AMAZING 10 Night Safari around Mount Kilimanjaro We started planning our African safari in March 2021 for travel in 2023. Right from the outset Jacinta at Breezy Tours took a 'hands-on' approach to ensure our trip was perfect.
My wife and I travelled all the way from Winnipeg Canada, so we wanted to experience the most things possible but, at the same time, preferred a more relaxed pace. Working together with Jacinta we came up with the perfect itinerary consisting of:
-2 nights at the Serena Ngorongoro Lodge;
-2 nights at the Tortilis Serengeti Tent Camp;
-2 nights at the Sopa Masai Mara Lodge;
-2 nights at the Serena Amboseli Safari Lodge; and
-2 nights in Nairobi.
Jacinta took the time to drive from Nairobi to meet us in person at the airport in Arusha, Tanzania. She introduced us to our guide/driver Godwin (who by the way is super knowledgable and knows this area like the back of his hand), and she made sure we were comfortable after our flight. My wife and I had just completed a 15 night/16 day journey from Cape Town to Dar Es Salaam on ROVOS Rail and we had extra checked luggage from that leg of our trip which we didn't need for our safari, (and which we couldn't take on the smaller commuter aircraft), and Jacinta kindly agreed to take these bags 'off our hands' and transport them to our hotel in Nairobi.
Knowing that my wife and I wanted to avoid long multi-hour car drive, Jacinta also arranged for us to fly from the Serengeti (Serona airstrip) to the Masai Mara (so that an 8 hour drive by car was reduced to 90 minutes), and to fly from the Masai Mara Keekororok airstrip to the Amboseli airstrip (again reducing an 8 hour drive by car to less than 1 hour).
Our guides arranged by Breezy (Godwin in Tanzania and James in Kenya) were both very professional, friendly and knowledgeable (and both spoke very good English too!). Both were punctual (always waiting for us in advance) and very obliging. Godwin knew exactly where to find a Leopard in a tree and a pride of lions hunting in the Serengeti (and both times are vehicle was the first one at the scene!). At one point we got to within 10 feet of a lion drinking water at a watering hole, and at Ngorongoro he negotiated our vehicle (within about 3 feet) around a couple of elephants who were on the narrow crater-rim road. He also spotted a rarely seen black Rhino in Ngorongoro and did his best to get us a picture of it through his binoculars.
The Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge is absolutely amazing, perched on the rim of the Ngorongoro crater with magnificent views. Driving through the heavy morning mist/fog down into the caldera was magical. The Lodge itself is beautiful and fully equipped with a Tanzanite Experience gift shop as well as a Masai arts and crafts shop. The views from the dining room are unmatched, and the food was excellent. We had booked a night at a different lodge in Ngorongoro, but it closed during the Covid period and Jacinta was able to go out of her way to rebook our stay at the Serena Lodge.
Driving to the Serengeti from Ngorongoro took about 3 hours. On the way Godwin stopped at a Masai Village where we were entertained for more than an hour by a welcoming dance, and a visit with the village chief's son inside a typical Masai hut, all of which was very enlightening.
Being from Canada we've experienced 'white-out' conditions during the winter, but nothing compared to the 'white-outs' we experienced while driving to the Serengeti on the dusty roads where, at times, visibility was reduced to 20 yards or less!
We were greeted at the Tortilis Tent Camp (about 1 hour from the Park entrance) by a huge male Giraffe who towered over the Land Rover and sauntered to within about 20 yards of our vehicle. The Camp itself is very well run and our tent was extremely comfortable with a 'sitting room' by the front entrance, a king-size bed, an inside ensuite with flushing toilet, sink and shower, and even an extra bedroom!. We were asked to request hot water in advance if we wanted to take a shower; yet despite this being the 'winter' season we found that in the late afternoon/early evening the water was plenty warm from the sun that our showers were quite comfortable.
On our first morning in camp we went for an early--morning game drive with Godwin and within 1/2 hour we found ourselves amidst a pride of about 12 lions on the hunt. For about 1/2 hour we watched as they crossed within feet of our Land-rover and across a small stream onto a nearby hill tracking a herd of gazelle. We watched as the lead lioness crouched down and crawled to within about 50 feet of a gazelle when she sprang into attack mode. (Fortunately for the gazelle the lion abandoned the chase after about 3-4 seconds.). Watching this all unfold in 'real-time' was amazing. We made it back to camp after about 6 hours of game-watching with Godwin and were treated to lunch with perhaps the best homemade pizza we've ever eaten!
Leaving Serengeti we bid a fond farewell to Godwin and flew on a tiny 8 seat Cessna to a couple of small dirt airstrips before crossing into Kenya by bus. Once we cleared customs we boarded a larger 12 seat Air Kenya twin Otter for our 40 minute fight to Keekororok airstrip. On the way we landed at another airstrip to let off a young couple and there, in the middle of nowhere, was a fully set table with champagne on ice and flowers to greet them. (It turns out that they were on their honeymoon and the husband had arranged this 'surprise lunch' for his new bride!!
Landing at Keekororok airstrip we were met by our new Kenyan guide James who is perhaps the most optimistic/happiest person we've ever met. There is nothing James wouldn't do to make our trip as comfortable and memorable as possible, and he takes great pride in being able to answer every question about almost any animal. (And he has a wonderful sense of humor too!!). My wife and I truly enjoyed being in James' company. (Cudo's to Jacinta for matching us up with two great guides!).
We were hoping to see the 'great migration' in Kenya, but due to some delays in Tanzania (where the rangers had stopped the herds for a couple of weeks to pursue a conservation/banding project), the herds were just starting to aggregate along the Mara river waiting to cross. James and I staked out the river crossing for about 40 minutes one afternoon (Supervised by no less than 2 ranger vehicles who were positioned to ensure than no tourists interfered with the animals that might attempt to cross the river), but a single Wildebeast at the river's edge - with about 500 zebras/buffalo/gazelle/wildebeast in tow, decided that now was not the time and turned around whereupon all the other animals reversed course. Watching this unfold in real time in itself was a memorable experience!
On our first morning at the Masai Mara Sopa Lodge Jacinta arranged for my wife and I to take a hot-air balloon ride. Although hesitant (we're both in our 60's), the experience was amazing (despite the fact that we had a 4:00am wake-up call as the launch site is about 75 minutes from the Lodge.). Due to morning breezes the balloon's basket/gondola was tilted on it's side so all 16 passengers had to get into it on our backs, but once the balloon inflated the basket uprighted and the flight itself was unbelievable! Watching the sunrise in the company of about 30 other hot air balloons was unforgettable, and our pilot was extremely pleasant as he guided our balloon as high as 500 feet and as low as 12 inches above the Masai Mara plain as we silently glided over herds of elephant, zebras, gazelle and giraffe's. The landing was slightly bumpy (but not too bad and the couple of bumps made the trip even more memorable!). The flight lasted just more than 1 hour -worth every minute of it - and as soon as we 'deplaned' we were driven about 10 minutes to a champagne breakfast out in the wilderness, complete with linen tablecloths and an array of hot and cold dishes (eggs to order, bacon, sausages, toast, etc., etc. A perfect way to end our balloon excursion on a perfect morning.
The Sopa Lodge was very nice and our room/cottage very spacious, and the staff extremely obliging and friendly; but be aware that the rooms do not have telephone (our 4:00am wake-up call was by someone knocking on our door), and the electricity is cut-off from 10:00am-noon, and again from 2:00pm-5:00pm, which is inconvenient if you wish to charge your cellphones. Also, there is no WIFI other than in the Lodge restaurant and lobby, which generally means that around 5:00pm every afternoon a lot of people gather in the lobby area to charge their phones and get their messages.
On the day we left Sopa Lodge James drove in advance to Amboseli. We were driven to the Keekororok airstrip by another driver through some pretty rough back roads. Near the airstrip we stopped under a tree by the road to eat our boxed lunches when, out of nowhere, a buffalo appeared to emerge from the tall grass about 20 yards away.to join the party. Basically we all ran back to the Land-rover for safety. (Another unexpected experience to say the least.)
After a short 1 hour flight we landed at Amboseli Airstrip where James was already waiting for us. Amboseli is at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro, and is a vast plain. Despite it being the winter season the weather was warm and in the distance in every direction there were towering 'dust-devils', a truly amazing sight that rivalled the morning fog/mists of Ngorongoro. The Serena Amboseli Lodge is just as wonderful, if not more so, as the Serena Lodge at Ngorongoro. Both are spectacular! Although the weather was nice, Mount Kilimanjaro itself can be quite elusive as it is often shrouded in clouds. Fortunately, James and I 'found the mountain' early the next morning as she revealed herself for a couple of hours after sunrise. If you want to see lots of elephants, Amboseli is the place!
One of the most memorable and meaningful experiences of our entire African Trip was arranged by Jacinta on our second morning in Amboseli. We visited a nearby school to drop-off some supplies. It was truly moving to meet the dedicated teachers and the students who were all eager to meet us. (During one of my conversations with Jacinta she had mentioned that she had returned from a school visit where clients had an opportunity to make a donation to acquire supplies for the school, and I asked Jacinta if she could do the same thing for my wife and I.). We spent about 1 hour touring the school and chatting with the teachers and students. I would encourage anyone and everyone to consider doing the same thing as it really is quite jarring to compare the relatively poor and undersupplied school operating literally within 2 miles of the luxurious Lodge; and the school and its students/teachers are genuinely grateful for any assistance you can provide!.
Jacinta accompanied us on the 3+ hour drive back to Nairobi. Listening to some of her stories on the journey was quite enlightening. In Nairobi we stayed at the PrideInn not too far from the International Airport. Whilst in Nairobi, Jacinta arranged for us to visit the Giraffe Centre (where we could get 'up close and personal' hand feeding the giraffes - including a baby giraffe, and also we visited the Karen Blixon museum. (Unfortunately, we unsuccessfully attempted to visit the David Aldridge Elephant Orphanage/Sanctuary. Apparently you have to order your tickets many months in advance for that as the visiting hours are only 11:00am-noon daily and there is a limit to the number of persons allowed to attend.)
The next day (our last in Africa), Jacinta and James picked-us (and our luggage) up from the hotel and we visited the Museums of Kenya in downtown Nairobi. One could spend a whole day there alone. Then we visited a coffee plantation on the outskirts of the city for a 2 hour tour which was quite fascinating and informative, before participating in a 'blind' taste test where we sampled a few blends of coffee grown on the plantation.
I only have nice things to say about Jacinta and Breezy tours. She was friendly and co-operative throughout and I truly believe her goal was to ensure that we had the most comfortable and memorable trip possible. Yes, there were some unexpected things that arose over the course of 2 years pre-planing the trip (i.e. Lodges closing-down, new government tariffs/regulations), but Jacinta was always upfront and attempted her best to find work-arounds to ensure that we had the most enjoyable trip possible.
And, I can truly say that we have made a life-long friendship with her.
In closing, my wife and I can highly recommend Jacinta and Breezy Tours to arrange your African Safari!
TripAdvisor 5.0
