Perfect Value for Money Safari Experience - - 10 Day/9 Night - Drive in - Fly back (AS = Africa Safari, NP = National Park) 26 June - Arrived JRO airport, driven to Arusha Lodge by AS Team - Dinner & Night stay at AS Arusha 27 June - Met Mr. Christopher (Guide) with the Safari vehicle - After Breakfast city tour - Picnic Lunch at Arusha Art Gallery followed by Tarangire NP Game Drive [Saw zebras, wildebeests, elephants, ostriches, deer in the NP] - Dinner & Night at AS Manyara 28 June - After Breakfast Morning Game drive to Lake Manyara NP [Saw baboons, different birds zebras, wildebeests, giraffes, elephants, deer] - Hot lunch at Manyara Camp - Evening visit to Maasai Village - Dinner & Night stay at AS Manyara 29 June - After Breakfast early morning full day game drive to Ngorongoro saw wild buffalos, jackal, lion family, black rhino (through binoculars), huge Marabou Stork, and a lonely male lion crossing the road almost touching our vehicle - Picnic Lunch at Hippo Pool - Dinner & Night Stay at AS Manyara 30 June - After morning breakfast journey started in the direction of Serengeti NP via Ngorongoro crater area saw giraffes, elephants, ostriches, deer and varieties of birds etc. Dinner & Night stay at AS South Serengeti (Ndutu) 1 June - Entered the Serengeti NP - full day game drive saw almost all the animals one can imagine in bulk/groups. In Serengeti we saw Lions in groups of 10s-12s, Elephants in groups of 15s-20s, Giraffes in groups of 10s, lone cheetah, hyenas and vultures eating, wild buffaloes, pools of hippos containing countless hippos, few crocodiles and many varieties of deer and birds, the list is unending] Only animal that remained elusive was the Leopard (from the big 5). Dinner & Night stay at AS Serengeti (Ikoma) 2 June - Left early morning after breakfast with focus on the Great Migration. Great migration was near the Serengeti NP Ikoma gate. Saw thousands of wildebeests running/walking for as far as your eyes can see in both directions. Difficult to describe this in words. We went further inside the Serengeti NP in search of the Leopard. We saw a lion family enjoying their kill (big wild buffalo half eaten), some members relaxing, and few were still eating. Hot lunch at AS Ikoma facility and some rest in the afternoon. Dinner & Night stay at AS Serengeti (Ikoma). 3 June – Almost full day game drive with picnic lunch box and prime focus on the Leopard. Best place to find most animals is around the Seronera airport. We did not go too far west or north of Serengeti. Driving in all NPs is a tiring job. Roads are not easy. Your back needs to be strong for the “African massage”. Did a night game drive. This night game drive was outside the Serengeti NP in a “wildlife management area” further away from Serengeti NP. At Ikoma lodge you hear lion and hyena noise. Natural expectation was to see something of that type at night. We saw rabbits, a porcupine, genet cats, and spring rabbits! This was a big disappointment for the price of USD 500+. I will recommend avoiding this night safari. Night stay at AS Ikoma facility. 4 June – This is our fly-back day. After early breakfast we left for the airport. The best experience of the tour was few kilometers away from the airport. It was a mother cheetah with 5 cubs following her!! Enjoyed picnic lunch provided by AS at the airport. Very nice flight to Arusha considering the driving time and effort. This was one of the best selections we made. Were driven to AS Arusha Lodge. Once at Lodge we relaxed. 5 June – After breakfast and packing up visited temple in the town and shopping at the Maasai Market Reached the JRO airport. Key Highlights: • Our group had a specific food preference – Vegetarian food without use of onions and garlics. All AS facility provided excellent food. Restaurant staff members were great. • All the AS team is very well trained. • Mr. Christopher – Guide: seasoned safari guide. Great knowledge of animals, birds & plants. We called him “Professor”. Has very sharp eyesight in finding animals and birds. He has good sense of humor. He always managed us smartly with his “stupid ideas”. Overall, a great guide. • The vehicle – We used a safari Toyota Landcruiser. Vehicle was fit for purpose and never troubled us. • Fly-back from Serengeti was excellent!!! Just avoid 1 thing - Night Safari at AS Ikoma; Something inside Serengeti may be great. To reiterate, an excellent value for money safari tour. Every single member of our group came back with tons of exceptional pictures of wildlife and great memories.