Tom and Qing
Dennis and his crew offered my wife and me a life-transforming experience. My wife
and I were planning to have a child, and I suggested we have an adventure before
THAT new adventure. Qing (Ching) is from rural China, and I wanted her to experience
something really special. A professor friend of mine from my alma mater—who
specializes in Tanzanian ecosystems—recommended Dennis. He was able to keep the
costs of our dream vacation at a very reasonable level, well below the competition.
Truth be told, I sent dozens of emails to Dennis, pestering him about every detail of the
trip. Amazingly, he answered every email rapidly, dispelled any and all of my concerns,
and made sure everything was just the way we wanted. From the moment Dennis met
us at Kilimanjaro Airport, to the very last day when he drove us around Arusha to buy
special things for our loved ones, he was the perfect host: knowledgeable, sensitive, and
accommodating. Our driver, Athuman, was a clever and able man who always got us the
best viewing on safari. Makarius, the cook, created the most delicious meals even in the
middle of nowhere. We decided to camp, and our tent was so comfortable and inviting.
Dennis made sure we visited every park we wanted to see, and he kept up with the
ever-changing herds. We saw not only the so-called Big Five (including three different
leopards, stalking!, and two rhinos), but cheetahs and cubs, fascinating birds, and a host
of large and small animals for which Dennis gave us insightful information. We saw so
many animals at Ngorongoro Crater (including a just-born wildebeest) we felt spoiled.
Dennis even helped us arrange a balloon safari—it IS worth it! I ran out of pages in
my journal recounting all these wonders. Be sure to visit Mto wa Mbu—this was not
some phony village experience, but a chance to really meet the local people and find
out how they lived. Also, we are so glad we opted for the excursion to Longiddo, where
Samuel, a Maasai, took us to visit local villages and taught us about the Maasai way of
life. These were very special experiences. Finally, Dennis made sure we were connected
to a good company to visit Zanzibar (which is a place you MUST visit) and made sure
everything went off perfectly. You the new visitor will be lured by super slick brochures
and tour companies that talk about “authentic” experiences. I advise you save yourself
the trouble and book a trip with Dennis and Kwetu Tanzania Eco-tourism & Safaris. You
will get a great price, tender loving care, and a trip just the way you want it. By the way,
in case you are wondering, we are expecting our first child! Please feel free to email me
via Dennis for details, or if you are stateside, he can give you my phone number. Bravo,
Dennis—Qing and I will never forget you and our daughter or son will hear much about
you in the future.
Tom and Qing
Reader Comments