Part 2 of my report…much delayed
Oh dear, we just returned from our Family Safari and my good intentions to post every day fell by the wayside big time. Once we left the Gran Melia in Arusha, the following four days of accommodation did not have wifi in rooms and what with being with family, lots of unpublished additions to the itinerary, trying to relax and being totally disinclined to even write my daily diary, I’ve only glanced at the forum and writen few comments.
Of course, now it’s barely the middle of the night at home and my sleep is probably over for now.
Here are a few jumbled thoughts on the tour.
We had a fantastic time. Trying to follow on from my original reporting…The welcome dinner at the Gran Melia was held in the buffet part of the hotel, it was an extremely disappointing selection of food both then and at breakfasts there.
There was a great surprise Welcome celebration before that which will remain a secret…but just to say, you will receive the first of many gifts on the tour there, that you will eventually definitely need one of your duffels to put them all in on the way home! Not divulging any more on this! And it may vary what and how much depending on the TD you have.
This was our fourth visit to Tanzania and we still think of all the countries we have visited, the local people there come number one of our most favorite on the planet.
Every safari day in Africa is unique, which is partly why we return. This time, what has normally been our favorite area, the Ngorongoro crater, more correctly as your TD will point out, a caldera, was really cold with far fewer sitings than in the past. But we did go right up to the edges of the lake this time to see the birdlife and hippos, the wind there was very fresh. We also saw, if I remember correctly, the first ever siting of a golden jackal for us, as opposed to the more abundant black backed jackal.
Our accommodation for this area was a one and three quarter hour drive from the crater. Tauck does not stay at the usual Serena lodge because it has no suitable areas for children which I totally agree with.
On the entire tour, we had a huge number of lion encounters!
Now to the accommodations. I note that on the forum in general over the past couple of years, that many people put huge importance on hotels than almost anything else, rarely commenting on tour components. It is never our own priority, tour competent is tops for us, but here goes….to be continued
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The Tarangire Safari lodge is a tented camp in a wonderful location, high up and overlooking a gorgeous landscape and river. Binoculars here are essential to enjoy the delight of seeing such things as a large migration of zebra crossing the river as I witnessed. The zebra were making distress noises and I saw a leopard prowling nearby, start to run and then darn it, disappear behind a bush, I assume, successfully catching it’s prey. My hubby mocked me about this, but later, the TD said he saw it too.
The tents are pretty basic, there is only electricity morning and evening. There is a power strip in the tent for charging during those times. We took a solar/or rechargeable folding lantern from Luminaid which is pretty powerful for during the night. The camp supply a solar lantern in the tent which is mostly valuable for some illumination for nighttime bathroom visits. There is a large charging station in the main area which is perfectly safe to leave a cell phone charging.
There are four bungalows round the bend from the tents and further away from the main lodge, some of the other group members were assigned those, these are randomly assigned by the lodge and not Tauck, we never even went to see them. One person encountered a black spitting cobra outside his, I didn’t get the full first hand report of this. Someone else also saw a long green snake…another reason to watch where you are going and keep to pathways.
You cannot wander around outside during nighttime. There are guards parading around. Children must never wander unaccompanied and absolutely no running!
During the day, there are small antelopes called dik diks wandering around. One day, I was sitting outside reading when I became aware of one about two feet away just staring at me. They don’t seem frightened unless you make quick movements. There were elephants wandering near the camp several times.
The food at this lodge was the best on the trip. There is a small nice gift shop. Great staff. There is a nice swimming pool.
Just a few pictures. I’m not allowed to post faces of our
grandchildren
The above taken in Tarangire National Park, where you will see hundred of Boabab tress. Lots of Elephants, many very close encounters with them. Also my favorite siting of a pride of around 8 lions right by the road who were walking around. We watched a cub play stalking away from the group. We just knew it would suddenly pounce on one of the others and it did! Such delight watching this with children.
A further note. Our observation is that this tour is best suited for children, say up to the age of 14, because most activities during the tours were geared to that younger age, which surprised me. Teenagers might find some of the activities childish.
A few more from Tarangire
Our daughter’s favorite was seeing those baby elephants playing with each other, we watched them for ages.
Wonderful pictures British and great trip. Ready for your next one?
The Tloma Lodge is a small one but just lovely in nice grounds and next to a coffee plantation. I note it’s not being used next year but that is probably because it is so far from Ngorongoro, about One hour 45 mins. It is great for children, the large lawn in the middle was perfect for running around and playing soccer with the provided balls. We also had one of the surprise projects out on the lawn. I’ll not divulge more. There is a lovely swimming pool. The rooms are large with nice sensible touches such as your own water dispenser in the room so you are not dependent on enough water being left in your room. The staff put hot water bottles in your beds because it does get very cold at night. The staff are extra wonderful and friendly. One of the girls spent time teaching the children the Tanzanian anthem line by line so that they randomly would break out in song for the remainder of the tour. Our grandchildren have perfect pitch like their parents and grandfather so it was delightful and the staff just loved it.
Another nice touch is that for the picnic lunch you get for the day in the crater, the staff have a table set up with all sorts of choices, so you literally choose what you want in your sandwich and the other snacks and fruit and drinks.
One of the late afternoons, the group went on an optional tour of the nearby coffee plantation, owned by a family where all processes are carried out by them including the younger children. There was tasting and I’m told it was deliciously coffee. Our children purchased several bags which were put into homemade cloth bags of African fabric made right there. Extremely reasonable price and very fresh.
Meanwhile, my husband and I had the opportunity to visit a local hospital we have been supporting for about ten years now. It is in the Karatu countryside and very near. One of the staff came to collect us and we were taken on the tour of the much enlarged facilities since we were there ten years ago. There was a US plastic surgeon on a visit too and he was blown away by how amazing it was. He had been operating at a hospital in Dar Es Salaam and been recommended to come and see it.
I was particularly blown away by the maternity unit which had only been planned when we were last there. The area was full of new mothers and babes and they had had eight deliveries during the night…yep, sounded just like all the times I was on night shift. We had coffee with one of the founders.
The day before was our cultural day, a visit to a Masai village and a school. I understood that Tauck rotates the villages and I thought this one was the one probably less satisfying than previous ones. Fewer people and the Welcome dances etc were short. On arrival, the men were given talking sticks to hold and the women a typical Masai beaded collar. I love both. I love the sale of local crafts afterwards but at this village there were poor quality pieces and for example, some of the earrings had rusty attachments. You could buy anything including the necklace or talking stick you had been loaned which were much nicer. I bought a collar and two talking sticks plus some other trinkets for my granddaughter as she was with my husband when we were split into groups of three for going inside the homes. The Masai expect you to bargain and they start at very high prices, they are skilled negotiators and unless you are super good at this, you will pay high prices and when you shop at the lodges or the Cultural Center in Arusha at the end of the tour, you will find you did not get a bargain at all but you will feel good you helped the local Masai.
The School we visited, Tumani, we had been to ten years ago. Also supported by Tauck and some buildings funded by individual Tauck guests. The school was also expanded. Both our daughter and daughter in law are in education and they were totally moved by the entire experience. We partook in reading with the students in the library, now packed with books. Afterwards, our Tauck group of six children played in a soccer match with some of the students. My husband and I took three soccer balls and a pump, excellent timing as they were in need of new ones. Suggest this is an excellent gift if you want to donate something to the school. We took pencils, coloring pencils and a couple of blank page note books for this. Our daughter was crying at the end of the visit and she and her sister in law plan to sponsor a child each.
More soon….
Here’s our son trying to figure out if he can jump that high 😀
Above, action shots of our grandson throwing a spear at the target. Wrong order, but you get the idea.
You do know how to duck and did you purchase accident insurance? 😂😂
I’m not sure learning how to make fire was such a good idea!
Our last three days in the Serengeti were at the Melia Serengeti Lodge. This is a five star hotel and much nicer than the Four Seasons where we have stayed before.
It is in a gorgeous setting overlooking the landscape and sensibly laid out. The pool was the least cold of all of the other places we stayed. Meals were a sort of family style where small dishes of all sorts were continually brought to the tables. If you wanted more of anything, you just asked. Service and friendliness of the staff was wonderful.
What was a surprise was that almost all drinks including popular cocktails were included and you could keep ordering throughput the day.
My husband and I had excellent massages. The wifi was good here but I was mostly busy or relaxing between already planned activity to feel like using it.
The ballon ride day began by leaving the hotel at 4am. A long drive but worth it.
On the last morning, the drive to the airport takes about an hour. During that drive, we saw a pride of sixteen lions and were able to stop to see them. Also more hyenas than we had seen the entire trip.
Further notes that may be of interest.
Some people did not need their duffel bags. Our tour director gratefully took them as he had about 20 drivers and hotel staff who wanted one. As mentioned, you receive quite a few free gifts from Tauck on this tour, some are fragile or bulky, you might need your duffel to transport them home. Our daughter gave him two of their three duffels. My husband had a pair of safari pants which were too big for him. Again, the TD said he would try them on as he wears nothing else. If not, he would give them away to drivers or to others. We also gave him our two pajamas that Qatar airlines give you, the tops make a pretty nice sweatshirt.
Good idea to ask the TD if you want to leave items so they can be directed to the best people. Our son gave a driver his spare pair of sunglasses….lets just forget he lost his best regular prescription glasses in the first couple of days!
Oh, the cheapest place to get laundry done is at the Tloma lodge, $1 an item and promptly returned.
Our tour was greatly enhanced by traveling with SueK’s family. Sue is sweet and kind and everyone got on well. I also met Cindy Somers who has been active on the forum. She recognized my description of my grandchildren and came over. She was on the last day of her tour, all gussied up for the farewell dinner, we had just arrived after a dusty drive😂😂
British, so glad you and your family had such a wonderful experience; thanks for sharing it with us. I love the photo of the hot air balloons and your favorite, the amazing Secretary Bird. Safari Njema!
British, thank you for your wonderful report. We are taking our granddaughter next June and we are so excited! Can you recommend an airline and/or route? We are willing to go to a major hub to get a better airline and connections.
British great report and beautiful pictures, so happy the kids had fun.
We live near Philly. We like Qatar air, but last year they stopped flying out of Philly so we flew from JFK as the service is so much better. At one time, there was only one airline that flew into Arusha, that was the DELTA/KLM flight via Amsterdam. Now, as well as Qatar, Ethiopian and I believe Turkish go there. We never liked the Delta KLM flight, your bags often don’t make it. I read recently that one in seven bags on that flight don’t make the leg from Amsterdam. That happens to us too..
Rotate assist.
Thanks Sam 😀
British, how old is Oliver? I love his note; he expressed himself so well.
He’s 10 Sandy. A lovely boy.
British: Loved reading your reviews and seeing your photos. I wish I could sleep as soundly as the lion on the rocks!! Best lion photo ever!
I believe that lion is "splooting." Domestic cats do it, dogs do it, and even squirrels do it, when it is hot out.
Thanks for great tour report, photos and sharing your trip. Just delightful.
Can't tell.from the photo if its a full sploot or not as you can't see the back legs. In a full spooky the back.legs are straight back and the belly is lying flat to the ground. Corgis do it and our dachshund usually does in the morning as a stretch. He's got short legs so downward dog isn't his thing.
British, as a retired teacher I can definitely see Oliver is a very special ten year old. How wonderful it is that you gave him and his siblings/cousins such a magnificent life changing experience!
Wow Sandy, you can see that? He is very bright, loves to read and can tell you absolutely everything about all those African animals. He is like his granddad.
British, loving to read is key. May Oliver continue to excel and continue a lifelong love of learning.🦁🐘🦒🦏
British, meeting up with you was such a fun surprise! We loved every minute of this adventure. Your photos are extraordinary!