A Little Adventure… Going on an Incredible Safari in Tanzania’s National Parks

Last updated on May 15, 2023

A quick (and grainy) snapshot from the Kenyan-Tanzanian border. I had already been stamped out of Kenya but didn’t have enough cash to make it into Tanzania. Highlight: the kind Canadian I was about to beg from is in the shot.

Arriving in Tanzania started on a shaky note. I hadn’t realized someone robbed me of my cash my last day in Cape Town until I stood at the border between Kenya and Tanzania. I gutted my bag and found nothing. I sat miffed among my scattered possessions, wondering how my cash had vanished. The very cash that was meant to buy my Tanzanian visa. Others in my van had already returned with their visas, and I had only managed to scramble together $50 in three different currencies from my stashed cash in secret parts of my bag. But that left me still staring sheepishly at the border official when I proffered my passport, cash, and a weak explanation. I just didn’t have another $50.

To say he was unimpressed with my story is an overstatement.

No amount of further searching was going to come up with more cash, so I started phase two of the plan: charmingly beg.

I needed another foreigner—likely the only ones willing and able to lend me that much cash—but the border was fresh out of foreigners. So I sat. And my bus waited. And we sat some more. And I finally found a kind Canadian woman who assumed me a travel noob and graciously lent me a crisp $50.

For as much as it was a debacle for my confounded bus driver (he couldn’t understand why I would have gotten on the bus without cash), the event ended quickly once I passed over the cash. I profusely thanked the Canadian, promising I wouldn’t stiff her—we later met up in Arusha so I could pay her back.

the serengeti
On the long stretch of road leading into the Serengeti National Park.

Luckily though, that snafu at the border wasn’t a herald of my time in Tanzania. A spate of kindness and fun followed me throughout the country. With my focus on responsible tourism, I’ve use many of the stories here on A Little Adrift to share what grassroots tourism looks like on the ground, and the impact travelers can have on local communities when they use their tourism dollars effectively. And it’s still something I care about deeply, but sometimes travel is just about fun and the realization of a bucket list item. It’s about making it to the top of that dream mountain, standing in front of an architectural wonder, or—for me—hanging out of a safari car window treating a pack of lions to an enthusiastic photo shoot (clarification: I was enthusiastic… the lions were decidedly unimpressed).

And so, this story shares just that: the photos and anecdotes from my four days on a Tanzanian safari, where I bumped along the dusty red roads of the Serengeti and pretended I was on assignment for the likes of Discovery Channel or National Geographic. I joined a group of four Danes and split the costs with them. Together, we took a four-day budget trip through Tarangire National Park, Serengeti National Park, and the Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area.

Best Spots on a Tanzanian Safari

The Serengeti

Sunrise safari in the Serengeti
A stunning sunrise safari in the Serengeti.

Dawn arrived over the Serengeti in blinding flash of color—slashes of fluorescent fuchsia and blue lit the horizon beyond the flat acacia trees as my truck rattled down the dirt road for our sunrise safari. The sun began to warm the land and the animals stirred. Us five safari-goers wrapped our jackets tighter against the chilly morning, our heads poking from the top of our safari truck.

We sped by herds of tiny impala—delicate of feature and gait—as they grazed.

Zebras and ostriches roamed the fields and high grasses. But we pressed on, our truck speeding down the straight stretches of ochre road past the small animals: we had higher hopes for our morning safari. The big cats prowl in the early hours and on day three of our safari, we were hoping for a sighting of a live kill.

Twenty minutes later, we jolted to a stop on what had looked like a passable road. Three of the safari truck’s tires were deeply mired in a gushy black mud. It was the first week of rainy season, so though not surprise, we had all hoped the rains would hold out.

But, of course, it’s not an adventure if something doesn’t go wrong. Our driver pulled tools from the back of the truck and attempted to create some traction under the mired front tire. It was a no-go. An hour had passed and we were still forbidden from leaving the safari vehicle; the four Danes and I passed the time by watching the sun crawl higher across the sky. The cool pinks of morning burned off and transitioned into golden tones and scorching light.

stuck in the mud
getting out of the mud
serengeti

Soon, another safari truck saw our plight and pulled over to help. Minutes later, they too were stuck in the mud, the couple in their car lamenting at their derailed safari. At that point, our two driver/guides decided we weren’t likely to get eaten if we exited the truck, so they let us out. Really though, they just needed our man-power. We banded together for the next 20 minutes, shuttling rocks and branches from a nearby rock outcropping to the holes dug into the mud underneath our mired tires.

With all the rocks and sticks we could find now under our wheels, the drivers floored it and with a cheerfully wet sucking sound the tires were free. We all chased after our safari truck, beating the mud from our feet before we piled into our spots once again. All told, it took about an hour and a half before we were once again rocketing down the road in search of animals. The morning hunts were over, but our driver had word from the other guides and he promised us a treat that would make up for our lost time.

He was right.

Lions in a tree!

a lion sound asleep in a tree
It was a rare treat to find lions sound asleep in a tree after a long morning hunt.
lions sleeping in a tree
tree lions

And a lot of them. We counted six in total, though I am fairly certain a stray tail hanging down the back of the tree belonged to a hidden seventh. There morning jaunt tuckered them out, and didn’t do more than yawn and shift as we pulled up to their napping spot.

We continued our Serengeti safari, and I cooed with enthusiasm at each new sighting.

The water buffalo dotted the grassy fields with utter nonchalance, their only outward acknowledgement of onlookers being a brief flicker of their tail. We passed a watering hole for the local giraffes and watched one ungainly guy form a triangle with his legs as he bent to drink. Nearby, that same watering hole seemed to feed into a swampy area that looked straight out of a movie. Tall curved palms angled over a small pond filled with hippos submerged in the dull, muddy water.

Dark storm clouds in the Serengeti
Vultures crowd around a kill
Vultures crowd around a kill in the Serengeti.
Giraffes
Giraffes in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area reach far taller than the tops of surrounding trees.
River
River running through the Serengeti in Tanzania.

Later, I squeed with fangirl levels of enthusiasm when we spotted a leopard. The leopard slunk around our truck for several minutes before meandering into the grasses along the roadside.

One of the more heart-stopping moments of the safari was watching that leopard pause about 100 feet from our truck, his spots pronounced among the hay-colored grass. Seemingly done with posing for our cameras, he shot us one last indolent shrug before sinking into the tall grasses. He vanished from sight without a trace. The tall grasses shrouded his body, and the soft breeze made all the grasses sway, effectively masking his disappearing act. They told us rule number one of the safari was “never, ever leave the safari truck,” and it wasn’t until that moment when I truly understood why our guide was so hesitant to let us help gather stones and rocks when we our truck was stuck in the mud.

Spotted leopard
Can you spot the spotted leopard playing peek-a-boo with us?
leopard
A water buffalo with a bird on its back
giraffe
zebras running
A herd of zebras running through the Serengeti.
hippo swamp
We found a large group of hippos submerged in a muddy swamp in the Serengeti.
monkey
Pied Kingfisher bird
Ostriches
Serengeti river

The Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Cool air caressed my face as the safari car took a soft right turn and descended into the Ngorongoro Crater, the largest volcanic caldera in the world. I pulled my scarf tighter, though the days were hot, the sun had yet to burn off the layer of mist settling over the gentle slide of green hillside.

We had camped under a giant tree on the rim of the crater, and I woke just before dawn to catch every moment of sunrise. And it was a beauty. Wisps of pink shifted into a deep red, and by dawn the entire campsite activated and began to ready for another day of safari exploration.

Sunrise on the crater rim
Camping on the crater rim
Camping on the crater rim with a blanket of clouds raining down over the rim.
Zebras at dawn
Zebras graze at dawn in the Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania, one of the most remarkable safari national parks.

Formed two to three million years ago, the Ngorongoro Crater houses all the Big Five animals (lion, elephant, rhino, buffalo, and leopard) and most of the others too, thanks to its unique shape and range of climates. Rainforest covers one wall of this inactive crater, making a soaring backdrop to photos on the grassy plains and swamps in the center of the crater.

Politics play a role in this region of the world, as they do across most arable land in the world. The Crater used to be open grazing and living grounds for Maasai cattle, but now that the Tanzanian government has designated much of the region as national parks and protected land, the Maasai are allowed to graze their cattle in the open plains, but they have to leave the crater area by nightfall. We zigzagged the region for four days and each time we exited one of the parks, within minutes we would begin to pass small circles of huts, manyattas, where the Maasai were given rights to set up roots and graze their cattle.

Maasai in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Children tend the goats
A local Maasai school near the manyatta
Manyattas on the hillside

With less movement available to them, many Maasai in the area set up pop-in programs to take advantage of the tourism dollars zooming by in safari vehicles every day. Though I had plans to visit the Maji Moto Cultural Camp in Kenya a few weeks later, the group voted to stop at a roadside Maasai settlement, paying $10 per person to tour the huts, view their small school, and learn a little about their culture.

I found the experience contrived. Though their setting was stunning, it seemed the Maasai donned their tourist personas just for our 20 minute visit, then went back to their daily lives… an addendum to their lives now that seemed necessary for their survival, but also sadly out-of-place for their values and way of life. It would provide a stark contrast to the program that Salaton built at Maji Moto in Kenya, which creates an environment of respectful interaction between tourists and Maasai. Sating the tourist’s curiosity while using the funds to maintain the integrity of his culture and their values, and underlying it all, a cultural exchange for both sides.

All that being said, there is far more I need to learn about the region before I could give knowledgeable commentary on the politics between the government, the Maasai, and tourism.

What I do know, is that the Ngorongoro Conservation area is one of the prettiest places on earth, and I can see why the government has taken steps to protect the land, ecosystem, and animals.

Fields of white flowers
Fields of white flowers in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
Pink flamingos
Pink flamingos in the distance reflected in the lake in the Ngorongoro Crater.

We cruised for several hours through the grasslands, spotting a herd of elephants with the longest tusks I had yet seen. Poaching is a serious problem across Africa. Many of the tusked elephants I spotted in the other parks were younger, the older elephant’s tusks had been removed for their safety. But the unique shape of the crater allows the government to effectively patrol the area, and the mature elephants sported massive ivory dipping in a graceful arc from their face. Perhaps wisely, the oldest elephants maintained their distance—our vehicle wasn’t allowed to off-road so we glided past them in layer of damp morning hovering over the green landscape.

Within a couple of hours we found several lions lounging in the late afternoon sun. After giving them a full photo shoot session, we headed to lunch at the swamp near the Ngoitokitok Spring. Hippos belched and gurgled in the water. Birds soared. I could wax poetic, but suffice to say, it was pretty.

Lion
A lion looking regal and like a true king.
Lions near our vehicle
tired yawning lion
Friendly lions
Elephants
Crowned Cranes
Zebra reflections
A quiet picnic at Hippos at Ngoitokitok Spring
A quiet picnic at Hippos at Ngoitokitok Spring
Happy, happy hippos at Ngoitokitok Spring
Ngoitokitok Spring hippos

Tarangire and Lake Manyara National Parks

I booked my safari through African Spoonbill Safaris. As a solo traveler, I had few options on a budget and really no selection. I showed up at the hostel and asked them to help me find a tour to join. Within three days, Benson called me over, excited to tell me that four Danes had room in their safari car if I wanted to join their trip. So I packed up and headed out. Their tour included Tarangire National Park, which is one of the lesser known parks (I had never heard of it), but is famous for its elephants.

The park is full of baobab trees, a favorite of the elephant, and thus it’s easy sightings of large elephant families.

Elephants
Elephant families roamed in huge numbers through Tarangire National Park and a Tanzanian safari is the perfect way to glimpse them.
Monkey
Monkey with some stolen fruit is suspicious of us.
Impala
Impala run in packs.
Looking out at Lake Manyara
Looking out at Lake Manyara.
Rainbow over Lake Manyara
Rainbow over Lake Manyara
Photo-opp on the rim of the crater
Photo-opp on the rim of the crater!

The safari days were like poetry, each one ending with a slow retreat. The animals stirred around dusk. Most began to make their way to hideaways far from the roads zigzagging their home. Our group pitched tents each night and we ate dinner by the dim glow of flashlight, sleeping to the roars of lions and snuffling of nearby buffalo.

Lions at dusk
Lions at dusk in the Serengeti head home to their pride for the night.
seregeti outlook
The Danes looking out over the vast plains of the Serengeti.
Elephants in Tarangire National Park
Elephants in Tarangire National Park

Quick Travel Tips for a Tanzania Safari

Best Safari Companies in Tanzania

African Spoonbill Safaris: I used them and they were a very budget option, working to put small groups together interested in splitting the costs of the safari.

TPK Expeditions: Highly recommended for a higher-end safari experience. It’s woman-operated organization committed to paying their guides fair wages and giving them opportunities to further their education. I will use them to climb Kili next time I visit.

Where to Stay in Arusha

Green Garden Hostel: A hostel outside of Arusha and very quiet. They have the loveliest staff and were incredibly helpful. They also run a lot of local projects and can help arrange short and long-term volunteering in the area. There is a lot closer to Arusha’s city center, but this worked as a landing spot for a couple of days to arrange a safari, and would make a nice base for rural volunteering.

Other Safari Tips

  • Though some budget travelers opted for a self-drive safari split with friends, they missed a lot of the great animals because they didn’t have the walkie-talkie network of guides sharing when the Big 5 were on any given day. I recommend having a driver/guide.
  • Camping on the rim of the crater was magical. Some higher end tours don’t include this, but I loved it because of the chance to see sunrise from the rim at that exact spot.
  • Longer tours (5+ days) go deeper into the Serengeti and they are more specific about making sure you see a live kill and that sort of thing.

And you can view all photos from the safari in this gallery.

94 thoughts on “A Little Adventure… Going on an Incredible Safari in Tanzania’s National Parks”

  1. Great Pictures , thanks for sharing with us! It was really well written and simplified, even little kids can understand the language written here, thanks a lot. The pictures were really beautiful !!!

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  2. Re your story I have two cautions and one correction. First caution. Never travel anywhere, especially internationally, without an ATM card. My first stop at any airport in East or Southern Africa is an ATM machine. Second caution concerns doxycycline as an antimalerial. It works well but it makes some people hypersensitive to sunlight. My correction. It is very unlikely that you saw a Water buffalo in the Serengeti since there are no wild Water buffalos in sub-Saharan Africa. What you saw is a Cape buffalo.

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  3. Shannon
    Enjoyed all your pictures and story of your adventures. My son and his wife have invited me to go on a Safari to the Serengeti the first part of February. I am 73 but in fairly good health. My doctor tells me to go. My concerns are hot humid weather, mosquitoes , and flies. I’m told the medication for malaria has bad side effects. I am a nurse and one of my friends became very I’ll while in Tanzania. My question is did you take the antimalarial medication and if so did you have any issues with it? Also what were your sleeping accommodations like? I’m sure that depends how much one is willing to spend but just wondered about yours. It sounds like you did not book you safari in advance. Is that true?

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    • Hi Pat! There are certainly some malaria medicines that have bad side effects, but I took doxycycline and had no adverse effects at all. You have to take it for the duration of your trip and then weeks afterwards, but it’s well tolerated by many people. The really bad side effects come with other meds, and when using them long-term because you are living in the region. I slept in tents most nights and our group had to set them up at least one night (another night we were in a permanent tent camp, so no setup needed). I did not book in advance and they put me with another group going out the next day who had a spare seat in the 5-person safari car. This is pretty common, but it is contingent on when the next group is leaving with a free spot in their car. I paid $150 a night five years ago, so it’s likely a bit more for the bare budget safari, but you will get a lot more as you increase your nightly fee (we had pretty budget food too, boiled eggs and white-bread sandwiches). I would probably not take my dad on the safari I did, I would spend a bit more—not a ton more, but I would splurge for a few things that would make him more comfortable since these last for several days. Best of luck!

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  4. This is amazing! Beautiful photos and thanks for sharing them. It definitely makes me want to visit Tanzania’s national parks and experience it for myself. I’ve heard so much great things about Tanzania both from fellow travelers and through reading. It definitely makes me curious about the place itself. Happy travels!

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  5. I ‘slipped’ and found this most beautiful of blogs!!! This is my last day of straight working—retirement awaits me in…5 1/2 hours. My plan is to travel, but I’m not sure where to start exactly. Shannon, thank you for putting this together to help with future and current travels.

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    • Congratulations on retirement Claire! You are officially there by now, and enjoying your first day with no work on the horizon. :)

      I so appreciate the kind words about the site. It has been a labor of love for ten years now. If there’s every anything I can do to help, don’t hestiate to reach out. :)

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  6. What a fantastic write up, I still can’t believe how green it is in Tanzania. Currently in Kruger it is bone dry. We have had some storms recently but up until then the animals have been struggling for water.

    Some fantastic photographs as well, I hope you had a great Christmas.

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    • That’s too bad that it’s so dry! I was in very beginning of rainy season, so things had just started to really blossom and fill out. Hope you had a wonderful Christmas too!

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  7. WOW! Simply stunning pictures and a wonderful adventure, despite the nasty thieves. I can only dream of going on safari so it’s great to read such a candid review of your adventure.

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  8. Thanks so much for sharing!!! Im heading this safari in summer, but im seriously thinking about working digitally so just planning how to set up my business just online. Please if you ever come to the south of Spain don’t hesitate to contact us at Malaga Foodie Tours if im not here (traveling the world) Ill make sure you enjoy it!! hehehe. Saludos!!

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    • If you’re visiting for the Great Migration, then I am going to be super jealous. But it was a beautiful experience, and I hope you see all the animals! As for Spain, I may be in Southern Spain. I am going to walk the Camino this fall and will likely be housesitting in Andalusia beforehand. I’ll let you know if I make it to Malaga! :)

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  9. Such a great article about African and what it can offer. Now you inspired me to think about visiting some time next year. Thank you for sharing

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  10. Hey! I’ve just discovered your blog. I love it! How come you haven’t come to Argentina yet? You’ll love it! :) I’m thinking about going to Tanzania as a solo traveler also. How many days/nights was your safari? Are there more things to do in the country other than safaris and Zanzibar? I like to just hang out sometimes when I travel, meet local people, etc, and seems that most travelers stick with those two alternatives. Keep up the good writing! Martin.

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    • Hi Martin! So glad you dig the blog and I would seriously like to get to Argentina, it’s on my list. I haven’t been anywhere in South America yet if you can even believe it. My safari was 5 days 4 nights and that was a good length of time to see the different national parks and also see the each of the major animals at least once. For things to do, most people tend to go to Moshi for Kilimanjaro as well. I didn’t go to Dar but there are expats there hanging out. There are expats all over the country. And there are some small towns in the mountains that could make a cool base and place to hang out and explore. I did the safari and Zanzibar, but I remember thinking I would come back another time and go into some of the less touristed areas with smaller towns. The overland route from Moshi to Dar, with stops, actually looked pretty interesting!

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  11. This is by far the BEST post so far that I have read on your blog (but I just found your blog 20 min ago). I absolutely LOVE all the great shots and how detailed you were explaining your travels. I’m definitely subscribing!

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    • Thank you so much, I really appreciate that and I hope you like the rest of the content just as much! Let me know if I can ever help you with anything! :)

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  12. I think it is time for Africa! My cousin has just been to Tanzania on her honeymoon and well, I also want to see the lions sleeping on trees!

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        • Well, that’s a hard question. It’s much more expensive to travel there than Southeast Asia, but still not western prices. The safari was by far the most expensive thing I did and it was a very budget end safari (though there are even cheaper if you find others and self-drive without a guide). Mine was $150 per day and included food and all park fees.

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          • Mmmmm I see. Well, in any case I really can’t afford to travel at the moment. Perhaps I can contact you when I go, so you can recommend some good companies?

  13. WOW this is just incredible Shannon. For sure on my bucket list of travel destinations/adventures! Thanks for sharing your experience and hope you had a truly incredible/blessed time creating memories and more peak life experience!

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  14. Very nice images of Tanzania. I like the wilds and brings me back memories of my childhood. I’ll have this place be in one of my bucket list. Thanks for sharing!

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    • So glad it resonated Christian, it’s a humbling and stunning place to visit in person, I hope you make it there soon! :)

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  15. So glad that you didn’t have anything bad happen while you were there. Africa was an inspiring place and I hope to go back. Best of luck to you!! :)

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  16. I am dreaming of safaris… I have to say that I am kind of jealous ! As an animal lover, I would love to see those majestic animals in their habitat! Very nice pictures, thanks for sharing :)

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    • Seeing them in the wild and really in this gorgeously open and preserved space was so wonderful, I was so glad to have experienced the safari and to have seen animals the way they were intended.

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  17. Wonderful shots. Makes me sad to think how many of these animals are on the brink, all because of human greed. To be honest, an African safari wasn’t high on my bucket list, but I think it needs to be considering the very real possibility of extinction that these beautiful animals face. Thanks for sharing.

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  18. AMAZING!!!! What an amazing journey…so vivid….felt like I was right there with you! Talk about an inspiration…I am encouraged and inspired by your work! I was in Capetown a few years back (did Missionary work at a Primary School in Pretoria before flying into Capetown) but nevertheless I was fortunate to not have any misfortunes . Talk about an inspiration…I am encouraged and inspired by your work!

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  19. Hey Shannon, my first time reading your blog and your photographs blew me away!! You brought the Park to life with your amazing shots :) So glad I found your blog. Cheers- Rekha

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  20. Oh no robbed, hotel staff stole money out of our wallet in Cape Town as well….And when we got to the Tanzania boarder we expected $50 I guess they changed the visa fee to $100 sometime not to long ago (we were there in May 2014)…we are headed back in 3 weeks!

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    • I am so sorry to hear that you had issues in Cape Town as well! But for your Tanzanian visa, the $100 ones are good for a full year of entry into Tanzania, so if you are still in that window you won’t have to pay again! I hope you have an amazing trip back :)

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      • Most hostels in Cape Town are manned, and wo-manned by foreign travellers, so it does NOT surprise me at all…better stick to local backpackers staffed by LOCALS…

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  21. Great photos, Shannon! I’ve just started on the mirrorless journey as well, having just bought a Olympus OMD EM5. Do you mind sharing with me what are the lenses you brought to Africa, and which lens specifically you used for the zoomed-in shots of the lions sleeping in a tree? Were those photos cropped? I am planning a safari to Kenya and Tanzania, and want to be sure that I have the right lenses with me.

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    • A zoom is a must if you are heading out on safari! I debated on which zoom lens to get, and the 45-200mm zoom (http://amzn.to/1BXCBPe) performed pretty well on my safari in Africa. It wasn’t perfect, it’s a bit fuzzy on the outer reaches, but for the price it definitely worked and I am glad I have it. With a larger budget though, I would have definitely splurged on the G X Vario PZ 45-175mm — this one gets slightly better reviews on the big photography forums because the glass is better quality. Besides the zoom, I have the 20mm (it’s gorgeous) and a 14-45 kit (it does the job around town). (links to these lenses is here: https://alittleadrift.com/2012/02/lumix-micro-four-thirds-review/

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  22. Wow, your photos are amazing, You are so lucky to have seen so many amazing animals, and the sunset and sunrise were stunning! I’ve never really though about traveling in Africa, I have always thought Safari=expensive and that doing anything independently would be really difficult or not very safe, from the extremely little knowledge I have. I should no better, no country is how you expect it to be. This has definitely inspired me to consider traveling in Africa!

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    • I am so glad this piece helped you reframe your ideas around Africa. Although it’s not as solo-travel friendly as some other regions of the world, I loved my time there and was definitely able to enjoy a safari and some of the beautiful cultures and landscapes. :)

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  23. Wow! Your images are truly epic Shannon! They truly capture the magical African scenery that one can’t get enough of.

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  24. I’ve just discovered this blog, and what a first post to read – gorgeous photos! That landscape is just stunning! (Especially the sunset. WOW!)

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  25. Wow, does this bring back memories! I have a picture of myself and some friends in front of that same tree by the lake in the crater. My trip was almost two years ago and I’ve been constantly dreaming of going back. Thank you for sharing your gorgeous photos and for all of the research and info on grassroots volunteering and tourism!

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    • It’s such a gorgeous spot inside the crater, I loved having lunch there. I am so glad the piece resonated with you and I hope you make it back there soon!

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  26. Great shots of the lions! especially that one with a big yawn! and I love that shot of them sleeping in a tree! Your driver is the greatest! :)

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  27. This looks like an amazing trip! I’ve always wanted to do a safari. I have a couple of questions that I hope you can answer: These are some beautiful pictures, did you take a photography class or just self-taught? And do you know foreign languages, or is english spoken widely enough?

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    • Thanks so much Cole. I am all self taught and a whole lot of practice time over the years. In that area of Africa especially, English is widely spoken because they were former British colonies. French as well is in the region, but English is the language of tourism, so you should be good! :)

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  28. First rate reporting. Always giving us some great insight and inspiring us to travel. What month was this and what camera did you use?

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  29. This is some of the most beautiful travel photography I’ve ever seen. Really really beautiful. I’m planning on going to Tanzania this August, can’t wait!

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  30. Amazing Shannon – I love the yawning lion pic! Glad you got over the boarder and had what looks to be a stunning experience!

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    • Thanks AJ! It was such an incredible experience and we spent about 30 minutes watching the sleepy lions hang out together. It was so neat. :)

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  31. WOW… WOW & WOW. What an amazing post. Your photos are stunning to say the least. This is a MUST visit place for Moni & I, just not sure when, but your tips here will be copied and pasted into the info sheet for our future Africa trip.

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    • Thank you so much, I am glad you enjoyed the post. When you make it that way, it’s really so much easier to organize the safari on the ground in Arusha rather than online! Happy travels. :)

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  32. Wow – I have been wanting to do a safari for a few years now, and this is just sending me over the edge! beautiful photos :)

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    • Thank you! I am so glad that I finally made it on safari; after years on the road I had never prioritized getting there and doing one, but it was worth it. :)

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  33. I love the idea of Spoonbill and sharing guides and prices. Safaris are really not budget-friendly and anything to save a few bucks is important to me. I agree that doing it yourself you don’t have the “inside scoop”, but we did this in Botswana and everyone shares info through their windows, plus you can stop and go whenever you want. So it’s a trade off.

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    • I was so happy that they were able to put me on a shared safari as it would have cost so, so much more solo. It seemed like it was heaps easier to arrange the budget safari once you are there rather than online. And good to know about the self-drive. I’ll admit that it sounded like a lot of fun, I just couldn’t imagine trying to navigate all those roads in the vastness… but with friends, it would be a fun adventure, especially if people share tips! :)

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  34. Amazing pics. I am surprised the women’s hands our out of the truck with the leopard standing just under her hands. Happy you were able to get the 50 dollars, and complete the trip. Definitely inspired me to go there.

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    • Thanks Zee! It was crazy how close some of the animals got. I was about three inches from that huge lion too, with just the window pane between us as he stalked around the car. I hope you are able to make it there soon! :)

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  35. You are exactly right on your tips! Spend the money for a knowledgeable guide, it is so worth it! These photos are fabulous….oh I want to get back there!

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    • Glad you agree Tam! I’ve only done it that once, but I can’t imagine if we hadn’t had our guide’s eyes and knowledge of it all. I hope you get back there soon and hope your travel time in the South is going well. :)

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  36. Beautiful write-up and absolutely stunning photos!! I’m really happy to hear about a good budget option for Africa as well – I’ll definitely keep them in mind whenever I can make it over there!

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    • Thank you Jennifer, I am so glad the photos and stories resonated. The lower prices are hard to find online, but I know that once you are there, especially during high and shoulder season, you can arrange something within a couple of days for a good price! :)

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  37. OMG! Those sunrises! Those photos! (The lone man sitting under the tree is my favorite.) Worth waiting for, this was!

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    • Yes! I love that shot too. He’s just having a personal moment near all that gorgeous-ness. Thanks James! :)

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  38. Oh Shannon, your pictures made me cry!!! I loved all of them but the ones that stood out to me the most were the lions chillin’ on the tree, the two zebras on the road with the reflection of one on a pool of water, the pink flamingoes from a distance (at first I didn’t know what it was) and that lion portrait with what looked like wheels in the background. Was that your vehicle? If so, they were THAT close! What zoom lens did you have to use? I hope to do this someday, you truly, truly inspire me. Safe travels!

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  39. Shannon, I loved this post! “Wow!” escaped my lips a few times as I scrolled down reading your story. Though there may be some higher end tours, your safari seems perfect and exactly how I hope to experience Africa…and I will endeavour to be a kind Canadian tourist as well should the opportunity arise. – Ginette

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    • I am so glad the post resonated Ginette, and I am sure you will be a fantastic ambassador for Canada as well — you are among the friendliest travelers I meet on the road. And I hope you are able to make it to Africa soon; it’s all about the animals, so even the budget safaris give you plenty of great animal sightings! :)

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