The Shapiro Family of Philadelphia (2 adults and 1 teen) experienced Africa this summer with travel to Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya. Mom started the trip at the Sanctuary Retreats Gorilla Forest Camp nestled deep inside Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in southwest Uganda; the perfect base for gorilla tracking.  Bwindi has the highest concentration of primates on Earth and is home to half the world’s remaining mountain gorillas. The park is inhabited by a population of about 340 individual Mountain Gorillas; almost half of all the mountain gorillas remaining in the world.  Groups of eight tourists are allowed to visit one of four gorilla families for no more than one hour per day – brief, so they would not be seen as “invading their space.” Each family has between 12-15 gorillas per group ranging in age from 6 weeks to 20 years. The mountainous trek to visit the gorillas took between 2-3 hours per direction. The task was monumental, but well worth it!

After this amazing experience, the family then met up for a two-week Tauck tour to Tanzania and Kenya.  The tour started in Arusha, Tanzania at the Lake Duluti Serena Hotel at the foot of Mount Meru, the second-highest mountain in Tanzania. The tour then went to Lake Manyara National Park for their first glimpse of giraffes, baboons, hippos and elephants along with hundreds of species of birds.  Later, they arrived in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, populated by an estimated 30,000 large mammals. The Ngorongoro Crater is one of the largest calderas (a volcanic depression) in the world and contains a variety of ecosystems and an astounding concentration of birds and animals, including massive herds of zebras, wildebeests, and gazelles. They also had the opportunity to spot the Big Five – elephant, leopard, lion, buffalo, and rhinoceros – all in one day!

Next stop was the Oldupai Gorge, where, over 50 years ago, archaeologists Louis and Mary Leakey discovered the fossilized remains of some of the earliest known human species, an estimated 1.8 million years old. They then enjoyed the Serengeti’s amazing wildlife while staying at the Four Seasons Safari Lodge in Serengeti. The family said that this area was amazingly beautiful. While they ate lunch 24 elephants visited their watering hole which abutted the human swimming pool. Such a glorious sight! They also saw lions, zebras, hyenas, leopards, cheetahs, hippos, buffaloes, jackals, gazelles, and giraffes while on safari at the Serengeti National Park. 

The trip continued to Kenya and the majestic Mt. Kilimanjaro which peaked over surrounding landscapes from more than 15,000 feet up. They stayed at the Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge in Amboseli National Park, where herds of free-ranging elephants and other wildlife like to roam. Later in the day they enjoyed a private lecture on the elephants of Amboseli.  An early morning visit to a Maasai village preceded a morning game drive in the park with plenty of more animal viewings.  Next up they visited the Mount Kenya Safari Club and animal orphanage which straddled the equator. This was the former retreat of actor William Holden. After settling in, they got a private visit to the nearby William Holden Wildlife Education Center and animal orphanage. This was a sanctuary for animals that have been orphaned or injured and need special care. It also teaches local children to cherish and appreciate the unique wildlife of their homeland.  They also visited the Ol Pejeta Conservancy, home to the largest resident black rhino population in East Africa and other members of the Big Five. It is also home to the Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary, founded by Jane Goodall, which gives lifelong homes to orphaned and abused chimpanzees. One chimp in particular, Coco, stole their hearts. He had been kept in a small, standing cage for 6+ years. Now he is free to roam and be rehabilitated.

They also visited the Masai Mara National Reserve with several game drives. They stayed at the Fairmont Mara Safari Club, an elegant tented camp hotel.  The most amazing day of the safari was a sunrise balloon ride over the plains of the Masai Mara. Afterward, a special champagne breakfast awaited them in the bush!  A farewell dinner in a traditional boma rounded out the trip.
On the last day they flew to Nairobi where The Family Traveler arranged for them to visit the amazing David Sheldrick Elephant Refuge. They visited with 20+ baby elephants who were orphaned throughout Kenya. They all pranced past them to their own “rooms” where they are bottle fed. The smaller babies had blankets on them because their skin was too fine for the chilly Kenyan evenings. Men also roomed with the babies who were prone to waking up in the middle of the night crying out for their bottles. What truly generous gentlemen they were!  The Family Traveler adopted an elephant in honor of the family.  Afterward, the family said “Kwaheri” (goodbye) to the amazing countries they visited.