When one of our Africa specialists and resident Kenyan (originally from Burundi), Annie Irankunda, set off for southern Tanzania, her expectations were already sky-high. The safari that followed was one of the best of her life filled with bucket list highlights and intimate moments with nature.
“Southern Tanzania left me speechless – a truly off-the-beaten-track destination, I had never felt so tapped into complete wilderness. After a brief interlude in Dar es Salaam, a buzzing city rich in history, warmth and delicious food, we departed at dawn for Ruaha. My first taste of the south came in the form of Usangu Expedition Camp and, after an incredibly scenic drive, we arrived to the heartwarming, soulful songs of the staff. I totally wanted to join in!”
“The food was exceptional throughout the entire trip but Usangu really spoiled us with creative dishes like chilled watermelon soup. Our bellies were stuffed and I regretted nothing! That evening, we set up camera traps and later reviewed the footage on a big screen. After missing wild dogs on our game drive, there they were, thrillingly close, followed by a leopard – my absolute favourite. The night ended with a live cooking experience…perfection!”
“The following day was action-packed but my ultimate highlight was using the camp’s night camera tablet, which shows nocturnal creatures in amazing clarity. If you normally dislike night drives because you can’t see clearly – this is the way to go. Our last night at Usangu ended with stargazing with zero light pollution and the air filled with the calls of hyenas and lions roaring.”
“Our next stop was the amazing Jabali Ridge, perched on a hill and offering the most spectacular views of Ruaha. Every guide we met was a truly authentic soul and full of knowledge, making every activity feel unique and special. After our walking safari got rained out (making for a great adventure!), we departed on a game drive, meandering amongst stunning baobab trees, and huge herds of elephant and buffalo, before soaking up one of the most gorgeous sunsets I’ve ever seen. After dinner at Kokoko Camp (delicious), we witnessed a leopard kill and watched as the youngster hid his catch. It left us completely stunned.”
“Next, we were off to Roho Ya Selous (via an incredibly scenic flight) and met with a menu of activities from cruises and fishing on the river to walking safaris. Immediately whisked onto the water, we saw scores of hippos and crocodiles, elephants and buffalos. You truly feel like the only people in the entire park. We celebrated another phenomenal day with dancing, singing and reminiscing around the fire, before I fell asleep to the sounds of munching right next to my tent.”
“The next morning, it was time for a proper walking safari. Our wonderful guide, David, knew every scent and call, and not long after hearing our pleas to see leopard and wild dogs, he suddenly whispered, “Leopard, leopard, leopard”. We dared not look it in the eye but crept closer, completely in awe. I have no photo of the first leopard I’ve ever seen on a walking safari, but the memory is glued in my mind.”
“Another first for me, we went catch-and-release fishing on the Rufiji River. After nearly snagging a fish, there came a series of errors (I even caught a tree!), but then I felt a hard tug and knew I had a fish. Everyone cheered as I pulled and pulled, before reeling in a weighty catfish. After another fantastic drive, we stopped in a stunning spot for sunset G&Ts – the perfect end to what couldn’t have been a better day.”
“On our way to the airstrip, we all chorused, “Okay David, now we need those wild dogs,” and he just said, “I know a guy”. About an hour later, an excited call came through from the guide ahead of us – they had found a pack of five young males! We spent the rest of the drive in complete awe of all we had seen.”
Fancy doing something similar, check out her epic safari or start planning a trip totally from scratch.
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