We had a fantastic time this Christmas in Tanzania and Zanzibar. We’ve been on safari before – to Kenya – but this surpassed anything we’d experienced. We started off with 2 days in the Ngorogoro Crater, with our guide Ammy. The crater is teeming with wildlife, and we saw huge amounts of game, which Ammy was expert at getting exceptionally close to. On the third day, as we were travelling round the rim early in the morning to rendezvous with our next driver, we saw a leopard walking along the road. He disappeared into the bush, but then reappeared behind us, and walked towards us – totally unconcerned. It was the first time in 3 safaris we had seen a leopard, so it was extra special for us. We then spent four days in Serian Camp, which was one of the most amazing experiences of our lives. As we arrived, we were met by Alex Walker and his partner Billie, who were exceptionally welcoming and lovely, and showed us to our tents. As our children are quite young (10 & 12), and the tents were quite far apart, the girls had one, and the boys another. We had the most amazing time at Serian – this seemed like real safari, rather than the rather sanitised version you encounter at most hotels or lodges. The tents were great – large beds, hot showers on demand (from a canvas bag outside!), a toilet and a basin. Every morning, we were woken with hot water and tea or hot chocolate (a firm favourite with the kids), and every night when we went to bed, we had lovely hot water bottles to snuggle up with (who needs a husband!) Our tents looked directly out onto the Serengeti, and lying in bed, my daughter and I could see wildebeeste and Masai cattle, and hear all sort of very large bugs throwing themseves against the window nets! Our driver and spotter – Michael and Mbaraka – were fantastic, and we had 4 amazing days with them. Up early, and off for the day (none of this 1 game drive in the morning , 1 in the afternoon!). We’d set off at 6.00am, drive for a couple of hours, and them Michael and Mbaraka would pull up in the middle of the plains, under a shady acacia tree, set up 4 canvas chairs, and lay us out a breakfast fit for a king! If you haven’t eaten breakfast under an acacia tree filled with weaver birds, watched by hyena and zebra, you haven’t lived. Another few hours drive, then a repeat performance for lunch – perfect. Its the rainy season in the Serengeti at this time, so the ground was quite boggy, and we ended up stuck in the mud more than once. However, it was always fun, and even when we were stuck for 6 hours, we had the spectacle of the local tractor coming to pull us out, and getting stuck himself, and then being rescued, just as the sun went down, by Alex himself – luckily, our packed lunch included a bottle of chilled white wine, so Jeremy and I were happy. The ride home in the dark in Alex’s Land Cruiser (I want one of these!) was spectacular – racing through the pitch black bush, aquaplaning over the water at speed so we wouldn’t get stuck, with my son Joe on my lap, Jeremy with our daughter Elena on his lap in the front and 6 Masai crammed in with us as well (in a 5 seater vehicle!) , is something I will never forget. The best thing was – 5 minutes out of camp, Alex radioed in for hot showers for all of us, 2 hot chocolates, and 2 gin and tonics, which were waiting for us as we arrived. I could go on: sundowners at the large rock outcrop near the camp, the camp fire every night, the Masai escort to and from the tents at night, the convivial dinners in the mess tent, the fact that they let the kids drive the land cruisers – not just a few hundred metres – but 20 kms each, up and down river beds, and at speeds up to 40kms!. The kids loved it – as they also loved being taught to shoot a Masai bow by Nuki and his friend, and having a go at making fire with two bits of wood (we didn’t manage it). We loved every second of our time there, and were sorry to leave on Christmas Eve to go on to Zanzibar. However, we arrived at Breezes for Christmas, and had a great time there too. Very relaxing, with lots going on every day and evening. Staff were lovely, room was great and they did Christmas and New Year very well. All in all, a fantastic holiday – no downside at all – every flight was on time, every driver was there to meet us when they were supposed to be – we can’t fault a thing. I think we all want to go back to Serian again – hopefully for longer next time.
…..sorry ted – this seems to have developed into an epic – not just a few lines. As you can probably tell – we had a great time, Thank you for organising everything for us. Whilst we were at serian, we met chris, dickie and their family from islington, whose holiday you had also arranged!
Corn, 2012, UK
