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 overnight lodging. Day 02 - After a morning buffet breakfast and tour orientation briefing, we boarded our safari jeeps for an afternoon game drive heading southeast to the Tarangire National Park, stopping for gift shopping and a picnic lunch enroute, and arriving at the Kikori Safari Camp for our stay. We were met by camp staff upon arrival, got tent assignments and ended the day with refreshments and a group buffet dinner. Days 03 and 04 - After a buffet breakfast, it was off for a game drive each morning and we viewed an elephant herd crossing a river, giraffe, monkeys, warthogs, antelope, ostrich and wild birds with a group lunch either in the field or back at camp. After returning to camp, it was social hour with refreshments and a group buffet dinner. We were treated to a fireside BBQ dinner the last night at the camp. Day 05 - After breakfast, as we departed Tarangire NP stopping for an informative tour at the Tarangire Park Headquarters and adjacent shops on our way out heading northwest to Ngorongoro Crater. On the way, we stopped at a Maasai Village located along the south shores of Manyara Lake for a nature walk and were treated to a prepared native food lunch before arriving at the Ngorongoro Farmhouse Lodge for the next few days. We celebrated a surprise birthday party for one of our guests with a birthday cake, music and native dancers. Day 06 - After a buffet breakfast, we headed out for a game drive into the crater stopping first at the Ngoronoro Conservation Area Visitors Center located on the crater rim for an overview of the formation, history, development and preservation of the crater area. We drove into the crater viewing herds of cape buffalo, zebras, antelope, sleeping lions along the road, cheetahs, black rhinos and got a group picture of us along the lake shoreline located within the crater after our box lunch picnic. Day 07 - We departed Ngorongoro by jeep heading northwest to the Serengeti National Park stopping along the way for a Maasai Village Tour. We arrived at the Olduvai Gorge, and after a picnic lunch in the bleacher section overlooking the gorge, we toured the on-site museum viewing the early humanoid remains, stone tools, footprints and ancient animal fossils discovered during the 1960’s Leakey excavations on display at the Olduvai Museum. We finally arrived at the luxurious Bilila Kempinski Lodge for a group reception, cabin assignments and a group buffet dinner. Days 08 and 09 - Those of us who had signed up for the hot air balloon ride loaded up in the jeeps before sunrise and headed out to the balloon launch area for a before sunrise launch and hour-long flight over the Serengeti Plains. We cruised at low altitude over the sun lit morning mist viewing herds of wildebeest, giraffe and a hippo pool during our ride. After a safe landing, we were all treated to a champagne breakfast with the other groups that had flown that morning and we were all presented with certificates from the captain. We even got a group picture with all of us and the captain. The following day we headed out for a morning game drive, then back to camp for lunch followed by an afternoon game drive, an evening group dinner and a farewell campfire social. The ranger led nature tour at the Serengeti Visitors Center was most informative. The next day we hit the road and headed northwest again to the western corridor of the Serengeti known for its Nile crocodiles and thorned acacia trees. We arrived at the Mbalageti Tented Camp, checked-in, unpacked and had an evening social event after dinner. Day 10 - After breakfast, we headed out to the Serengeti Plain for a game drive viewing herds of cape buffalo, zebra, giraffe, ostrich and stopped at a fishing village located along the shoreline of Lake Victoria viewing typical village activities. We visited the village schoolhouse and presented treats to the children and school supplies to the school staff as gifts. We ended the day with a final dinner celebration with performing Maasai dancers circling our group table. Great stuff. Day 11 - Our adventure ended with a morning return flight back to the Arusha Regional Airport with an afternoon shopping spree at local gift shops with lunch at the Cultural Heritage Center. Finally, we checked-in for a half-day stay at the Arusha Hotel and made preparations for our late evening return flights back to the USA and final destinations.

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 while on the tour. All of us want to thank Jennifer Bohac and the Game Watchers Safari guides and drivers for the opportunity to be there, to experience the excitement of wild animals in their natural environment, learn the historical and geographical significance of the region and people, and to photograph them up close and personal. We were fortunate indeed and we all have got the photos to prove it…..JDT