Tanzania Migration Safaris

We started with Lake Manyara National Park. Breaking the fog in the morning, when the car entered the park, we saw a group of monkeys jumping on the trees, colorful flamingos, and a family of elephants by the water. From there we went to the Ndutu area, where the famous Great Migration is taking place - thousands of gnu and zebras are running across the grasslands together. The sound was so loud that I could hear the heartbeat of the world. One afternoon in the Serengeti National Park, we saw a cheetah hunting with great precision. Standing at the Ngorongoro Crater on the last day, seeing lions, elephants, rhinos, buffaloes, and leopards at the same time - truly one of the best moments of life. And after listening to the dance, songs, and stories of the warriors in the Maasai village, the journey was complete.

The tour was good. Just be sure to ask ALL the questions before you pay. Provider made promises they knew they couldn't keep instead of just being honest. (Number of people in the vehicle). The description in one place says tour begins in Arusha, but in the details says it will pick you up at the airport. They should remove the part about picking you up at the airport or at least tell you they are going to charge you over $100 pp for the transport to hotel BEFORE you book, not after you have paid... especially considering all the people on our tour came in on the same flight. You can find much cheaper at the airport. BUT having said that, the owner did eliminate the transfer fees when I pushed back. The driver/guide was excellent at spotting the animals. The only complaint I would say is he was quite a bit less aggressive than the rest of the jeeps while waiting for the wildebeest migration. They would always rush ahead of us and then we would need to find a spot. BUT, we always did find a decent spot. I really don't want to be too negative because overall the tour was great. There was also a mixup with our accommodations one day, which found us driving an extra hour AND throughout the entire trip 3 groups ended up staying at different locations which was time consuming in the mornings and afternoons. I think this may be pretty normal during high season. But I still can't say I would not recommend this company or the tour. Overall I think it is good value, and amazing opportunity. The 10 days gives you opportunity to see different national park reserves along the way, which is great because you are not driving directly to the Serengeti, as it is a long way away. The other parks included are well worth the visits and break up the long drive. I would do it again. Make sure you know when the wildebeest migrations are occurring (Typically July/August) if you choose to go during wildebeest birthing season just make sure you know when that occurs. The main thing is to set your expectations. You may not see every elusive animal.... but for the most part we did, except for the painted dogs. You are not going to a zoo, you are going to the natural habit of wild animals. Some places charge for water, some don't, it's never really expensive but just be mindful of it. The tour includes pretty much all meals except for the first supper when you arrive in Arusha. The meals were OK, there always seemed to be something you could eat, but not always something that was above par, but again, overall a good experience. Some were better than others. Be sure to pick up some drinks and snacks on the first drive day before you get on your way and out of civilization. The jeeps in the Serengetti are not typically windowless. There are windows you can slide back. The front ones are quite large but the bottom ones aren't as big. Once you get to a place, the drive/guide will open the top so you can stand up and watch. We met some people who were on "Luxury" tours but honestly, they were staying in the same locations as us. Only thing different was fewer people in their vehicle for what we could discern after talking with them. So, long review, overall experience was quite amazing.... just as I said, do your research before you go and ask as many questions as you know to ask.

I give my thanks specifically to the following people for my trip to Lake Manyara, Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater. - Amos (the boss and coordinator) - Erasto (the guide cum driver) - Rama (the cook) Amos was sincere, responded promptly, and gave me much needed assurance though our online communication when I was learning about and comparing various safari operators and their packages. I was pleased to have made the right choice in going with Migration Venture Africa. Erasto was a competent guide and driver, one whom I enjoyed spending 5 days with. He was knowledgeable about most species found in the Northern Circuit. Besides learning quite a bit about animal behaviour from him, I was impressed with how sharp he was, distinguishing animals from incredibly far distances. Outstanding guide with a friendly demeanour. Rama wasn't fluent in English, but that did not stop him from teaching me Swahili. He was also a good cook and I was satisfied with the variety he managed to prepare for us throughout our safari trip. The quantity served for each meal is more than sufficient. Overall, this is a great company and I hope that the quality of their trips and service will maintain or even improve as they continue to grow.