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Our 7-day, 6-night safari to Tarangire, Ngorongoro and the Serengeti with Danford (aka “Dannyboy”) as our guide was the most memorable and spectacular experience of our lives. After weeks of thoroughly researching our options for a relatively affordable safari (not camping, but also not high-end luxury), we chose Worldwide Safaris and requested Danford.
Danford was an extraordinary guide! He not only had an uncanny ability to spot wildlife from a distance, but also could knowledgeably answer nearly every question about the animals that we threw at him (and we indeed had many questions). Danford navigated the dirt roads in the parks like a pro and knew his way around the vast landscapes, at times offering help to other less experienced guides. Moreover, he was simply a pleasure to be around and his sense of humor and jovial personality raised our level of enjoyment to new heights. We experienced many long laughs together and had many interesting conversations sharing our cultures with each other. We still keep in touch with him. Do yourself a favor and make a request for Danford to be your guide. You will not be disappointed.
In Tarangire, Ngorongoro and the Serengeti, we saw lions, prides of lions, lion cubs, leopards, cheetahs, cheetahs eating their kill, giraffe, elephants, baby elephants, rhinos, hippos, wildebeest migrating, zebra, buffalo, and much much more. I’ve attached photos of wildlife that we took while on our trip. Our vehicle had charging ports for our camera batteries, an adjustable open top which was indispensable for wildlife viewing, and was well stocked with bottles of water. Danford also brought along a superb pair of binoculars that we were able to use whenever we desired.
As for making all of the arrangements, Ernest was quick to reply to our messages and willing to work with our many requests to come up with the perfect itinerary and accommodations combination. For example, since we were arriving at Kilimanjaro Airport mid-day after having overnighted at a hotel in Addis Ababa, we figured we would be well-rested enough to make the 2-3 hr drive from the airport to the Tarangire area even though most travelers overnight in Arusha first. Ernest had no problem modifying the itinerary.
We stayed at Sangaiwe Lodge (Tarangire), Tloma Lodge (Ngorongoro), Mbugani (Serengeti for 2 nights), Mbugani Ndutu (Serengeti) and Olea Africana (final night). All were great (I will review them separately).
Again, this was an incredible experience made possible by our guide Danford and Ernest with the logistics. If we go back to Tanzania, we will be using Worldwide Safaris.
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