Introduction - The 11-Day Best of Tanzania Migration Safari sponsored by the Texas A&M Traveling Aggies Alumni Group and hosted by our group leader Jennifer Bohac began with: Day 01 - Our arrival by international flights into the Kilimanjaro IAP located on the outskirts of Arusha late in the evening and met by the Safari Legacy Staff, who transported us to the charming Arush Hotel for a welcome reception and overnight lodging. Day 02 - After a morning buffet breakfast and orientation briefing, we boarded our safari jeeps for an afternoon game drive heading southeast to the Tarangire National Park, stopping for quick gift shopping and a picnic lunch enroute, and arriving at the Kikori Safari Camp.

first full day included a late breakfast and visits to nearby animal conservancies to include the Giraffe Centre, Crocodile and Ostrich Farm, and the Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage, where we each adopted a baby elephant after a tour of the facility. One of the day’s highlights was a fabulous sit-down lunch at the historic Karen Blixen Coffee Lodge at their outdoor garden dining area. Day 03 - After breakfast, it was an early morning departure flight from Nairobi Wilson AP flying southeast landing at the Selenkay Airstrip and the nearby Amboseli National Park located near the base of Mt. Kilimanjaro. After checking into the Porini Amboseli Safari Camp and a buffet lunch, we took a nature walk to the nearby Maasai Village to observe their traditional culture, followed by an evening game drive, sundowner social event and evening dinner back at camp. Days 04 and 05 - The next two days included early morning game drives with bush breakfasts following the sunrise shoot, continued game drives seeking the many elephant herds that populate the Amboseli National Park and adjacent Selenkay Conservancy. We had a group picnic lunch each day at Observation Hill Lookout overlooking the lush swamp below where hippos and elephants feed with wild birds abound. After lunch, it was more game drives with a sundowner social event, a group dinner back at camp, and fireside drinks after dinner. Day 06 - After an early morning breakfast, it was off to Selenkay Airstrip and a short flight back to Nairobi Wilson AP, where we changed flights heading northwest to the Nanyuka Airstrip and a short game drive to the Porini Rhino Camp located in the Ol Pejeta Conservancy located at the foothills of Mt. Kenya. After checking into camp and a buffet lunch, we participated in a Maasai walking tour ending with a spear throwing contest and traditional dance competition. The day ended with an evening game drive into the Ol Pejeta Conservancy, sundowner social with a full moon overhead, evening dinner and drinks around the campfire. Day 07 - The day started early with a before sunrise morning game drive and bush breakfast and included a visit to the Ol Pejeta Northern White Rhino Boma for a ranger-guide driving tour viewing the 3-remaining endangered Northern White Rhinos and captive Black Rhinos and Grevy Zebras under restoration management. It was worth it to see the last remnants with only one male still alive, even though we were not able to get close to the animals in their protected areas. The day closed with an evening game drive, sundowner social in the field and a group dinner back at camp. Day 08 - After an early morning breakfast, it was off to the Ntiakatiak Airstrip for our flight southwest to the Maasai Mara region arriving at the Olare Motorogi Conservancy and the Porini Lion Camp located on the banks of the seasonal Ntiakatiak River. After check-in and a buffet lunch at the camp, it was off for an evening game drive into the lush green Maasai Mara region and big cat country. Day 09, 10 and 11 - The next 3 days were spent searching for lions, leopards and cheetahs in their natural habitat, and did we ever hit it big. We got word that a pack of rarely seen Spotted Wild Dogs were nearby, and we were fortunate enough to observe them up close for nearly an hour. It was a rare treat. We saw four Black-Maimed Male Lions that frequent this region and experienced viewing a fresh kill by two female lions when the dominant male arrived for his portion….super spectacular. We were also really lucky to come upon a female leopard with its two cubs and her unsuccessful chase of a wart hog thru the bush. You almost forgot to take photos as she was just within reaching distance from the safari jeeps during her crouched stalk; so, just be still, hold your breath and don’t distract her from her quest. Day 12 - The last day began with a morning game drive to the Olare Airstrip for our return flight back to Nairobi Wilson AP and a half-day stay at the Eka Hotel for a fresh-up for the evening return flights back to the USA. On our way to the hotel, we were treated to a luncheon buffet at the famous Carnivore Restaurant, where wild game meats are carved on your plate until you say “uncle,” but be sure to same room for dessert.

Event Summary - The gallery contains photographs taken each day of the safari beginning with a schedule of that day’s activities, a map of where we went and photographs of the participants showing field conditions encountered, wild animals in their natural habitat and just how close we got to the wildlife in our safari jeeps. The gallery provides a documentary of where we went, what we did and the photo opportunities each of us experienced. The six of us shared two jeeps, providing ample room to scoot about to either side and we had plenty of room to spread out all of our photo gear. All of us want to thank Jeff Wendorff for the opportunity to be there to experience the excitement of wild animals and to photograph them up close and personal. We would also like to thank the Game Watchers Safari guides and drivers, who were hand-picked by Jeff, who got us into position based on the best lighting conditions, safety considerations and intuition as to what the wildlife would be doing next so that we would be in the best position for a photographic moment. We were very, very fortunate indeed (some would say just good mojo) to encounter big cats on the hunt, feeding after a kill, large male lions within their packs, huge herds of elephants with their babies in tow, a leopard with 2 kits, cheetahs everywhere and the rarely seen wild spotted dog pack that moves between the Maasai Mara and Serengeti Plains. We were fortunate indeed and we all have got the photos to prove it…..JDT