Steppes In Africa; A Disney-inspired Safari-O is for: OH My, Opulent Tent Overlooking the Savannah! (8/3)

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

Such fun!!! I'll have some similar stories like yours, but no soccer playing. LOL!!

So glad you're here! It's such a unique and special experience to spend time so close to nature like this.

Your hubby's photos are stunning!! If anything, this latest trip has me in the market for an pricey upgrade on equipment. I don't know where the next adventure will take me (aside from Disney in October) but I am ready to level up my photography. Truly his photos are amazing!! Well done!! I think mine gets better and better as the trip goes on, but maybe the fact that I saw more and more variety as the days passed as well?

More coming up... lots more, but not for a couple of weeks. Busy couple of weeks ahead and then I'll be back here.

I got him a new camera for Christmas, and he bought a new lens. We were in Tanzania almost 30 years ago and it's fun to see how both his skill and technology have progressed in that time!

 

[pkondz]

my Cabin Steward, the Head Server, and the Bartender.

Wow! Luxury!

The only hard and fast, non-negotiable rule was that I was NEVER to be un-escorted after dusk anywhere in camp- a designated Maasai Warrior was to be with me at all times after dusk.

I presume for animals, but have my doubts if anything ever actually happens.

Even the tiny tented common bathroom is so pretty!

When you showed this, my first thought was "One small bathroom for everyone? How many people are at this camp??"

Lunch was absolutely perfect. How could it not be with a view like this?!

I also note the wet ground after the rain.

A homemade breadstick was served with every meal; I think I remember one of the servers say it was “their signature bread” at this camp. I never touched it.

"The camp signature bread. What many people come to Africa just for that!... meh."

I was then shown to my tent by my assigned Cabin Steward. I wish I had written his name down; he was so wonderfully attentive.

I wondered what he'd be doing for you, but you already covered that.

my shower was hot and ready for me as I’d requested right after lunch.

You had to ask when you wanted a hot shower?

Bathroom:

And now I see that you didn't have just the one common bathroom.

It is just so gorgeous and luxurious for being literally “in the middle of nowhere”! Every possible amenity was available to me, including robes and slippers, a safe (not that I ever felt like I needed it), hot running water (this was not an “African talking shower” and I’ll explain that later), drinking water, super nice shower products, laundry service, everything!

Sounds amazing!

Should you feel like animals are getting too close for comfort during the night, you can use the radio to call a warrior/guard.

Assuming you never had to do that.

Nice! Very posh. Would not have expected that.

Guides will almost always bend over backwards to accommodate the goals and priorities of each guest customizing game drives as they go

Huh!

If a guest wants to do an all-day game-drive as opposed to a split day- they will make sure a lovely lunch is packed. If a guest wants a pre-dawn start, breakfast is arranged for eating in the field.

Really! Fully customizable. Impressive.

Sure, lions and elephants are definitely pretty cool, but it 1,000% takes more work and a LOT more luck to come across the snakes, lizards and small cats.

Interesting. Don't think I'd have thought of that.

But it ended up being absolutely wonderful! Dave and Victoria were so much fun and added the element of sharing some jokes and some incredibly surreal animal interactions.

And off we went for a 3-hour tour, a 3-hou.... eh, hmm....

Heh. Thinking you got into some weather and wound up floating in a pond.

The next sighting we came across was a lone Secretary Bird who was just as obstinate as every other one I’d seen, refusing to put up his head feathers. What is with these silly birds?! Will I ever get to see one in full head-feather display….?

They're on to you!

Funny looking critter.

Nice shot!

Pretty.

this Black-bellied Bustard:

Love that name. Sounds like a swear word.

Definitely an odd looking bird!

Wow! Great shot!

Of the two, I'm not sure if I like this one better, or the previous one! Both great shots!

Before long we came across a very large pride of lioness with a skad of cubs. The little ones tumbled and played atop their mamas while taking turns nursing and jostling for attention.

Awww.

Those teeth!

Cats, no matter the size, all do very cat-like stuff.

I've heard that.

Don't know why, but... this one reminds me of Scar. (Yes I know it's female vs male, but still.)

A few garnered the altogether wrong kind of attention from mommy.

Heh. So no difference from humans.

This is a perfect place to leave off as the next bit includes a bit of something I will never, ever in my life forget. A jaw-dropping episode of raw animal behavior that you’ll definitely want to stick around for…

 

[disneyAndi14]

Wow, the tent on the savanna looks amazing.
The photos of the Lion family are incredible and the Jackal was posing.
Excited to hear about more animal sightings and the interesting behaviors you witnessed.

 

[Wood Nymph]

Your tent was surprisingly luxurious. I never expected them to have included a bathroom and running water.

The only hard and fast, non-negotiable rule was that I was NEVER to be un-escorted after dusk anywhere in camp- a designated Maasai Warrior was to be with me at all times after dusk.

That is a good rule to follow. I read about a man who was mauled by an animal (maybe a lion) when he left his tent unescorted.

But it ended up being absolutely wonderful! Dave and Victoria were so much fun and added the element of sharing some jokes and some incredibly surreal animal interactions.

They probably traveled the world with their careers. Was this their first tent experience?

We sat there very quietly for quite a long time just enjoying their antics and observing their very cat-like behavior. Cats, no matter the size, all do very cat-like stuff.

That sounds so cute. It is very true that cats have similar behaviors to each other regardless of species types.

 

[missjackiemcg]

What a gorgeous set up at your camp!!! Your tent is more luxurious than the lackluster hotel room we stayed in this weekend for our family reunion LOL

How nice that you enjoyed your safari partners--I can imagine it would be really frustrating to have others along on your trip if it had not gone so well.

LOVE the elephants, the beautiful rainbow and all the lion cub pictures!!! Can't wait to hear what happens next!

 

[Steppesister]

Sounds intense! Did you ever have any moments when you felt a bit nervous? I wouldn't imagine that animals would really try to enter the tents (apart from baboons) - has that ever happened?

No, but animals don't sleep a lot.

I doubt one has actually ever ENTERED a tent, but they sure do get close!

Amazing. The porch looks like the perfect place to enjoy a morning cuppa.

It was fabulous, but not just for the coffee.... Lots of surprises still coming.

Yes, you were incredibly lucky to have them all to yourself to this point! Sounds like you got lucky again though with some great people to share the experience with.

I did, if they'd been annoying or pushy, I'd not have been very happy. But honestly, I had no idea that it'd be any different before going either. I thought I'd share trucks the entire time.

I hope you got to see it eventually!

....

Another great shot! You got a few good ones again on this drive

I did, but I do think my better ones are coming up still.

I was thinking Mum looked like she was getting a little annoyed lol!

She has a very... harsh... way of letting her little ones know when enough is enough!

 

[Steppesister]

I got him a new camera for Christmas, and he bought a new lens. We were in Tanzania almost 30 years ago and it's fun to see how both his skill and technology have progressed in that time!

Sometimes old shots pop up on my FB feed or something and I am the same way. My early stuff is just so different and I love how it's a hobby that you can grow in and see change and progress.

 

[Steppesister]

Wow! Luxury!

YES!

I presume for animals, but have my doubts if anything ever actually happens.

You'd be surprised... stories forthcoming...

When you showed this, my first thought was "One small bathroom for everyone? How many people are at this camp??"

LOL!! Nope, that was the one for when you needed something while in the main or dining tents.

I also note the wet ground after the rain.

It was VERY soggy and stayed that way for quite a while too. Lots of rain!!!

"The camp signature bread. What many people come to Africa just for that!... meh."

I'm just not a bread eater in any context, so hopefully I didn't offend the baker.

You had to ask when you wanted a hot shower?

I was mixing this one up with the next camp. But, the staff did let me know that any time I was ready, it was too. Towels were laid out, etc... A word, it was only just north of warm.

And now I see that you didn't have just the one common bathroom.

Mhm, had one in the tent.

Nice! Very posh. Would not have expected that.

RIGHT?! Just amazing for the location and setting. Crazy!

Heh. Thinking you got into some weather and wound up floating in a pond.

Heh, there were some small lakes/rivers we crossed in those jeeps that I thought was gonna drown in!!!

Funny looking critter.

Very! Such doofus-y birds.

Wow! Great shot!

Thanks!

Of the two, I'm not sure if I like this one better, or the previous one! Both great shots!

He was such a poser! I like the 2nd one because you can see his coloring so much better.

Don't know why, but... this one reminds me of Scar. (Yes I know it's female vs male, but still.)

I agree, the shape of the face maybe? The look about the eyes.??

 

[Steppesister]

Wow, the tent on the savanna looks amazing.
The photos of the Lion family are incredible and the Jackal was posing.
Excited to hear about more animal sightings and the interesting behaviors you witnessed.

It was super posh given the location and setting.

Even better ones coming..

Next week. Busy weekend coming up.

 

[Steppesister]

Your tent was surprisingly luxurious. I never expected them to have included a bathroom and running water.

I was shockingly pleased. So, so very nice with all the amenities I'd have ever wanted.

That is a good rule to follow. I read about a man who was mauled by an animal (maybe a lion) when he left his tent unescorted.

It happens. For real. But very, very rarely and only when folks do dumb things.

They probably traveled the world with their careers. Was this their first tent experience?

They have but this was their first and a very spur-of-the moment trip for them. They were only on the Serengeti for those two nights then flew out to... they literally didn't even know until they got back to Dar es Salaam. They were either headed to Japan/Tokyo or Dubai. LOL!! Must be nice!

That sounds so cute. It is very true that cats have similar behaviors to each other regardless of species types.

So cute! The one of the lioness shaking her head cracks me every time I look at it.

 

[Steppesister]

What a gorgeous set up at your camp!!! Your tent is more luxurious than the lackluster hotel room we stayed in this weekend for our family reunion LOL

How nice that you enjoyed your safari partners--I can imagine it would be really frustrating to have others along on your trip if it had not gone so well.

LOVE the elephants, the beautiful rainbow and all the lion cub pictures!!! Can't wait to hear what happens next!

It was so incredibly beautiful and so much nice than I ever expected for such a remote location.

I'm very glad they were so chill and fun!

Coming up, but not til next weekend. Busy weekend coming up.

 

[pkondz]

You'd be surprised... stories forthcoming...

Really!

I'm just not a bread eater in any context, so hopefully I didn't offend the baker.

Or the butcher or candlestick maker.

Very! Such doofus-y birds.

He was such a poser! I like the 2nd one because you can see his coloring so much better.

 

[buzzrelly]

That tent is amazing! If I had heard "tent" when booking a place to stay I'd have been running in the other direction! But that one has all the comforts of home

The only hard and fast, non-negotiable rule was that I was NEVER to be un-escorted after dusk anywhere in camp- a designated Maasai Warrior was to be with me at all times after dusk.

Yikes

As we came around the side of the hill that camp was situated behind, a herd of elephants grazed lazily on the freshly watered grasses. These were not the only elephants out and about that afternoon, and one herd in particular would give us thrills to last a lifetime…


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Absolutely gorgeous pics!

Before long we came across a very large pride of lioness with a skad of cubs.

Awwwww