Go on an African Safari in Tanzania
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If you are planning your own African safari, you will want to read my new book Walking with Lions, it is available now at LULU.com.
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An African Safari is on every serious traveler's bucket list. I finally checked it off mine in the summer of 2018. My good friend Monique Vek was invited to join a 10-day safari with Ombeni African Safaris to film it for their website. She asked the owner Ombeni if I could join them and he managed to squeeze me in.
I flew into Kilimanjaro Airport on August 1st and was met by Monique and one of Ombenis safari guides. They took me back to the manor for a few days to hang out with the staff and wait for the Gundlach family to arrive. The Gundlach family are from Ombeni's town in Wisconsin. Every year grandpa and grandma Gundlach take their extended family on family vacation. This year they choose to have their friend Ombeni take them on safari in his native Tanzania. |
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The next 10 days were the most incredible of my travel life. We visited five national parks including Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro Crater, Serengeti and Arusha National Park. We encountered countless elephants, gazelles, giraffes, lions, zebras and other wildlife while staying in the most incredible luxurious lodges.
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I quickly filled my Facebook page with incredible pictures and uploaded daily vlogs onto my YouTube Channel. I wanted to capture every incredible moment. It was with tearful eyes that we said goodbye to the Gundlach family at the airport. Monique and I stayed for a few extra weeks to explore Africa only to discover that a few weeks is not enough. Both of us will be returning to Africa for future adventures. Please check out some of my pictures and videos and tips to make your African Safari the best ever.
Preparing for an African Safari
Here are some tips to make your safari more enjoyable.
1. Pack light. All the luggage is transported in the back of the safari vans and you stay at a number of different lodges. Packing light allows the staff to load the trucks faster to give you more time on safari and gives you more room in the truck for more important items like beer and snacks.
2. Dress is layers. Be prepared for drastic changes in temperature. The day could start at 10 degrees Celsius and end at over 40. Be sure to wear a warm jacket over a light shirt. Long sleeved shirts are a must to protect you from the sun. Be sure to wear cooling fabrics as the heat can get uncomfortable. My friend Monique is the founder of 6* Apparel and offers an excellent selection of travel clothing made from cooling fabrics. Check her website out at www.msport6.com. Below are pictures of some of her safari apparel.
Here are some tips to make your safari more enjoyable.
1. Pack light. All the luggage is transported in the back of the safari vans and you stay at a number of different lodges. Packing light allows the staff to load the trucks faster to give you more time on safari and gives you more room in the truck for more important items like beer and snacks.
2. Dress is layers. Be prepared for drastic changes in temperature. The day could start at 10 degrees Celsius and end at over 40. Be sure to wear a warm jacket over a light shirt. Long sleeved shirts are a must to protect you from the sun. Be sure to wear cooling fabrics as the heat can get uncomfortable. My friend Monique is the founder of 6* Apparel and offers an excellent selection of travel clothing made from cooling fabrics. Check her website out at www.msport6.com. Below are pictures of some of her safari apparel.
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3. Bring lots of backup memory for your camera. It's easy to take hundreds of pictures each day which will fill up your memory cards fast. Bring along lots of backup so you can keep snapping.
4. Have lots of backup power. Bring extra camera batteries and an external power backup for your cell phone. The days are long and despite the fact many of the vehicles have charging stations you can never have enough backup power.
5. Bring plug adapters. Tanzania is 220V and uses a three prong plug as shown in the diagram below. Dollars stores and department stores sell inexpensive adapters so you can plug North American 120V electronics into the outlets. Be sure to pick up a few so you can charge multiple items at the same time.
4. Have lots of backup power. Bring extra camera batteries and an external power backup for your cell phone. The days are long and despite the fact many of the vehicles have charging stations you can never have enough backup power.
5. Bring plug adapters. Tanzania is 220V and uses a three prong plug as shown in the diagram below. Dollars stores and department stores sell inexpensive adapters so you can plug North American 120V electronics into the outlets. Be sure to pick up a few so you can charge multiple items at the same time.
Receptacle Configuration for Tanzania. 220 Volts
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6. Pack a flashlight and headlamp. As with many developing countries Tanzania has it's share of planned and unplanned power outages. I always carried my own light source with me in case of power outages and too light my way in the dark at the some of the lodges we stayed at.
7. Bring American cash. While many places do take credit cards and bank machines are available you can't always rely on them being there when you need them. But you can always rely on US dollars and there are few places in the world that don't except it. |
For more information on Ombeni Safaris or to book your own African Safari, visit their website at www.ombeniafricansafaris.com. I highly recommend this company. Their staff is friendly, professional and highly knowledgeable. From the moment they pick you up at the airport to the moment they drop you off, you are given VIP treatment. They will ensure you have the Trip of a Lifetime!
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Me and Ombeni at Tarangire National Park
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Photo Gallery
Video Blog of My Safari
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DAY ONE
DAY FOUR
DAY SEVEN
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DAY TWO
DAY FIVE
DAY EIGHT
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DAY THREE
DAY SIX
DAY NINE
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