I have just returned from this trip and it was OUTSTANDING. Before the trip that we’d been planning for the last year, I scoured this forum for all information regarding the trip. I learned a lot and thought that I’d provide my take on the trip to hopefully answer some questions that folks might have. I am 56 years old and traveled with my 58-year-old husband and 22-year-old son.
Our group had 30 people ranging in age from 13 to 85. The group was very compatible and enjoyable. Our Tour Director was Calden Smith and he was flawless. I truly had no issues or complaints. We felt the food was not good. It was plentiful and fresh but just not that good. And it was very repetitive. However, we did not go for the food. If the restaurant has a station that is making food (pasta station, omelet station, stir-fry station), chose that option even if you have to wait. It was always the best thing being served. And the service at the Four Seasons was unacceptable with mostly untrained service people. BUT….the location was spectacular and the rooms were lovely.
I’m hoping it will be useful to folks. I’ve read everything on this Forum and it was so helpful to me.
Recommendations/Thoughts:
• If you haven’t bought your airline tickets, strongly recommend going in two days early. Almost everyone on our trip had delays. Thirteen of us were on a connection that sat for five hours at the gate and we all missed our connection. We arrived hours before the actual tour began and missed the recovery time and the first hotel. Very stressful. Worked out okay but it was touch and go for a bit as flights are very limited if you miss a connection. We had to wait 24 hours in Amsterdam while the family of ten had to sit in two airports for 8-10 hours each waiting for flights. At least we got a bed to sleep in.
• Goodr sunglasses: No slip. No bounce. All polarized. All fun. Inexpensive but attractive. I think they are silicon and they are so light and stay on your face with all of the bumping and bouncing. $25-35.
• Binoculars: Definitely yes. And a good pair. We had them and shared with our vehicle mates that didn’t have them. Really do need them.
• Step-In Sketchers: These are a new must have for me for everything, but especially travel. For the game drives, if you aren’t really tall, you’re likely to need to stand on the seats to view. And you need to take your shoes off, so the step-ins make it so easy to do this.
• African Safari Travel Journal: Ordered from Amazon. Good for keeping track of what you see. But while on Safari, use “Notes” in your phone to keep track then fill in the journal later. (African Safari Travel Journal: A prompted, African themed, travel journal to record sightings and experiences of your journey, with funfacts about the big five.: Angels, Design: 9798534871975: Amazon.com: Books) - $10.49
• African animals pamphlet from Amazon to identify animals in East Africa. (East Africa Wildlife: A Folding Pocket Guide to Familiar Species in Kenya, Tanzania & Uganda (Wildlife and Nature Identification): Kavanagh Waterford Press, James, Waterford Press Waterford Press, Leung Raymond Leung Raymond: 9781583559383: Amazon.com: Books) - $7.95. And take a Sharpie to mark them off as you see them.
• Malaria medicine. Most took Malorone and most had stomach aches/issues including my son and husband. My physician said I had three options. We went through each of them and the side effects. I decided on Doxycycline. I had no stomach issues at all. Recommend you discuss this option with your doctor.
• Hotels did not add surcharge onto bills when using a credit card. The Cultural Center in Arusha did add a 5% surcharge when using a credit card.
• Have $1 bills on you when you stop for bathroom breaks. If there was an attendant, I gave a $1.
• Wi-Fi: Had it at every hotel. Most of the time it worked in your room but sometimes you had to be in/hear the lobby. We did have the AT&T Plan that works worldwide but didn’t actually need it. We left our phones in airplane mode the whole time. We used Wi-Fi throughout the trip. The TD used What’s App to communicate with our group. My son was able to keep in contact with his girlfriend throughout the trip quite easily. Others did use their international plans and were mostly able to get internet even on the game drives.
• Tauck provides water bottles on the first day and provided water to drink throughout the tour. Water was always in the rooms and plentiful to use and replenished at each room cleaning. We put a washcloth over the faucets to remember not to use it. It worked.
• We took the full-sized luggage as did most people. Totally appropriate and easy. The duffels should be packed in your bag (take the plastic bag off of it). The days you need them make it really easy. You pack what you need for the two places and no one had any issues. The size is perfect.
• Packing Cubes: My first time using them. I’m still on the fence about them but they were very useful for this trip. We each packed a change of clothes and a couple pairs of socks/underwear into two packing cubes each. One set went in our carry-on in case we had travel issues (we did). The other set went in someone else’s luggage in case luggage didn’t arrive (it did).
• Toiletries: If you prefer bar soap, bring your own. Two hotels didn’t have conditioner so if you need it, bring it.
• Day bag contents for game drives that I used: binoculars, sunglasses, lens wipes, buff, phone (camera), portable recharger, Deet insect wipes, water bottle
• Day bag contents for game drives that I didn’t use: pen, paper, hand sanitizer, body wipes, Motrin/Tylenol,
• Took but didn’t need:
o Flashlight. Didn’t need/use them and some rooms had them
o Body wipes: Thought I would need them but didn’t.
o Rain jacket: Would probably still take it. We did have lovely weather and didn’t need it.
o Second pair of walking shoes: Would still take them. Again, didn’t need them but could see where you would.
• Camera: I am not a photographer and just used my iPhone 13. It was okay. I ordered a long lens to take faraway pictures. It was too hard to use to take pictures with the bouncing around so I didn’t use it. I still got pretty good pictures. My son has an iPhone 12 MAX which has the three camera lenses on his phone and it had way better zoom on it. Would recommend an iPhone with the three lenses that has way better zoom. His pictures were fantastic. My husband, a pretty good photographer, had the iPhone 13. He used a contraption that allowed him to attach his binoculars to his phone and shoot that way and his pictures were also fantastic. He did take a tripod that had the flexible legs where you could attach them to objects. He highly recommended it and did use it quite a bit. He could attach it to the vehicle and it steadied the camera. I know several have said that tripods are tripods are worthless on the game drives, but he used his. This is not the one he has, but the idea: Amazon.com: UBeesize Phone Tripod, Premium Flexible Phone Tripod with Remote and Phone Mount, Mini Tripod Stand for Camera, GoPro : Cell Phones & Accessories = $15.
Let me know if you have any questions.
