinner.
Thursday August 16 Serengeti to Amboseli National Park
Very long day. Up at 4:45 AM to leave 6:05 for flight to Arusha. On way to airstrip we saw another cheetah.
We left in 3 12 passenger planes. On arrival one person was pulled out of line when duffel bag was searched and rock she attempted to take from Park found and confiscated. Morning visit to Cultural Heritage Center with multiple shops run by very nice individual who owns all the mines in world(only Tanzania) and controls industry. Then on to Kenya with relatively easy border crossing. No issue with Yellow Fever vaccinations.
Trip to Amboseli lodge with some giraffes, elephants, other animals seen. However best thing was incredible bird population in marshes with storks, pelicans, flamingoes everywhere. Check in with short game drive where we saw incredible numbers of elephants in herds->100. Saw a pride of 6 lions but not close enough for pictures.
Before dinner 45 minute lecture on elephant conservation.
Friday August 17 Amboseli and Masai village
Another early morning game drive with loads of elephants. We saw large herds of them, with one group having 3 ‘bachelor’ set that spent time fighting with each other. Also we saw a male chasing a female chasing her baby trying to entice her- female won..
Back for 8:45 breakfast, then visit to Masai village for a very informative session about them, their culture, their medicine and then some shopping. Wife bargained well.
Late afternoon game drive-many more elephants including a 5-legged one who claimed to be Donald Trump. He was with a female and another male, who was there to learn how to do it.
Saturday August 18 Mt. Kenya lodge.
45 minute air flight to William Holden lodge with multiple activities- 9 hole golf course, horseback riding,biking,swimming,most of which are paid items. The lodge is very British. However I found the food and service to be lacking.
Sunday August 19 Mt. Kenya lodge
Morning game drive and saw our first rhinos. Then went to Jane Goodall chimp sanctuary and a place where a woman set up business 40+ years ago for abused women and, with help, has >100 women employed spinning and weaving wool, as well as schooling several hundred children.
In after noon went to Mt. Kenya animal orphanage and saw many animals, including cheetahs and leopard.
Monday August 20 Fairmont Masai- Mari lodge
Flew to Masai-Mari preserve and stopped to see many hippos in the Snake rive, but no crocodiles. There was an afternoon game drive where we saw a lioness and her two cubs. This was the first area we could go off road and we took full advantage of it. We also made a special trip to see two rhinoceros in the wild, where we got out of the vehicle and got within 15 yards. There were several Park Rangers there with semi-automatic rifles to guard 24-7 against poachers for the animals.
At night our tents were right above the river and the hippos made incredibly loud noises into the night.
Tuesday August 21 Masai-Mari
Up at 4:45 for hot air balloon ride. We got into basket (very interesting method), balloon blew up and then it was decided it was too gusty, so all out and onto game drive both before and after a champagne breakfast in the field. This morning was by far the coldest of the trip with biting wind and even layered clothing was not enough. Be warned! We saw lots of animals, including two cheetahs close up. We also saw a pride of lionesses with cubs. They laid there and then went off to look for prey. We got very close to them and they basically, as did all animals except gazelles, ignored us. We later saw a lion away from pride as is is typical.
Free afternoon and then night drive-saw several hippos, antelopes and other small animals.
Wednesday August 22 Masai-Mari
Morning balloon ride which we skipped, having done one previously.
Off to Masai school. Very inspirational to see what is being to educate Masai children. Short game drive followed with no notable new animals.
Evening get together as farewell..
Thursday-Friday August 23-24 Nairobi-> home
Flight from Fairmont lodge to Nairobi, with day room provided but we left right after lunch for flight to Addis Ababa and then transfer to head to Dulles with Friday AM arrival. Uneventful return home although a little 3rd world-like at Nairobi and Addis Ababa airports. Would definitely use Ethiopian air again.
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